I'm not a celebrity at all, like not even close, but I made a video about Arthrogryposis Awareness Day and it's getting attention from public figures. We don't have a big person like Christopher Reeve to represent us, so awareness is a grassroots effort. I started small and sent it to public figures who already know me, like staff on Supernatural, my boys in NKOTB, the Paranormal State cast years ago, and such. Last year the writers on Supernatural participated in Arthrogryposis Awareness Day.
So far this year, I've got my usual crowd on my social media platforms, my GISHWHES team, Johnathon Schaech looks to possibly participate (That Thing You Do, Texas Rising), Kim Rhodes shared it with her crowd (Secret Life of Zach & Cody, Supernatural), Tahmoh Penikett saved the link (Supernatural, Strange Empire), Mitch Pileggi shared it with his crowd (The X-Files, Dallas, Supernatural), and Susanna Kearsley will participate (a favorite author). I think I might be forgetting someone. I feel like I am.
I'm certainly not bragging at all. I'm simply making the point that if you have a cause you're passionate about, you can get exposure for it when others see your passion for it. You may be one person but you have a voice. Through these simple bleed-throughs on social media, thousands of people have been exposed to my condition who might otherwise know it exists. If they watch the video, then they'll learn about people like me and we'll become a little more human as opposed to an abstract lumping into "those disabled people". That's why reaching out to public figures is important. They have a bigger platform than I do.
We'll see how many more people I can reach before June 30. It’s my mission every year at this time.
