Today was a wonderful day, a perfect summer day, just plain and simple wonderful. Life is sweet. And by saying "life is sweet," well, it has multiple meanings for me. Yes, my life is sweet, filled with sunshine and makeup and good friends. And, "Life is Sweet" was a fall show that Interact, the center I work for--for people with disabilities-- did this past fall which centered on the actors with down syndrome. I love Interact and all of it's messages and how it makes me smile and laugh without fail every single day. The artists love to hear about my theatre makeup class and my radio show and there's never a day where I do not feel so much love and happiness from the place. I could not imagine my life without it. In Minnesota, there's talk of a government shutdown tomorrow and if it happens, Interact will have to shut down for an unknown amount of time. A local news channel did a story about it here:
http://www.kare11.com/news/article/928414/14/Art-studio-for-vulnerable-adults-would-close-with-state-shutdown
I know this story is not makeup related and my post is a bit "deeper" than usual with a more serious tone, but I thought I'd take a moment to talk about this part of my life and how much it means to me and to also inform people about Interact and more people in the disability community. How able, creative, inspiring, talented, funny, emotional, dramatic, caring (the list goes on) these people are and how anyone can realize this and treat these people with respect, notice their talent, and change their perception of those who are labeled as "disabled."
So, whether you be a politician or a makeup artist, a fashion blogger or a lawyer, an actor or a teacher, I hope you get something from this. Thank you.
~Shannon
I have spent a lot of my professional life working with disabled children and adults, and the amount of support they require in some cases is unfathomable so to shut down or cut back programs that allow them to feel as much a part of the real world as possible is so tragic. They and their families are some of the most gracious people I have ever met and it pains me when they are marginalized as by product of government irresponsibility.
ReplyDeleteI hope your program is up and running again soon <3
Meredith Jessica
Thank you for sharing this part of your life with us. I hope Interact gets to stay open :)
ReplyDeleteYes, even though there's a government shutdown in MN, Interact is open and dramatic per usual :)
ReplyDelete