Currently, I have a ton of both personal and professional things to finish in the next 8 hours. Of course now is a perfect time to update the blog I love but, often neglect. My secret new years resolution was to update the blog at least once a month, I have one day left to make good on my resolution for January. Hooray!
I came a cross a beautiful excerpt from a documentary about mothering. The clip profiles Corbett O'Toole and her adopted daughter. O'Toole is a disability rights activist and independent scholar. She was on the ground floor for much of the disability rights and independent living movement during the 70's in America, I believe. Correct me if I am wrong. I am reading "Don't Call Me Inspirational" by Harilyn Rousso who mentions meeting Corbett in the 1970's at a disability rights organization. This is how I am placing her.
I was particularly moved by the Story of O'Toole and her daughter because, Corrbett uses a wheelchair and her daughter has CP. She speaks about it being a deliberate choice to adopt a baby with a disability. She also captures the idea that a disabled baby has value and that the disability experience has value. She talks about being able to teach her daughter about moving through the world in varied ways. O'Toole also speaks about wanting to share the experience of being a woman as something that is interesting and worth while. The clip also mentioned that O'Toole's daughter may have ended up in a hospital or large facility had she not adopted her.
I love this so much because if I were to become a parent this is what I would want. Disability or not, I have had the opportunity to meet many children whom no one wants, and who do not understand their own value. I understand myself as not having a great desire (today I can't promise that I won't change my mind) to physically conceive and birth a baby. However, I would love to share my resources, love, experience and disability identity with a child. The story of Corrbett and her daughter is inspiring to me because I have never seen the type of simpatico I have just described in real life.
Further, to that Corbett became a mom in her 40's which means that I still have a solid ten years to get my life together.
Here is the clip I am speaking of:
http://vimeo.com/6045202
