My Essay on The Washington Post: “Why the New Peppa Pig Character Gives Me Hope”

Peppa PigMY PEPPA PIG ARTICLE IS PUBLISHED ON THE WASHINGTON POST!!!!!

Umm, can you tell just how excited I am, friends?!?!?!? The Washington Post is a BIG deal for me, ever since I saw All The President’s Men, so I’m beyond thrilled to share my second piece for their On Parenting section!! I got to write about Mandy Mouse, the new character in a wheelchair on British import Peppa Pig, and how ordinary her introduction was. Spoiler alert: That’s a GOOD thing! Disability representation is having a moment in 2019 and I’m here for it!

Peppa Pig is incredibly popular with the under-5 set, as I learned during my interviews with experts and parents. And for good reason! The show presents wonderful, relevant lessons for children, and the lessons are subtly woven into the plot instead of just stated outright. Surprisingly, it was Ms. Bear who gave me the idea to write about Mandy Mouse, and I’m so glad she did. Mandy was presented as just another new character, not a new character in a wheelchair. She talked about her wheelchair, but it never felt forced or out of step with the rest of the episode.

Here’s an excerpt of the piece, and I’m extra happy because the editors chose the headline I suggested, which rarely happens in the freelance writing business…

It’s essential that children with disabilities see themselves represented on their favorite TV shows, and it’s just as important that able-bodied children see these disabilities as well. Mandy Mouse gives me hope for the future. She gives me hope that the next generation won’t have to wonder why there aren’t characters like them on TV. She gives me hope that children won’t be afraid when they meet someone with a disability — that meeting them is, like on “Peppa Pig,” no big deal. She gives me hope that when it comes to inclusion, real, lasting change is possible.

Yes, seeing the person (er, mouse) instead of the disability. This is what inclusion is all about. On TV and in real life.

Peppa PigYou can read the full piece here and I’d love to hear your thoughts. Feel free to email me anytime at mellow1422@aol.com and let’s chat! And of course, feel free to share my essay on Facebook, Twitter or even your local refrigerator. If you share on Twitter, be sure to tag me @melissablake so we can connect! I can’t wait to hear from you! Love you all… xoxo

My Essay on Adweek: “Burger King Started a Flawed Conversation Around Mental Health, But…”

Burger KingWell, friends, it looks like I’m one step closer to becoming Peggy Olson!! How, you ask? I scored my first byline with Adweek last week!! It’s an op-ed, naturally, about Burger King and their new Real Meals campaign and how brands can better approach the topic of mental health.

This was a piece that just sort of happened spontaneously. I usually spend quite awhile crafting pitches and deciding where to send them — sometimes, it feels like the pre-writing process takes longer than the actual writing of the piece once it’s accepted. But when I heard about Burger King’s ad for Mental Health Awareness Month, there was an icky disconnect that just wasn’t sitting right with me. So, of course, I took fingers to keyboard and penned my thoughts.

That’s the thing about op-eds. They force you to write fast. To outline your thoughts quickly, choose your words carefully for maximum impact and work ahead of the clock because you’re always in a constant race with time. Because time is definitely not on the op-ed writer’s side; the worst feeling is missing that timeliness window and having your piece become irrelevant. Like I’ve said many times, the news cycle is unforgiving.

Anyway, here’s an excerpt of the piece, in which I couldn’t resist using the pun “food for thought” in the first paragraph…

“As someone who has battled mental health issues in the past, I applaud Burger King’s intention. People are talking, especially on social media, which means that the campaign is making an impact and is clearly a conversation we need to be having.

Was the campaign executed perfectly? No.

In the end, it’s important to remember that mental illness isn’t a gimmick. It’s not a marketing ploy. It’s a complex issue that is relevant for more than one month every year in May. Discussions on mental illness certainly don’t end here, but Burger King is at least starting a conversation; I’d take the beginnings of a conversation over silence any day.”

You can read the full piece here and I’d love to hear your thoughts. Feel free to email me anytime at mellow1422@aol.com and let’s chat! And of course, feel free to share my essay on Facebook, Twitter or even your local refrigerator. If you share on Twitter, be sure to tag me @melissablake so we can connect! I can’t wait to hear from you! And here’s to us going home for the holidays, wherever that may be! Love you all… xoxo

My Essay on Glamour: “No, My Disability Doesn’t Make Me Undateable”

DisabilityYAYYY!!! It’s finally here!! I’ve been so excited for my newest Glamour essay to come out because it’s all about my two favorite topics: Dating and my disability!!! And, SPOILER ALERT, there’s a shout-out to the haters!!

*Cue waving emoji*

Seriously, though, this piece has been a long time coming! For years, I’ve written about how my disability has impacted my dating life — or, let’s be real, lack thereof — and to finally be able to write about it for a place like Glamour? It’s incredibly gratifying. And, well, a bit scary to be this vulnerable in a publication that is read by so many people.

But, thankfully, the response has been overwhelmingly positive! I just really want to shout THANK YOU from the rooftops!! The response has been overwhelming in the best way possible. Someone even said that reading the essay made them want to see an independent woman with a disability in a rom-com!! This is exactly why I write!! I think that’s why so many writers write in the first place — to be seen, to be understood, to make an impact on the world. Plus, writing this piece made me want to write another MEMO TO MEN since it’s been ages since I’ve written one! I’d say we’re due for another, wouldn’t you, friends?

Since this piece came out last month, I’ve been talking about it A LOT on social media, but that’s actually the whole point. The fact that we’re talking so openly and honestly about dating and disabilities?? That’s HUGE. Seeing disability advocates share my piece on social media means that we’re not afraid to have these types of conversations. It makes me feel like what I want isn’t some unrealistic, daydream-y fantasy that is reserved for other people. In the end, I’ve never felt more vulnerable, but I’ve also never felt more seen. OK, I’m done with the Hallmark movie monologue!

Anyway, here’s an excerpt of the piece, where I spell out EXACTLY what I’m looking for in a relationship, which is pretty much what every woman is looking for. Really, I may be disabled, but I’m not that special…

“It’s time to set the record straight: I am disabled, desirable, and not looking for a nurse.

Sometimes I feel like I need to put those words on a neon sign in Times Square. I know there are many ways my disability does make me different—like the fact that I use a wheelchair to get around—but it’s 2019, for goodness’ sake. Don’t we deserve all the same things in a relationship as able-bodied women? My wheelchair doesn’t make me something other than a woman.

There are so many things I do want, and brace yourself, because this might come as a shock: I want the same things you want in a relationship. I want a guy who makes me laugh, who is kind and gentle and sensitive, who is family-oriented, who is as obsessed with pop culture as I am. I want to be myself, to be seen, to be loved—disability and all.”

Someone said “May you find love in 2019” after reading this essay, and I’m choosing to take that as a crystal-ball level prediction. Come at me, 2019…I’m more than ready for you!!

You can read the full piece here and I’d love to hear your thoughts. Feel free to email me anytime at mellow1422@aol.com and let’s chat! And of course, feel free to share my essay on Facebook, Twitter or even your local refrigerator. If you share on Twitter, be sure to tag me @melissablake so we can connect! I can’t wait to hear from you! And here’s to us going home for the holidays, wherever that may be! Love you all… xoxo

 

My Essay on CNN Opinion: “Wheelchair Barbie — the Doll I’ve Been Waiting My Entire Life For”

Wheelchair BarbieRemember when I shared that photo of the Barbie collection that Janelle and I had growing up? You know, how we’d play with them for hours on end and give them grand, sweeping adventures? Ahh, yes, those were certainly the days — shout to the ’80s and ’90s!! But you know what? I always used to wonder why none of the dolls looked like me. Where was Wheelchair Barbie, I thought??

Well, I got to celebrate a most glorious of days recently!! One of my writing goals for 2019 is to publish an op-ed on CNN every month. I’m 2/2 so far with my latest essay about Mattel’s upcoming Barbie in a wheelchair and what this means for disability representation. And, YES, this is such a big deal when it comes to the disability community. It means that children will feel seen in their favorite toys. It means that they’ll be able to identify with the toys they play with every day. It means that they’ll feel included rather than excluded.

That. Is. Monumental. My amazing friend Emily Ladau says it perfectly. Emily is a writer and disability advocate, and like me, she wished for Wheelchair Barbie when she was young…

“To see a move toward updating and expanding disability representation in Barbie’s world isn’t just fulfilling one of my childhood wishes; it’s ensuring that other kids who play with Barbie dolls will also recognize that disability is part of who people are. While I believe there’s much more work to be done for the toy industry to truly represent diversity in a meaningful way, I think including certain types of physical disabilities indicates a long overdue step in the right direction.”

Here’s an excerpt of the piece, where I was so happy to get the chance to interview some disability advocates and get their thoughts…

“Maybe with the new Barbie in a wheelchair, future generations of children with disabilities will come to embrace what makes them different instead of feeling shame. Being disabled profoundly shapes a person’s experiences. It’s an important part of one’s identity, and like Doctor Barbie or Black Barbie, it should be represented and normalized.

And for some people with disabilities, a wheelchair even plays a key role in their personal success. It’s both a powerful symbol of freedom and independence, and a tool that helps people live a full and meaningful life.

As Barbie celebrates her 60th birthday next month, my hope is that these lessons surrounding representation, inclusivity and empathy will inspire a new generation.”

Wheelchair BarbieYou can read the full piece here and I’d love to hear your thoughts. Feel free to email me anytime at mellow1422@aol.com and let’s chat! And of course, feel free to share my essay on Facebook, Twitter or even your local refrigerator. If you share on Twitter, be sure to tag me @melissablake so we can connect! I can’t wait to hear from you! And here’s to us going home for the holidays, wherever that may be! Love you all… xoxo

My Essay on CNN Opinion: “Casting Bryan Cranston As a Quadriplegic…?

Bryan CranstonI suppose it’s only fitting that my first byline of 2019 is a CNN op-ed!! I wrote about how disappointing it is to see another able-bodied actor playing a disabled character. This time, it’s Bryan Cranston in The Upside and, well, I don’t see any upside to lack of representation. And if the comments I’ve received are any indication, we’ve got a long way to go on squashing ableism. Spoiler alert: NEVER read the Twitter comments!

Anyway, I’ve written about the need for greater and more positive disability representation in TV and movies in the past. I’ve also featured initiatives like the Disability Film Challenge that are advocating for inclusion and working tirelessly to give actors with disabilities a voice. That’s why, with all these amazing changes happening in the disability community, Hollywood still seems so behind the times. Are they just not hearing our pleas? Do they not care about getting it right on the big and small screen? When will they catch up and get it right?

Here’s an excerpt of the piece, in which I outline exactly how it makes me feel to see an able-bodied actor on screen, in a wheelchair, playing a character who is disabled. It’s not only insulting, but it’s also incredibly inauthentic to see Bryan Cranston in the role…

As a disabled woman, I never saw people like me on TV or the movie screen. I didn’t see them in my favorite romantic comedies. I didn’t see them in my favorite sitcoms. I didn’t see them anywhere — not even in commercials. Instead, I saw able-bodied actors playing disabled characters.

There is an important distinction here. It’s easy to pretend to have a disability for a few months, knowing that you can get out of the wheelchair and walk away from it once filming is over. You will eventually leave it behind and go on to the next project.

But people with disabilities can’t do that. Part of acting is being able to identify with the character you’re playing, and being disabled is an identity, so no matter how brilliant the actor is, unless that actor is also disabled, the authenticity just won’t be there and the character won’t be entirely believable.

You can read the full piece here and I’d love to hear your thoughts and this casting of Bryan Cranston! Feel free to email me anytime at mellow1422@aol.com and let’s chat! And of course, feel free to share my essay on Facebook, Twitter or even your local refrigerator. If you share on Twitter, be sure to tag me @melissablake so we can connect! I can’t wait to hear from you! And here’s to us going home for the holidays, wherever that may be! Love you all… xoxo