We are a group of engaged Democrats with a special interest in issues affecting the daily lives of the disabled community in Dallas, TX.
There are more than 3 million people living with a disability in the State of Texas, including more than a quarter of a million in Dallas County. Our community is a vibrant force in the state, participating in all aspects of it's daily social and economic life while facing unique and varied challenges. It is our goal to share these accomplishments and challenges with the leaders of our County and
07/29/2017
Disabled Texans say bathroom bill could further complicate their lives When it comes to this summer's "bathroom bill," disabled Texans say they — like many transgender men and women — believe the Legislature is further complicating something that’s already difficult to navigate.
03/25/2016
Beeping Eggs Guide Children With Disabilities to Fun An Easter egg hunt specially designed for children with disabilities drew dozens of Dallas ISD students, some with their families, to Flagpole Hill in Dallas Thursday.
02/02/2016
Lego’s plastic wheelchair guy is a seismic shift in a toy box | Rebecca Atkinson There are 150 million children with disabilities worldwide, yet positive representation is almost non-existent. No wonder the new Lego figure has caused such delight
01/19/2016
After Ann Coulter referred to President Obama as a “retard” in a tweet during Monday night’s presidential debate, Special Olympics athlete and global messenger John Franklin Stephens penned her this open letter:
Dear Ann Coulter, Come on Ms. Coulter, you aren’t dumb and you aren’t shallow. So why are you continually using a word like the R-word as an insult? I’m a 30 year old man with Down syndrome who has struggled with the public’s perception that an intellectual disability means that I am dumb and shallow. I am not either of those things, but I do process information more slowly than the rest of you. In fact it has taken me all day to figure out how to respond to your use of the R-word last night. I thought first of asking whether you meant to describe the President as someone who was bullied as a child by people like you, but rose above it to find a way to succeed in life as many of my fellow Special Olympians have. Then I wondered if you meant to describe him as someone who has to struggle to be thoughtful about everything he says, as everyone else races from one snarkey sound bite to the next. Finally, I wondered if you meant to degrade him as someone who is likely to receive bad health care, live in low grade housing with very little income and still manages to see life as a wonderful gift. Because, Ms. Coulter, that is who we are – and much, much more. After I saw your tweet, I realized you just wanted to belittle the President by linking him to people like me. You assumed that people would understand and accept that being linked to someone like me is an insult and you assumed you could get away with it and still appear on TV. I have to wonder if you considered other hateful words but recoiled from the backlash. 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. Come join us someday at Special Olympics. See if you can walk away with your heart unchanged.
A friend you haven’t made yet,
John Franklin Stephens
Global Messenger Special Olympics Virginia
Don't forget about our inaugural meeting, today at 10:30am at the J Erik Jonsson Central Library. See you there!
03/11/2015