2004 Barbara Jordan Media Award Winners

Award Winners

• Special Contribution - Individual:
  "Kids on Wheels" Jean Dobbs (Santa Monica, California)
• Special Contribution - Organization:
  "CTD Film Festival" Coalition of Texans with Disabilities (Austin, TX)
• Special Contribution - Student:
  "Not Your Average Joe" Miranda Scarborough
• Print Article:
  "Wheelchair Ruggers" John Maher (Austin, TX)
• Photojournalism:
  "A World of Their Own" Kelly West (Austin, TX)
• TV - Advertising:
  "The Moment Before" The Home Depot (Atlanta, Georgia) & The Richards Group (Dallas, TX)
• TV - Documentary:
  "Conquering the Dream" Sean Hamilton & Arnold Payne (Dallas, TX)
• TV - News Feature:
  "Candlelight Ranch" Jim Swift (Austin, TX)

Details About 2004's Winners

Special Contribution - Individual: "Kids on Wheels"

Award Winner: Jean Dobbs, Santa Monica, California (310) 392-1416, jean_dobbs@earthlink.net

Kids on Wheels is an indispensable two-volume book designed to educate young persons, teachers and other professionals about wheelchair lifestyle. The kid's volume is a fun and unique guide including easy-to-read information on service animals, participation in the arts, tips on making friends and an ADA primer. Three Texas youth with disabilities speak candidly about independence and taking charge.

The adult's volume contains valuable information about health and medicine, parenting tips, advice on insurance issues, as well as tips for navigating the educational and legal systems.

Judges liked Dobbs' novel approach of creating a user manual for people with disabilities. Judges also appreciated that the book was kid friendly and could help an individual adapt and see that they are not alone.

Special Contribution - Organization: "CTD Film Festival"

Award Winner: Coalition of Texans with Disabilities, Austin Dennis Borel, 512-478-3366, dborel@cotwd.org
Nominator: William Greer, 512-478-3366

The Cinema Touching Disability Film Festival used films to illustrate the way the media's changing portrayals and representation of disability has mirrored society. The 50-second clip produced by Thomas Edison entitled "The Fake Beggar" is thought to be the first representation of disability in cinema; the 1932 production "Freaks," shows people with disabilities working in a carnival sideshow. Also featured were the 1986 classic "Children of a Lesser God" and "Shattering Stereotypes on Mt. Everest," which spotlights Austin climber Gary Guller.

Judges liked that the festival appealed to a broad audience. They especially enjoyed seeing the Team Everest documentary that captured many successes.

Special Contribution - Student: "Not Your Average Joe"

Award Winner: Miranda Scarborough, La Porte High School, (281) 604-7617, mmmiranda@hellokitty.com
Nominator: Susan Roberts, La Porte High School, (281) 604-7617, robertss@lpisd.org

Miranda Scarborough's article, "Not Your Average Joe" features fellow high school student Steven Dudley, who happens to have Cerebral Palsy. Scarborough shows that Steven is known as a friendly, outgoing and determined student who has a wide array of hobbies and who is also interested in attending college to pursue a journalism degree.

Judges observed that Scarborough painted a realistic picture of Steven, whose style and personality led him to become Homecoming King of his high school.

Print Article: "Wheelchair Ruggers"

Award Winner: John Maher, Austin American Statesman, (512) 445-3956, jmaher@statesman.com

"Wheelchair Ruggers" spotlights Mark Zupan and Norm Lyduch, members of the U.S. wheelchair rugby team competing in Athens, Greece. Maher's use of language gives readers a vivid description of the game and focuses on the athletes, not on the disability.

Judges thought this article was interesting, easy-to-read and helped them visualize the sport and did not dwell on disability. Judges especially enjoyed the article's ending quote: "I don't need to walk to be a person. It's not important to me."

Photojournalism: "A World of Their Own"

Award Winner: Kelly West, Austin American Statesman, (512) 445-3685, kwest@statesman.com

"A World of Their Own" features an Austin family in which five out of six children have autism. Photojournalist Kelly West captures the various forms of autism as well as the diverse personalities of the O'Donnell children.

Judges noted that the photographs got below the surface and showed what daily life is like for the O'Donnell family. Judges also felt the photographs were realistic and captured each child's individuality.

TV - Advertising: "The Moment Before"

Award Winner: The Home Depot, Atlanta, Georgia (770) 384-5776, elizabeth_maleski@homedepot.com & The Richards Group, Dallas, (214) 891-5043, doug_martin@richards.com

This 30-second TV advertisement spotlights U.S. Olympic and Paralympic hopefuls and has been broadcast nationally. The attitude reflected in the ad is one of inclusiveness as it focuses on the athlete. The Home Depot is shown to be an organization that is a proud supporter of employees with and without disabilities.

The judges favored the quality production of this TV advertisement especially its energy through quick edits that grabbed the attention of the many viewers interested in the Olympic and Paralympic games.

TV - Documentary: "Conquering the Dream"

Award Winner: Sean Hamilton & Arnold Payne, WFAA-TV, Dallas, (214) 977-6280, shamilton@wfaa.com

"Conquering the Dream" features a group of teenagers who are amputees on a ski trip to Winter Park, Colorado. Award winners Hamilton and Payne provide viewers with insight to life as teenagers with disabilities who express thoughts and emotions by sharing personal experiences. In addition, this documentary shows the group's ability to participate in daily life and recreational activities with the use of prosthetics and adaptive equipment.

Judges enjoyed this entertaining and well-produced piece. In particular, they noted the remarkable sense of personal triumph expressed by the teens and hearing the stories each had to share.

TV - News Feature: "Candlelight Ranch"

Award Winner: Jim Swift, KXAN-TV, Austin (512) 476-3636, jim.swift@kxan.com
Nominator: Don Barr, (512) 323-5300, donbarr@sbcglobal.net

The Candlelight Ranch demonstrated success by building an accessible tree house. The inclusive atmosphere at Candlelight Ranch is visible throughout, but particularly when showing children at play.

The judges found "Candlelight Ranch" to be an interesting news feature that proves equal access is achievable, even twenty feet above ground. The judges particularly enjoyed the sights and sounds of the children interacting with staff members and each other.