What Do You See? Perceptions of Disability

Music

• Shutterstock

Photography

• Benjamin (little boy with red cups) is courtesy of the IRIS Center.
• John Cronin is courtesy of John’s Crazy Socks.
• Michael Hingson is courtesy of Michael Hingson.
• Dylan, Mia, and family is courtesy of the IRIS Center.
• Tony Melendez is courtesy of Tony Melendez.
• Russ and Melody Stein is courtesy of Russ and Melody Stine, photograph by Clare Cassidy Photography.
• Kathy D. Woods is courtesy Kathy D. Woods.
• The Smith family is courtesy of the IRIS Center.
• Jay and the Music City Thunder is courtesy of the IRIS Center.

The Challenge movie displays eight photographs that then combine to form a collage. A description of each image follows.

• Picture One: A young boy smiles while holding two red plastic cups over a tub filled with dried beans.
• Picture two: A young man with Down syndrome poses in front of a banner advertising a business.
• Picture three: A middle-aged man pets his service dog.
• Picture four: A family of four—a woman, a man, and a young boy and girl—smile for a photograph in their home.
• Picture five: A man without arms plays a guitar on stage using his bare feet and toes.
• Picture six: A man and a woman in chef’s coats pose outside a restaurant on a city street.
• Picture seven: A woman of short stature poses in front of a rack of clothing on a floormat emblazoned with a business logo and the name “Kathy Woods.”
• Picture eight: A family of four—a woman, a man, an adult son, and a teenage son—pose together for a photograph in their home.
• Picture nine: A young boy in a wheelchair plays basketball.

The movie ends.

Here is your Challenge:

• What feelings did you have about the photos?
• What thoughts did you have about the individuals in this challenge?
• Do perceptions matter?