There’s not enough opportunities for people with disabilities to work in theater. There’s not enough opportunity to even try out. Some theater places won’t even look at you because you have a disability. They’ll say, “Yeah, you have a disability, forget it.”
Transcript
Karen Thorud: If I’m so handicapped, how come I’m an artist? How come I’ve earned a few solos in my time, worked overseas, and performed like other artists?
Host: This is Keep Moving Forward.
George H.W. Bush: Let the shameful wall of exclusion finally come tumbling down.
Host: Exploring the legacy and promise of the Americans with Disabilities Act.
Karen Thorud: My name is Karen Thorud. My label: mental retardation, bipolar and mental illness. My profession is: performing artist.
There's not enough opportunities for people with disabilities to work in theater. There's not enough opportunity to even try out. Some theater places won't even look at you because you have a disability. They’ll say, “Yeah, you have a disability, forget it.”
Touring is fun, you get to perform, you see part of the night life. The last tour I took, I got my nails done, I got claps, and applause, it was beautiful. They should look at us with Abilities, not the “dis,” take the “dis” out of Disability.
Host: Keep Moving Forward is supported by The Minnesota Council on Disability, The Minnesota Humanities Center and the Minnesota Arts & Cultural Heritage Fund, online at Ampers.org.