The use of the “R” word is getting attention because political pundit Ann Coulter called President Barack Obama a “retard” in a post-debate Twitter comment.

The next day she tweeted, “If he’s ‘the smartest guy in the room’ it must be one retarded room.”

But the true outrage is that this happens much more than is ever reported, said Carolyn Miller, a local advocate for people with developmental disabilities.

“This is always an issue,” she said. “It is a word that we hope the community will eventually stop using.”

Miller is the communication manager for Sunshine, which used to be Sunshine Children’s Home but changed names because it provides services to both children and adults.

“As our knowledge of disabilities has changed, we have modified how we speak about people with disabilities,” she said. “It used to be standard, but as far as we have come in the last century, there is no reason to refer to people using words that are as archaic as that.”

Miller said finding the right word is as simple as remembering that people aren’t defined by conditions.

“We refer to them as ‘people with developmental disabilities’ — the person should come first,” she said. “They have so many gifts to offer to society. They really aren’t so different than you or me. They love a good laugh and they have so much talent to share, just like everyone else.”

Miller, 24, was a teenager when her brother Jacob was born.

“I have a little brother with Down syndrome,” she said. “He has made such a difference in my life. He is such a good egg. To think anyone would refer to him in a way that was cruel or disrespectful, it just isn’t appropriate.”

When Coulter tweeted that she approved of “Romney’s decision to be kind and gentle to the retard,” it inspired a Special Olympics athlete from Virginia to write her a heartfelt letter.

“Well, Ms. Coulter, you, and society, need to learn that being compared to people like me should be considered a badge of honor. No one overcomes more than we do and still loves life so much,” John Franklin Stephens said.

Miller is hopeful.

“I think for people with disabilities this is a new era for them. They are coming into a time where they will gain acceptance.”

Email questions or comments to Toledo Free Press Community Ombudsman Brandi Barhite at bbarhite@toledofree press.com.

Tags: Ann Coulter, Barack Obama, Sunshine Children's Home

This entry was posted on Thursday, October 25th, 2012 at 3:24 pm and is filed under Community, Community Ombudsman, Uncategorized.
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The third annual All Mustang Show, Sept. 18 at Brondes Ford Toledo, will support the charity Susan’s Smiles of Happiness. The car show includes raffles, a DJ, food and Mustang-related vendors such as Roush Racing. All proceeds raised go to Susan’s Smiles of Happiness.

The All Mustang Show was initiated by Rose Jankowski, a sales representative at Brondes. One of her customers is Diane Hamilton, who founded Susan’s Smiles of Happiness. They were trying to come up with an event to raise money for the charity, so Jankowski turned to another one of her customers.

“She approached me because I have a background in promotion,” said Kevin Murphy, an account executive at Lamar Outdoor Advertising. “She asked if I could think of something and I suggested a Mustang show. I belong to Toledo Mustangs. We’d been together for a couple years and were looking to do a show. From there it kind of steamrolled.”

While Murphy came up with the idea, he gives credit to Jankowski for the execution.

“She is spectacular,” Murphy said. “She puts a lot of time and energy into planning this show and making sure everything goes off without a hitch.”

Murphy expects to see the show’s largest turnout this year with more than 200 Mustangs. The show has several awards, including Best in Class for six different classes, the People’s Choice, the Award of Excellence and Best in Show, which is voted on by members of Toledo Mustangs. Murphy is entering his own Mustang into the show.

“I’ve been an owner for most of my life,” Murphy said. “It’s a great muscle car. It’s a lot of fun, and the people who own them are really cool and down to earth.”

He owns a 1989 Mustang, but he likes all models of the car.

“That’s my favorite, but I like them all from the first one in ’64 to the new ones,” Murphy said. “I come from a Ford family. My relatives all work at Ford. Some of them are engineers. It’s cool to know a guy who put some parts on a car or designed a particular piece on a car.”

Hamilton founded Susan’s Smiles of Happiness with Tim Porter in 2009 after their daughter died. Susan was diagnosed with Angelman syndrome as a child and moved into the Sunshine Children’s Home when she was 15.

“Susan was smiley from ear to ear in spite of her own difficulties,” Hamilton said.

The charity helps provide dental care for all the residents of the Sunshine Children’s Home, which houses more than 150 children.

“If you’re a handicapped kid, and they all are, they’ve got enough to contend with. Why have a sore mouth? You can’t smile when you have a sore mouth,” Hamilton said.

“It’s a great cause,” Murphy said. “More than anything else, it helps with confidence for some of the residents there.”

Brondes Ford is located at 5545 Secor Road. The event runs Sept. 18 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. and admission is free. Registration starts at 9:45 a.m. and costs $10 per Mustang. Visit ToledoMustangs.com for more information.

Tags: All Mustang Show, Brondes, Kevin Murphy, Lamar Outdoor Advertising, Roush Racing, Sunshine Children's Home, Susan's Smiles of Happiness

This entry was posted on Tuesday, September 13th, 2011 at 10:12 am and is filed under Fundraiser, Star, Wheels.
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A June 5 event at PizzaPapalis will raise money for the dental care of residents of Sunshine Children’s Home in Maumee, a residence for individuals with developmental disabilities.

Ten percent of all dine-in pre-tax sales from 5 to 9 p.m., not including alcoholic beverages, will be donated to Susan’s Smiles of Happiness, a fundraising project started by a Diane Hamilton in 2009 after the death of her daughter, Susan, who lived at the home.

Raffle tickets will also be sold at the restaurant, located at 519 Monroe St., during that time. Cost will be $10 for 15 tickets and entrants do not have to be present to win.

Prizes include Mud Hens tickets, Toledo Symphony tickets, movie tickets, one-month fitness center certificates, restaurant gift certificates, coffee, chocolates, bread, hand-blown glass, an astrology reading, a haircut and style, manicure/pedicure and more.

Since its inception, Susan’s Smiles of Happiness has raised approaching $20,000 and covered about 100 dental procedures, Hamilton said.

For more information, contact Hamilton at (419) 824-5462 or visit www.sunshineincnwo.com.

Tags: Charity, Fundraiser, Sunshine Children's Home, Susan's Smiles of Happiness

This entry was posted on Thursday, June 2nd, 2011 at 10:47 am and is filed under Arts and Life, Fundraiser.
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