I recently saw a movie called the The Diving Bell and the Butterfly, a memoir by Jean- Dominique Baudby. The film depicts Baudby’s life after having a massive stroke at the age of 43, which left him with a condition known as locked-in syndrome. The condition paralyzed him, with the exception of his left eyelid, so that he could only communicate by blinking.

The film is initially told entirely from the point of view of Baudby, as he wakes from his three-week coma in a hospital in Berck, France. A neurologist explains that he has locked-in syndrome, an extremely rare condition in which the patient is almost completely physically paralyzed, but remains fully mentally alert. The viewer hears the thoughts of Baudby, which are unattainable to the other characters, and sees through his one functioning eye.

The film made me think of how we in America do not personally connect with people with disabilities. People without disabilities need to be educated by the disability community. For me, the point of view of this movie really helped me connect with what it was to experience this disability. Imagine yourself with this disability, unable to communicate your most basic thoughts and desires. You have time to reflect on your life and what it means to you. Your values and lifestyle become very important.

At first, the movie sounded dull to me because it was subtitled. But I discovered that I was fascinated by Baudby’s thoughts and how he communicated with the outside world just by blinking to form words. He communicated with his speech therapist, using his left eye as she reads a list of letters to spell out his messages, letter by letter. This is a man who led the life of a carefree womanizing bachelor, then is suddenly paralyzed and speechless. What a shock!!!

France has socialized medicine, so he was able to get the care and treatment he needed. It is a wonderful story which works on many levels that an ordinary story doesn’t work, because it’s so real. The story touched by heart and made me realize how much more work is to be done to empower the disability community. People with disabilities have a right to equality, justice and a quality life.

Freedom for all our American citizens, including those with disabilities, is a core value we must hold dear. Voting privately and independently is right that all citizens should have. Until recently, the voting booth has been an obstacle to the disability community. For the past two years, CDR has been host to new, more accessible, voting machines at our office at 497 State Street. One person, one vote. People with disabilities need and want their opinion to be included. Now they can.

When you vote, please look at the candidate’s record on the disability issues. Don’t assume that party line or political rhetoric mean anything. Just candidates by the facts of their record on crucial disability issues, for example Senator Barak Obama is a cosponsor of the Community Choice Act, Senator John McCain is not.

Our advocacy at CDR has always been wonderful. Look to CDR’s advocacy department to get information on where the candidates stand on the disability issues that we hold so dear. You can expect that they will be sharing a lot of good information regarding the candidates for various offices.

The fight is always going on. We all do better when we all do better. The few should not always gain more and achieve more. All Americans, have the right to an independent, quality life. In these economically challenging times, we need to stand firm on our values.

Be an educated voter. The disability community deserves nothing less.