WEBVTT 0:00:00.534 --> 0:00:02.369 The most important issue facing 0:00:02.369 --> 0:00:03.295 people with disabilities is, 0:00:03.295 --> 0:00:05.093 believe it or not, awareness 0:00:05.093 --> 0:00:06.026 building in the community. 0:00:06.026 --> 0:00:07.706 The community so often can think 0:00:07.706 --> 0:00:09.015 the people are disabled, 0:00:09.015 --> 0:00:10.506 they can't do anything, 0:00:10.506 --> 0:00:12.174 they can't really contribute, 0:00:12.174 --> 0:00:13.376 and nothing could be 0:00:13.376 --> 0:00:14.218 farther from the truth. 0:00:14.218 --> 0:00:15.282 People with disabilities 0:00:15.282 --> 0:00:17.653 work in the community, they volunteer. 0:00:17.653 --> 0:00:19.449 And I think that that is just a major 0:00:19.449 --> 0:00:22.554 awareness building that the media 0:00:22.554 --> 0:00:24.591 could do through stories and 0:00:24.591 --> 0:00:27.066 really show, "Wow, I had no idea." 0:00:27.066 --> 0:00:28.408 I work with people with 0:00:28.408 --> 0:00:30.074 disabilities every day, 0:00:30.074 --> 0:00:31.599 and I probably hear 0:00:31.599 --> 0:00:32.869 "Wow, I had no idea," 0:00:32.869 --> 0:00:34.563 about four to five times a week. 0:00:34.563 --> 0:00:36.302 People with disabilities are 0:00:36.302 --> 0:00:38.897 so underemployed or unemployed 0:00:38.897 --> 0:00:40.841 and underappreciated, 0:00:40.841 --> 0:00:44.436 and it's time to let them 0:00:44.436 --> 0:00:45.928 join the rest of society 0:00:45.928 --> 0:00:47.160 and really contribute 0:00:47.160 --> 0:00:48.511 and be part of the fabric. 0:00:48.511 --> 0:00:50.351 I think the most important thing 0:00:50.351 --> 0:00:51.603 that the media should keep in mind 0:00:51.603 --> 0:00:53.115 is these people are exceptional 0:00:53.115 --> 0:00:54.029 and that they're not 0:00:54.029 --> 0:00:55.062 exceptional at all. 0:00:55.062 --> 0:00:56.013 They're just like you and me. 0:00:56.013 --> 0:00:57.364 They just want a chance. 0:00:57.364 --> 0:00:58.893 They all have a story, 0:00:58.893 --> 0:00:59.912 and they all have dreams 0:00:59.912 --> 0:01:01.275 and interests just like 0:01:01.275 --> 0:01:02.630 the rest of us.