Don't Forget to Support the Rio 2016 Paralympics!

Credit: Paralympic Games, Rio 2016,
and creators of logo

Hey Everyone!

A couple weeks ago, the Olympics took over our televisions as we watched athletes from across the world compete in different sporting events like track & field, table tennis, gymnastics, archery, swimming, rugby, tennis, rowing, etc.

In the end, United States had the most medals of any other nation (thanks to swimming and track & field which were two of the most winning sports for our country). The Rio Olympics were one of the biggest Olympics as there were many records broken, medals won, and even drama [Ryan Lochte anyone? green water? and more].

The games came to a close with countries coming together (closing ceremonies) and the world celebrating their elite athletes as they return home to their respective countries. So what's next for these sports? Is that it for another four years??

Not at all.

In six days, another round of Olympic sports (games) will start again! This time - it's the Paralympics (Olympics for elite athletes with physical disabilities). Did you know that? No? Well...it's coming and be prepared to watch!

Because for the first time, in Paralympics history, the 2016 Rio Paralympics will be airing LIVE - specifically 70 hours. Remember when I first posted about it when it was first announced? Check out my previous post (from a couple years ago): Finally. The Paralympics to be Aired Live in U.S.

The 2014 Winter Paralympics were the first time NBC (and NBCSN) aired LIVE events from the Olympics and this year's Summer Games will get about 20 more hours than the previous Paralympics and it would mark about 65 more hours than the 2012 games where NBC only aired one hour highlights each of the five days.

With so much talk about diversity, equality, and more - it is IMPORTANT that you tune in and watch the games because this is a great deal for people with disabilities and the elite athletes who are competing. We need many viewers to watch the games because it will show our kids (with or without disabilities) that anyone has the capabilities of being an athlete.

The Paralympics help break down barriers between the disabled and abled. It is a step that helps bring equality towards all people (remember "disability" has their own group but not brought up in conversations). The following Facebook post is one of the ways Paralympics help bring awareness towards disability and help remove obstacles for people with disabilities (Tatyana McFadden is a great advocate for disability rights and adaptive sports.



Please take part in the Paralympic Movement (watching the Paralympics, sharing about the Paralympics, and more). Talk about the events you're watching and tell NBC that you want more for the future games. Paralympics deserve to get the same amount of air-time as the Olympics do!

Ready to watch some awesome athletes? Then check out NBC's schedule of the events, as well check out other places you can watch the games: IPC selects Dailymotion to live stream 680 hours of the Paralympics Games.

Then come back here and let me know what you're favorite sporting event is!!

Go Team USA. Bring home the gold!

Until Next Time

CGoerlich <3

Dear Gap Inc. (Old Navy Update #3)

Hey Everyone!

So I'm sure you're probably tired of these Old Navy update posts but like I've said before I'm going to continue writing them until well I guess until there's a change? Honestly I don't know when. But this post is going to be different then the ones previously. 

Now before I go into what this post is about. If you're new to this Old Navy ride, make sure you read the previous posts:

Old Navy

Old Navy Update

Old Navy Update #2

Old Navy: Trending on Twitter for the Wrong Reasons

Alright so yesterday, I went shopping at Menlo Park Mall and as always - Old Navy is one of the stores I go to (not because of this). So what I'm hoping you're going to ask is - how was the fitting rooms there? Any better than previously? Or the same?

Well...it was about the same and then not the same. What do I mean? Well yesterday in particular, this store seemed to have more clothing racks not only in the fitting room section but around the corners. They are doing better with leaving one of the rooms open and not blocked but they are still keeping the other one blocked, locked, and full of clothes (I'm guessing).

I also noticed that for the accessible rooms, they are allowing just about anyone to use them whether they are disabled or not. Can we please get it through everyone's head that when it says accessible, it's for those who need it (this isn't just for fitting rooms but also parking spots, bathrooms, arena seats, etc.).

But anyways I will say that Old Navy is ahead of where they were during my first post about it but again there is still more to be done - cleaner fitting rooms, keeping both accessible rooms accessible, and configuring the actual accessible room because hello, I still can't turn in the room to look in the mirror!

Remember this picture? (from Old Navy Update)

In the accessible fitting room at Old Navy

Well, it's still the same. The mirror is in an awkward position and so is the bench. Again if I can't fit it in it right - how do you expect someone with a power chair (or just a bigger chair) to do so?? I will again say that this isn't just at one of the stores, it's everywhere. I think at the moment, I've gone to about four Old Navy's in the New Jersey and they each have the same problem.

I love shopping at Old Navy and honestly if they fixed these fitting rooms, I would love it even more and I guarantee you that there are others who will as well.

Now after I was done shopping there yesterday, I decided to go to Gap and Banana Republic. To be honest with you, at first I wanted to see how their fittings room were since I know they are owned by the same parent organization (Gap Inc.). But when I got there, especially at the Gap, I found about new five shirts to buy (which was awesome!)

I also found that their fitting rooms are SO MUCH better than the ones at Old Navy. Check back to the Old Navy Update post for the picture from the Gap fitting room (at the other mall). When I entered the fitting room at the Gap, it was like a breath of fresh air. The same at the ones at Banana Republic (see following pictures).

The back of the Banana Republic's accessible fitting room.

Banana Republic's
accessible fitting room

As you can see by the two pictures above, I'm able to turn around and look in the mirror. I can look at my front, the back, the side, everywhere pretty much in these fitting rooms. So much better than the ones at Old Navy which I question - Why?? 

Gap Inc. is the parent organization of Old Navy, Gap, and Banana Republic but why isn't Old Navy up to par with their fitting rooms like Gap and Banana Republic?? 

Another difference I noticed between Gap and Banana Republic from Old Navy is that for the accessible rooms at Old Navy, they let anyone use those rooms (back to the whole use accessible rooms only if you need them [disability, need extra space, etc.]. 

But at Gap and Banana Republic, they leave those rooms locked but when someone with a wheelchair comes, they ask if I need the accessible room and then they will unlock the room to let me in. And then they will lock it after I'm finished with it. At least this is what happened yesterday which I have to say is Bravo! Because then I know the accessible rooms are being used for who needs them (and not just for anyone).

Another thing is that I noticed that if the accessible rooms are being used, I would be able to use the other rooms at Gap and Banana Republic because they're big enough for my wheelchair which is another check in my books.

So I'm asking Gap Inc. to please look into what's going on in the Old Navy stores when it concerns the fitting rooms because believe me it can definitely be better and I'm 100% sure that customer ratings would jump rocket and more people with disabilities would come shopping at the those stores. 

Reconfiguring the actual accessible rooms (to make getting to the mirror easier) and seeing what to do with the extra clothing racks (and clothes in the other accessible room) are just two things that can make the fitting rooms much easier to use. I'm not telling you how to do your jobs, I'm just making suggestions on how you can better your customers' experiences. 

Because I for sure can see how if customers are able to try on clothes, the more they may buy. Because believe me I can get frustrated easily with trying on clothes and then not want to continue shopping. I'm sure I'm not the only one. 

One thing I would definitely love to see is someone in the leadership role of Gap to appear on Undercover Boss and they can see first hand the differences in how the stories are run. It's just another suggestion (which I'm sure I've suggested in one of my other posts). 

Again - I would definitely be willing to show or discuss with Gap Inc. Old Navy's leaders ways on how they can make things better for all.

For all my readers, what do you think of this?? Are you tired of my Old Navy Update posts?? If so, share this and maybe I won't need to write anymore because there are more positive changes. 

Until Next Time

CGoerlich <3

Why People Are Upset With "Me Before You"

Hey Everyone!

I am here to talk about the controversial movie "Me Before You," adapted from novel with the same name written by Jojo Moyes (who also co-wrote the screenplay), starring Emilia Clarke and Sam Claflin, and why people are upset about the movie (and novel). 

Now I don't know if you heard but there's been a lot of controversy with the movie and novel as it goes in discussion of disability and assisted suicide. There's also the controversy over the fact that the main character whose played by Sam Claflin isn't portrayed by a person with a real disability. 

You're probably thinking - oh here we go again, she's complaining about disability in Hollywood again. Well of course I am - it's a big problem that is going on. But for more on that, again please go read my other posts under the Disability Advocacy tab. 

Now back to "Me Before You." After you read the plot for the film and novel, you may question why there is such a controversy with the thought of it: 

"Young and quirky Louisa 'Lou' Clark (Emilia Clarke) moves from one job to the next to help her family make ends meet. Her cheerful attitude is put to the test when she becomes a caregiver for Will Traynor (Sam Claflin), a wealthy young young banker left paralyzed from an accident two years earlier. Will's cynical outlook starts to change when Louisa shows him that life is worth living. As their bond deepens, their lives and hearts change in ways neither one could have imagined." 

It sounds great, doesn't it? Believe me at first I was on board with the whole thing because "oh it's such a change and with a happy ending," well I was wrong after a few times watching the commercials. I was over it after the second commercial seen. It also doesn't help that the actor isn't someone who is disabled (yes I mentioned again). 

There's a lot I can say about this movie and situation BUT there are other writers who wrote up better articles about their thoughts than I probably could so I recommend you to read them: 

Why Are You Complaining? Some People Actually Feel That Way: A Critique of Me Befo...
Hollywood Promotes The Idea It Is Better To Be Dead Than Disabled
'I'm Not A Thing To Be Pitied': The Disability Backlash Against Me Before You

For this post I want to talk to those who question the backlash and make comments on those articles about us complaining. There's many who don't see what's wrong with the story or what's wrong with the movie and of course to them, there isn't.

But the main problem that we have with this is not necessarily just the movie but it's the idea that it's going to put in to its viewers and readers' minds: people with disabilities don't have a reason to live or the fact that we may actually feel that way (some may do but I know a lot don't, I don't). 

For your information, I love being in a wheelchair and there are many who feel the same way whether it's being in a wheelchair, being amputee, being blind, or so on. We see the world in a different way than others do but we don't see that on TV or in the movie theaters. 

We see the disappointments. We see the "bad" things about being disabled. We don't see the real story of the person in the chair. There's so much more that needs to be seen than the "bad" stuff. Yes it's good to see what they go through but how about showing the whole picture instead of just one?

Life goes on. It doesn't stop because we're injured. We want to tell me that but movies like "Me Before You" doesn't let us. I know you're thinking - it's just one movie. But it's not. It's what's in the news. It's what you see trending on social media. It's everywhere. There's so much more negativity towards people with disabilities than there is of positivity and that needs to change. 

You may think we're "picking" on this movie but it's what needs to be done because we  need to get our point across. One. Stop casting non-disabled actors. Two. Do more research when you're writing about real people and a disability. Three. Listen to the complaints.

Now I have to say there have definitely been movies that have shown positive thoughts about living with a disability (and how to keep on living with one). 

Support those movies:

Miracle in Lane 2
Soul Surfer
Tru Confessions

Yes, these movies' actors aren't disabled but they do the movies the right way. There's also another movie about living with a disability that should be getting more recognition and that's The Fundamentals of Caring and ABC has red lit a new sitcom called Speechless (who in fact does have a disabled person playing a disabled character). 

I'm hoping that this is a sign that it's moving towards the way it should be. But there still needs a lot to be done. Also I have a question - how come it's ok for groups of people to complain when they are being misrepresented in movies and television but when it's the disabled group, we're seen as complainers (and should be lucky that they're even covering a story like that)?? 

I don't think that's right. Do you? Think of it that way. Remember read those articles that I recommend above. I hope they make you see the side we're coming from. Because again - enough is enough. We should be treated the same as everyone and get the same opportunities. 

Let me know what you think!

Until Next Time

CGoerlich <3 

Graduation!

Hey Everyone!

How's everyone doing? I hope the weather isn't too bad for you. It's been going up and down (warm and cold, mostly cold) for me. It's the end of May and some days are still in the 50s. Crazy! Alright, I'm not here to discuss the weather even though that would be a great conversation to have.

Anyways, I'm here to tell you that I have officially graduated from Kean University. Yes, I know I posted a post earlier this year about me receiving my degree in the mail. But this past Thursday (May 19th), was the 2016 Commencement and I walked (wheeled) with the rest of my class.

It was a great day. Our commencement speaker was Brandon Stanton (Founder of Humans of New York) and he the main thing that I got out from his speech is if you have a plan now, do it now rather than when you think the plan will be "perfect" because there will never necessarily be a "perfect" time for the project and it may turn out differently than it should've been. Something like that.

The overall day was great even after needing to wake up at 5 am to get ready so that we can be at the Prudential Center by 7 am. It commencement started at 8 am and lasted about 3 1/2 hours which wasn't too bad (considering having about 2,900 graduates).

Here are some pictures:



It was definitely worth the wait to take part in the Commencement and it was very accessible and everyone worked together to make sure that I took every part in the Commencement like my classmates. The ramp to the stage was useful and thank you to those who helped me to get up and down the ramp.

I also want to thank some of my fellow graduates who helped move the chairs so that I can get through the row to get to the other side for the line towards the stage. It was very helpful (especially since I didn't even have to ask)!

Always surround yourself with the right people and go to the right school that you feel is right for yourself. I am proud to call myself a Kean University alumni. Wow that sounds crazy after 4 1/2 years of taking classes there.

I want to thank my parents, family, friends, professors, classmates, and others who have helped form me who I am today and stood by through the years at Kean University! It was a great ride and I'm glad that I had every single one of you to be involved.

Now you're probably wondering - what's next? Job? Graduate School? Well I can tell you for sure that I will not be going to graduate school and I am job searching at the moment. There's also other things going on through my head that you may hear about soon? Who knows?

I will also be trying to update my blog more often.

Until Next Time

CGoerlich <3

Old Navy: Trending on Twitter for the Wrong Reasons

Hey Everyone!

If you have been following my blog, you know that I have been posting about Old Navy and the issues they have with their fitting rooms.

Well today (May 1st), they were trending on Twitter and I don't know if you know or not but if you're trending on Twitter then it's either a negative or positive thing. And well with Old Navy trending, it was for a negative reason. Negative reason behind the reasoning for why they are trending but a positive thing for Old Navy themselves.

Why were they trending? Well it was definitely not for the issues with their fitting rooms (wish it was) but it was because they shared a new ad of theirs for their "Thank You Event." Have you seen the ad? Well take a look at it:

Oh, happy day! Our #ThankYouEvent is finally here. Take 30% off your entire purchase: https://t.co/nGQ9Pji1pN pic.twitter.com/vq4mIczm6A

— Old Navy Official (@OldNavy) April 29, 2016

I don't see anything wrong with it. Do you? Well the reasoning for the title of this post (Trending on Twitter for the Wrong Reasons) is because Old Navy was. The reason why it was trending was because there was "controversy" over the picture. What exactly was that controversy? Well...it was the fact that they have an interracial couple in the ad.

Oh my goodness! What is wrong with them?! How could they do that? Don't they know it's completely wrong to have an interracial couple on the ad? Don't they know that it's so terrible to show a couple who love each other even though they're "different"? It's not right! How dare they?!

Please. I hope you know the previous paragraph is all sarcasm. Like seriously? You're complaining that they put a couple of different color on an ad?? It's the 21st century!!! Get over it. It's life. People should be happy to be with each other no matter if they are "different." If they love each other, shouldn't that be what's important??

I still can't believe that it's 2016 now and we're still talking about interracial couples not being right and the fact that people believe that white should always be with white, black should be with black, green should be with green, and so on. You get my point. That's also saying that someone who can walk shouldn't be with someone who is in a wheelchair. Don't even get me started on that.

The whole point of this post is that Old Navy is being trended on Twitter for a wrong reason. There are those who hate the ad because of the interracial couple and then there are those defending it. BUT, there's a bigger picture here.

They are still being trended for the wrong reason. I'm going back to my reason why they should be trending - the usage of their fitting rooms. There are more important issues going on here but no is talking about them. Again, it's the 21st century and 2016, it's all about love. Get over the race, sexual orientation, disability, etc. issues when it comes to relationships.

Focus on what's important and that's the fact that there are still issues with the fitting rooms at Old Navy but you would never see that trending on Twitter? Why? I still don't know. It's the fact that media will always play the race card or the gender inequality card or any other card instead of the inequality between disabled and abled card because it's what gets the viewers.

Again, there needs to a be a change here. Go click the Disability Advocacy link above to see my other "rants" about disability in media and other discussions because it's time for that controversy to be talking.

Now going back to Old Navy - can we please stop talking about what's "wrong" with the ad they posted because Ha Ha Ha, there's NOTHING wrong with it. What's wrong is more needs to be talked about than that ad. Like fitting rooms or other situations.

I love Old Navy and I'm on their side with the ad they posted because it's a family that love each other but I'm here still wanting a change in their accessibility of the accessible fitting rooms in their stores. Please READ and SHARE my previous posts about Old Navy's fitting rooms:

Old Navy
Old Navy Update
Old Navy Update #2

This is what needs to be discussed. Not the ad. Yes there is still a problem with people believing that "different" people can't be together and the fact that there are those who are planning to boycott Old Navy because of it. Like come on.

Again even though I've been against the fittings rooms issue at Old Navy, I still support them because they have great clothes and items.

I don't know if you agree or disagree with what I have written and I'm all for different opinions so if you have a different opinion or don't like what I wrote; or you do agree, please leave a comment below!

In order for us to come together, we need to be open and listen to other people's opinions and have a conversation on how we can make things better for everyone.

Until Next Time

CGoerlich <3