The Joys of Brain Damage

For stuff related to Cerebral Palsy and Disability. This includes random rants. Stuff about disability rights and thoughts on my identity as a disabled person with spastic diplegia.

[cripvideoproductions]

Big news from Crip Video Productions! 🎬

We are incredibly proud to share that our founder, Margot Cole, will be presenting an upcoming training focused on a topic close to our hearts: strengthening independence.

This training is a fantastic opportunity for youth and the people who support them—families, educators, mentors, and community partners—to learn together in an engaging and welcoming environment. Margot will be presenting in her capacity as a PYLN member, bringing her expertise and unique perspective to the table!

Training Details:

📅 Date: June 3, 2026

⏰ Time: 3:00–4:00 PM

📍 Location: Zoom (Registration required to receive the link)

👥 Who Should Attend: Youth and their supports

✅ Cost: FREE (Brought to you through the Pathways 2 Partnership Disability Innovation Fund Grant)

Registration Priority:

We are prioritizing spots for disabled students/youth and families.

Professionals: If you wish to attend without a youth participant, please email [email protected] to be added to the waitlist. Spots will be offered to the waitlist after youth and families have had time to register.

Please help us spread the word! Share this post with any youth, families, or colleagues who may benefit from this session. For any questions or more info, feel free to contact Hillary at the email above.

Thank you for helping us support youth and the people who stand beside them. We hope to see you there!

[joysofbraindamage]

https://youtu.be/vDf3Gni0l1c This is a video about the nervous system focusing on the frontal lobe of the human brain, showing the impact of traumatic brain injury on the frontal lobe.

#Epilepsy #Autism #CerebralPalsy  

[joysofbraindamage]

Happy Passover 2026 part 2!

[joysofbraindamage]

Happy Passover 2026 from 2 disabled folks!

[joysofbraindamage]

"Dylan Rothbein Liberty Coalition has just released a video on the value and vibrancy of lives lived with Down Syndrome.In a world that often overlooks the beauty of neurodiversity, this film explores the reality of choosing life and the incredible impact these individuals have on our families and communities. As a director, my mission has always been to show our community living vibrantly and thriving—not just "existing.Watch the full project here!

[joysofbraindamage]

View this post on Instagram

Student club thought to be ableist.

[joysofbraindamage]

View this post on Instagram

accessible tech for video editing

[joysofbraindamage]

View this post on Instagram

advice for the disabled on Purim!

[cripvideoproductions]

Urgent Call to Action: Support for a Beloved Friend and Crip Video Productions Supporter, Jeff Tarnoff

We're reaching out today with a heavy heart to ask for your support for one of the dearest members of the Crip Video Productions family, Jeff Tarnoff.

Jeff is a tireless supporter of our work and a true friend. Our director, Margot, has known him since she was just 12 years old, and he's been a constant source of encouragement and a vibrant part of her life and the mission of CVP ever since. Many of you may also know Jeff from his dedication to community arts, including his significant work with Teatro Paraguas, especially the wonderful Umbrella Children's Theater.

Jeff has recently been diagnosed with bladder cancer and is facing significant medical and living expenses as he goes through treatment and recovery. This sudden diagnosis has put an enormous financial strain on him.

We are asking our community to rally around Jeff now, just as he has always rallied around us and the arts community he served.

He has set up a GoFundMe campaign to help cover the costs of his medical bills, specialized care, and daily living expenses while he fights this battle.

Please consider making a donation, no matter the size, to help Jeff on his journey to recovery:

➡️ Link to GoFundMe: Donate to Jeff's Journey to Recovery

If you are unable to donate, please share this post widely within your networks. Every share helps us reach someone who might be able to lend a hand.

Thank you, as always, for being the compassionate community that makes Crip Video Productions possible. Let's show Jeff the strength of our collective support.

With gratitude,

The Crip Video Productions Team

[cripvideoproductions]

Disabled Filmmaker Margot Cole discusses casting, representation, and her creative process by Margot Cole

This is a modified expanded version of an article that appeared on a site called Disabled Spectator on 8/23/2017 about Crip Video Productions. Dylan Rothbein gave permission to be mentioned and consulted on the expanded aspects. You can see the original post here https://cripvideoproductions.tumblr.com/post/164714418391/disabled-filmmaker-margot-cole-on-writing

[joysofbraindamage]

From Dylan Rothbein Liberty Coalition

"In production it can be hard to figure out how to work with different disabilities so this is a tutorial on how to work with an actor who uses AAC. We also touch on how to safely reenact seizures. In this video you will see how you can work with an actor with disabilities similar to quadriplegia Cerebral Palsy....A Dylan Rothbein Liberty Coalition / Crip Video Productions collaboration. https://cripvideoproductions.com  " @cripvideoproductions

[joysofbraindamage]

From Dylan Rothbein Liberty Coalition

"With a heavy heart I must inform the masses that I had the misfortune of having a glitch like Stitch. This video catalogs an event at synagogue where I had a brain explosion and fell out of my throne causing me to lose my voice for 2 weeks. Now my voice may go out during seizures so I will use AAC because AAC makes this country great...."

[joysofbraindamage]

IBM hired its first employee with a disability, 59 years before the passage of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and 76 years before the Americans with Disabilities Act

[joysofbraindamage]

It's Cerebral Palsy awareness month yet again.

[joysofbraindamage]

For Cerebral Palsy awareness month featuring @cripvideoproductions

[joysofbraindamage]

Returned hostages to receive full disability rights, extra lifestyle benefits

This recognition is permanent and includes all rights in the mental, medical, employment, education, housing, car, full tax exemption, and o

[joysofbraindamage]

Out Of My Mind movie

SPOILER ALERT! I watched "Out Of My Mind" the movie with some fellow disabled activists after hearing the book source material get ripped to shreds by various disabled reviewers. None of us found the movie to be inspiration porn or inaccurate. The movie has accurate disability representation with an actress with Cerebral Palsy in the title role. This actress nailed it. The strength of the character shined. The dialogue for the character to speak via AAC device was awesome and badass. My fellow activist friend said this film deserves an Academy Award. The movie was marketed as woke but I do not see any wokeness in the movie itself which is a relief. The movie reminded me of Margarita With A Straw with an awesome depiction of Cerebral Palsy, but geared towards a younger demographic. I was shocked at the scene where the sister was almost run over in a good way, I did not expect the movie to go there and it was extremely well done. My only issue with the movie was why did the ableist teacher not get fired immediately for not grading the main character correctly and then leaving her out of the competition? Incorrect/bias grades is usually grounds for removal. Disney finally made a good film again after a string of duds.