Thinking of super heroes made me think of kid's TV programming.  Has anyone
on the list seen the cartoon "Pelswick"?  It's either on Cartoon Network or
Nickelodeon.

Anyway, Pelswick is a pre-teen in a motorized chair.  The show is
"situational comedy" along the same lines as another genre 'toon, "Hey,
Arnold".  The network has done an admirable job of presenting Pelswick as a
(BIG quotes here) "normal kid", experiencing the same situations and
emotions as his peers.  I do beleive, though, that the cartoon is an attempt
by its writers to produce a politically correct show--and that's all.

"Pelswick" fails miserably to demonstrate the issues a disabled kid faces.
All of the other kids treat Pelswick as if there is no anomaly--he is just
another kid who happens to be in a chair.  They've created this "fairy tale"
world where his disability does not hamper him in the least.  He is not
picked on by the other kids, never has trouble getting on the bus, never has
problems with his chair, never has problems with accessibility at his
ancient big-city school.  Not only that, the reason for Pelswick's being in
the chair is never explained.  The viewer has no idea if he had a pre-natal
injury, childhood accident, disabling virus, etc.

The writers could have made this show multi-dimensional and intriguing for
disabled and able-bodied kids alike.  I'm sure they feel pretty smug about
creating a cartoon featuring a kid with a disability.  Only problem
is---they didn't.

-Kyle

-----Original Message-----
From: Salkin Kathleen [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
Sent: Friday, March 01, 2002 7:33 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: mpeg?? not!!!


It's just dreaming, Chester.  These are games we'd like to see available,
you  know?  There are no games out there that feature disabled people as
super heroes.

Kat


----- Original Message -----
From: "Chester Worwa" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Friday, March 01, 2002 6:25 AM
Subject: Re: mpeg?? not!!!


> Where is this game thing it sounds interesting?  I do
> have flash.
>
>
> Chester Worwa
>
> --- Deri James <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
> > On Thursday 28 Feb 2002 2:01 pm, Betty B wrote:
> > > Flash I got, baby.
> > >
> > > What I want is an interactive online game where
> > the player is a
> > > character who has a disability, and who's mission
> > is to take out
> > > nondisabled opponents who appear in the game to do
> > bad.  There
> > > should also be a special feature for bopping tiny
> > tims on the head.
> > >  "Here, you want a pat on the head?  BAM!"
> > >
> > > gots anything like that?  Maybe not, maybe this is
> > my assignment
> > > anyway. It's not like there's a boss delegating
> > this stuff.  Can I
> > > do it with Macromedia products -- Flash,
> > Fireworks, etc.?
> > >
> > > It could be on the secret underground website of
> > the most secret
> > > underground disabled.   All very cryptic:
> > Passwords, codes,
> > > underground language.
> > >
> > > Deri's breaking out in a sweat; I can see it.
> > >
> >
> > No flash - just Cool!!
> >
> > I could really get into this. One common feature of
> > games is
> > "restriction of resource" (Money, Ammo, etc.) so
> > we'd obviously have
> > a whelchair with a slow puncture that needed regular
> > pumping. Another
> > common theme is "reward of improved equipmernt", as
> > you progress you
> > get better wheelchair, improved home helps (with
> > spcial powers of
> > course). Each level has a "Boss" you have to defeat
> > (Jerry Lewis,
> > Pete Singer). Final level you gain a Baclofen Pump!!
> >
> > Lots of spinoff titles:-
> >
> >         NBA 2002 (Wheelchair Basketball edition)
> >         Sonic the CP hedgehog
> >         SIMS (Accessibility Pack)
> >
> >
> > Cheers
> >
> > Deri
>
>
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