Here's the latest article from the Special Needs Children site at BellaOnline.com.

Tropic Thunder Affects Ordinary Life

http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art58185.asp

Ben Stiller´s movie, Tropic Thunder, offers a humiliating portrayal of a developmentally disabled character, hate language, and a ´movie within a movie´ that promotes immediate danger to individuals with intellectual disabilities who attend movies, work at theaters, or participate in community life.

Advocacy organizations, local support groups and individual family members are protesting the depiction of the character Simple Jack and misrepresentation of parents of children with disabilities. They objected to DreamWork's decision to market the movie through a despicable webpage, www.tuggspeedman.com, and movie poster based on the 'movie with a movie', and condemn the prolific use of hate language demeaning to people with intellectual challenges that is already reflected in public discussions of our concerns.

National organizations urge a boycott of the movie and raising awareness of the substantial consequences of accepting or ignoring hateful language. Some parents are setting up informational tables and pickets at local theaters showing the film, others put signs in their vehicles or deliver copies of anti-hate literature to movie theaters to distribute to patrons. Others are checking with their local school district and mayor's office to see whether there are rules or ordinances against hate language that includes protection of individuals with disabilities.

Many advocates are setting up newspaper, television and radio interviews to get the word out to our friends as well as families of mainstream children who may not know that the movie has scenes and language in it that affect their children's social development and our sons' and daughters' quality of life, opportunities, inclusion and safety in their communities and schools.

Let us know what is happening in your community, school or social program at the discussion forum:

http://forums.bellaonline.com/ubbthreads.php?ubb=postlist&Board=57

Please distribute this information as widely as is possible.

Excellent articles and presentations are available at:

PatriciaEBauer.com
http://www.patriciaebauer.com/2008/08/08/just-the-facts-tropic-thunder/#more-2929
and
http://www.patriciaebauer.com/2008/08/01/once-upon-a-time/

Terri Mauro's View of "Tropic Thunder"
http://specialchildren.about.com/b/2008/08/11/tropic-thunder-blasted-by-disability-groups.htm

Will Schermerhorn put together something wonderful that is available to be shared in many formats (flash, wmv, quicktime) and as a YouTube movie.
http://www.blueberryshoes.com/psa/index.html

Ban the R-word
http://www.r-word.org/

Change Offensive R-word to 'ridiculous'
Thursday August 14
http://www.courier-journal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2008808140359

Chewing the Fat - Dave Hingsburger
Words Hit Like A Fist
http://davehingsburger.blogspot.com/2008/08/words-hit-like-fist.html

'Disability groups protest 'Tropic Thunder'
Protestors hold signs criticizing the upcoming film "Tropic Thunder" across the street from the film's premiere in Los Angeles on Monday, Aug. 11, 2008.

http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/movies/1402ap_film_tropic_thunder_protest.html

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'Tropic Thunder' finds itself at the center of a firestorm
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/movies/374671_tropic13.html

Please visit specialneedschildren.bellaonline.com for even more great content about Special Needs Children.

To participate in online discussions, this site has a community forum for support and informatin sharing located here -

http://forums.bellaonline.com/ubbthreads.php?ubb=postlist&Board=57

Start a new subject heading or add to:
Protest Tropic Thunder's Disability Stereotype

I hope to hear from you sometime soon, either in the forum or in response to this email message. Stay strong.

Please pass this message along to family and friends, to protect and defend vulnerable people who do not have a voice.

Pamela Wilson, Special Needs Children Editor
http://specialneedschildren.bellaonline.com

Seeing Children with Disabilities in Movies, Ads and Television
http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art54743.asp

Friendship and Inclusion for Children with Special Needs
http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art48700.asp

Disability Advocacy and Awareness
http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art35878.asp

School Bus Rides
http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art45298.asp

IDEA - Education Law
http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art204.asp

IEP Preparation - Teacher Support
http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art44746.asp

Universal Design for Learning - Access to
General Education Curriculum
http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art50363.asp

Mothering Babies with Special Needs
http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art50678.asp

Faith, Religion, and Children with Special Needs
http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art52349.asp

Explaining Down Syndrome to Children
http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art55519.asp

Asking More from Medical Professionals
http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art39121.asp

Diabetes Information for Classmates
http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art32541.asp

Inclusive Education and the Culture of Down Syndrome
http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art44827.asp

The Power of Communication
http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art32725.asp

Sensory Integration and Children http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art48942.asp

How Uncomfortable is Your Child? Sensory Processing Disorders
http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art960.asp

Recognizing Early Signs of Autism
http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art55223.asp

MRSA Antibiotic Resistant Staph Infections
http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art56280.asp

Kindergarten Transition
http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art49718.asp

Feeding Therapy for Children
http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art56207.asp

Encouraging Late Talking Children
http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art55867.asp

Recess Skills for Children with Special Needs
http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art432.asp

Oral Health and Dental Visits for Children
http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art55319.asp

Sleep Disorders and Children with Special Needs
http://http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art33877.asp

Outdoor Games for Summer
http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art57092.asp

State and National Park Disability Passes
http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art56377.asp

Explaining a Serious Diagnosis to Children
http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art56383.asp