I am at a stopping point on the three previous canvases and I am now starting the reality of People facing longterm illness and Handicap in our Nation.
This is something I know well, by what I face everyday.
I work with a charity called VSA arts of GA...
VSA stands for "V" is Vision, "S" is Strength, "A"
is Access.
...because to be able to work within the programs they offer, the artists they accept are facing tremendous obstacles to produce their work. Whether through physical handicap, emotional, and/or financial burdens and extreme poverty ...usually all three go hand-in-hand.
Primarily because of the reasons I state in my blog on my welcome page. In the current health system we have in place in The USA, we are viewed as less than...by many able bodied people.
It's a silent level of racism.
I have spoken about being a liability to my family...the reason I am, is because I am a liability to any potential longterm employer, because of my health care costs. So many of us are convinced by Lawyers and Doctors to give up...go on SSI, because then we can get different levels of Medicaid, and such....
Personally, I have worked since I was 14 years old. I can't just give up....It's not in me.
...so everyday I work 6 to 10 hours toward developing my business, and creating the art you see come to life here. Since I can't even work at WalMart. ...because even if I did work there for minimum wage, I would never be eligible for any level of company insurance.
I believe in being happy and productive within ones life...and what I do makes me happy, and in the process I inspire people to think...and bring them beauty and enjoyment, through my hands...and the inspiration I am given by whom I call God.
This piece is about rising above the boundaries holding back so much talent our Nation tries to ignore...and I am not talking about my work, I am talking about the people like me who have something to offer to our world by whatever work they are inspired to do.
I asked Jaehn Clare, Director of Artistic Development VSA arts of GA for her thoughts from her daily work with people of Disability working to find something they can do to benefit their families through the work they do to Express Themselves. ...and that is what I am in Process of placing on this canvas, currently.
Here is the statement Jaehn Clare gave me in it's entirety, as it is not all on my canvas yet...
"My perception is that the medical industry still views people with disabilities from a perspective of a deficit model - that is, the belief is that there is something "wrong" with us that needs to be fixed or cured. And most of our medical care is focused on the disability factor, so other preventive practices and wellness practices often are not included in the context of health care - because it is all about the fact that we are "crippled" (sic!); so never mind about planned parenthood, or heart health, cancer prevention,or mental health, etc."
Jaehn Clare VSA arts of GA.
Please visit my next show link for a direct link to the VSA arts of GA, Thanks :)
Amy Stewart Hale
PennDragon Studios
