whoisjohngalt
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Post by whoisjohngalt on Nov 7, 2013 9:54:20 GMT -5
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Miss Tequila
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Post by Miss Tequila on Nov 7, 2013 10:51:43 GMT -5
As the mom of a special needs child (albeit one that doesn't have "obvious" physical disabilities) I'm not in favor of this. I wouldn't want my child being the token "disabled" child used in ads.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Nov 7, 2013 11:00:35 GMT -5
I don't know how I feel about it. A model's purpose is to entice people to purchase your product. They may not have honorable intentions but the company thinks this little lady will help their bottom line. I'd hate to think they're using pity to get people to open up their purse strings.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Nov 7, 2013 11:02:21 GMT -5
As the mom of a special needs child (albeit one that doesn't have "obvious" physical disabilities) I'm not in favor of this. I wouldn't want my child being the token "disabled" child used in ads. I wouldn't want my kid, special needs or not, to be a model or in ads or in tv or in movies, etc, etc, etc.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Nov 7, 2013 11:03:03 GMT -5
Yeah, Disney channel shows are where the big bucks are at!
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Tiny
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Post by Tiny on Nov 7, 2013 11:13:50 GMT -5
Clothing marketing seems to based more on selling to 'emotions' than anything so maybe it is all for the 'feel good' a customer might get which would make them buy the clothes. But, then maybe it's more about diversity and attempting to show 'real' people wearing the clothes... nah.. what am I thinking. So much clothing marketing is already twisted and warped. Have you ever really looked at the photos of models in catalogs/ads? they are photoshopped - sometimes into parodies of humans - watch for those elongated torsos - or legs - or necks. It's all meant to make the 'viewer' of the ad feel/percieve a certain way.
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Sam_2.0
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Post by Sam_2.0 on Nov 7, 2013 11:13:59 GMT -5
Not sure what I think about it either. But the little girl is cute She looks a lot like my friend's little girl with CP. Hopefully some of the modeling funds will help the parents with her long-term care.
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The Captain
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Post by The Captain on Nov 7, 2013 11:14:07 GMT -5
In general I would not want my child to be a model, tv star etc.
However, the little girl is adorable and has an amazing smile. Those are key criteria needed for "normal" models so why should she not get a shot like everyone else?
PLUS she will likely have additional expenses later in life, heck give her a chance to save up a little!
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whoisjohngalt
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Post by whoisjohngalt on Nov 7, 2013 11:28:44 GMT -5
I don't see this as any different from any other chikd model situation. The article does note that people with disabilities have historically been hidden away. So giving them equal ops to be models... why not?I don't know....it just seems that company was saying "hey, see how nice we are, getting a kid with disabilities". Like I said - I don't know how I feel about it. But then again, I am one of those crazy paranoid parents that I didn't even let my local paper have a pic of my kid during a library festival. They were all "oh, he is so adorable and he could be on our front page" and I was like "get away from my kid you perv". yeah, I don't think I am good judge of this kind of thing.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Nov 7, 2013 11:35:18 GMT -5
Turns out that one of my neighbors is the photographer for the Bee paper, so my kids and the neighbor were on the cover one Halloween. They butchered both of my kids names (first and last were wrong on both of them!) so I don't think I have to worry.
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HoneyBBQ
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Post by HoneyBBQ on Nov 7, 2013 11:42:35 GMT -5
I think having exposure (for the general population) to children with special needs is important. I think it would be nice if people/children with disabilities (both mental and physical) were not shunned nor stared at. I don't think they need to be on a pedestal, but I don't think they should be hidden.
For example, my DD gets to watch an Elmo you-tube video about teeth brushing every night when we brush her teeth (it's like 90 seconds). It shows lots of kids brushing their teeth and singing a silly song. One of the kids clearly has downs syndrome. I appreciate that he is in the video so my DD can see that not everyone "looks" the same exactly but they still share many common things (like needing to brush their teeth). I hope that in the future she can recognize that other kids look different and behave different in many ways but they are all still kids.
But I am not a parent to a special needs child, so I really have no idea what it must feel like to be one.
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sheilaincali
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Post by sheilaincali on Nov 7, 2013 12:04:52 GMT -5
The little girl went to a regular casting call, is in the picture with non-disabled kids. The pictures I saw didn't draw any attention to her disability aside from the fact that sit is sitting down or reclining rather than standing. She appears to be smiling and happy in the pictures. I don't think that she or her family she is being exploited.
I prefer a more realistic ad campaign. I'd like to see this as the store representing their demographic and the mass market. I don't think this is significantly different than JC Penny's having an ad that features a lesbian couple or Cheerio's having an ad that features an kid with interracial parents.
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cktc
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Post by cktc on Nov 7, 2013 12:22:31 GMT -5
The kid is adorable, likes the clothing, and it took a couple years before she got a callback, not really seeing anything untoward here.
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whoisjohngalt
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Post by whoisjohngalt on Nov 7, 2013 12:28:28 GMT -5
yeah, I guess you guys are right.
Like I said, I think I am very cynical when it comes to marketing in general and especially when it involves kids.
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greeniis10
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Post by greeniis10 on Nov 7, 2013 14:39:17 GMT -5
My initial reactions was, no, I don't like it, for similar reasons as Miss Tequila, but it did change my mind slightly that she is not the first child with a disability that they've used in a campaign (as the article notes). Plus, she is pictured along with the other children and not specifically in her wheelchair and/or speaking device, which to me means the disability itself is not being spotlighted.
I hope for positive results from this ad.
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zibazinski
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Post by zibazinski on Nov 7, 2013 15:48:34 GMT -5
Models come in all shapes and sizes now so why not?
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Miss Tequila
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Post by Miss Tequila on Nov 7, 2013 18:26:59 GMT -5
My initial reactions was, no, I don't like it, for similar reasons as Miss Tequila, but it did change my mind slightly that she is not the first child with a disability that they've used in a campaign (as the article notes). Plus, she is pictured along with the other children and not specifically in her wheelchair and/or speaking device, which to me means the disability itself is not being spotlighted. I hope for positive results from this ad. As a parent, even if the intent of the company was honorable (and I'm suspect!lol) I don't like all of the attention given, highlighting her special needs. My daughter is just my daughter. Not a social experiment to make others more aware of special needs. It is hard to explain but I wouldn't want her in a bunch of news articles just because she was special needs. I don't define her by her disability, if that makes any sense. Kind if like if they had a fat kid as a model in the ads. If I were that kids mom I wouldn't want the world saying "ah look, they even put fat kids in the magazine". I have no idea if I'm making sense...I usually don't
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HoneyBBQ
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Post by HoneyBBQ on Nov 7, 2013 18:39:08 GMT -5
Miss Tequila - if your daughter is "just another girl" why not have her be a model? Those are "just girls", too. Now if it were a huge publicity stunt, I totally agree. But this seems rather innocuous and just as you say - she's just a kid in a picture. She's not a disabled child making a point.
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Spellbound454
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Post by Spellbound454 on Nov 7, 2013 18:48:44 GMT -5
I'm guessing the child is being used because she is pretty and shows off the clothes nicely. Model agencies don't use average kids because the advertisers want to sell as many clothes as possible. Its just business.....and if all you see is the disability you are not looking at the clothes.
Clothes companies aren't our moral arbiters, nor should we expect them to be.
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JustLurkin
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Post by JustLurkin on Nov 7, 2013 18:59:38 GMT -5
There is a show on the Sundance Channel "Push Girls" (season 1 is on Netflix). One of the ladies, Angela Rockwood, is quadriplegic and models to help with her medical expenses. She had stem cell therapy and received some limited function in her hand, one of the season 2 episodes was about her getting a driver's license (van had modifications, she basically uses a joystick!). My son is on Tier 1 medication to control his seizures. They are $1400 a month. Actually, they dont even make the dose he needs, he is prescribed two bottles of the same medicine. Like others have said, I'm too creeped out about picture taking, but if I/he *had* too...
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zibazinski
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Post by zibazinski on Nov 7, 2013 19:35:31 GMT -5
My kids both modeled and had fun doing it. When it stopped being fun, they stopped. DD has started again which helps pay for her extra schooling. What's funny is that although she is nice enough looking, she photographs beautifully. We both sometimes look at her pictures and think, " who is that?"
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Miss Tequila
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Post by Miss Tequila on Nov 7, 2013 19:39:40 GMT -5
Miss Tequila - if your daughter is "just another girl" why not have her be a model? Those are "just girls", too. Now if it were a huge publicity stunt, I totally agree. But this seems rather innocuous and just as you say - she's just a kid in a picture. She's not a disabled child making a point. To be clear, I wouldn't want my older one to be a model, either. Too many freaks and pervs out there. If this girl was being treated like "just another cute kid" there wouldn't be news articles, topic of conversation on god knows how many message boards, etc. it just isn't something I would want my daughter to be a part of
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Post by Deleted on Nov 7, 2013 19:52:28 GMT -5
I read the UK press regularly and I wasn't sure how I felt about this either. But after thinking about it, I think it's a good thing. The little girl surely had fun doing it, and for once, a brand is showing "real people" (a kid in this case, but this goes for adults too) who are not "perfect".
Because apart from the photoshopped models in women's mags, who is?!
I like their clothes (and they are VERY popular in the UK, and some people here order them too), but I won't order clothes online. After thinking about it, I think they should be commended for doing this. It's nice that they have enough of a customer base not to worry about being the "CP brand", or some other such nonsense. They are taking a stand about everybody's notion of "perfect", and I think that is brave and good. Because the MODELS may be "perfect", but the people who buy the clothes are NOT. And by choosing to use this child as a model, they've gone a LONG way to acknowledging that fundamental truth, which the entire clothing industry basically chooses to ignore. You have to give kudos to them for that, I think, instead of pretending that you too will look like a size 4 or 6 if you buy (whatever brand's) clothes.
Compare this to A+F's marketing policy (just as an example), they barely tolerate a size 12.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 7, 2013 20:11:55 GMT -5
My kids have modeled too, for the press group I used to work for. DS1 also modeled for an agency for a while (through my press group.) My kids had a BLAST doing it! And they got paid too!!!
My DS3 does a fair amount of voice work, because he can do both UK and US accents, and he can sing. (IE he's one of the voices on the CDs that French kids here have in their English books.) It's not dissimilar to modeling, in the sense that a co is looking for a child to provide a service, and the child can provide that service. DS3 absolutely LOVES doing it! The sound engineer's fridge is filled to the brim with coke (the soda lol), he orders pizzas for lunch when there are a bunch of them, or takes them out to lunch if there are fewer of them.
This said, there are two sound engineers who do language work here, they are both rivals and best friends, and I have known both of them for 25 years. So yes I'm totally OK with dropping DS3 off and saying "see you later". But there is also a comfortable "living room" in the studio for parents who prefer to stay. For those who are worried about "pervs", any reputable place will let parents stay, and watch (although they don't want parents in the same room while recording, because of noise).
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Peace Of Mind
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Post by Peace Of Mind on Nov 7, 2013 20:58:17 GMT -5
I don't have children but my first thought was that if I did and one of them had CP - or any special needs - I would point out that just because you have a <<fill in blank>> condition does not mean you can't do <<fill in blank>>. Just like the Special Olympics I see it as a positive thing. She is a cute kid and her disability is irrelevant but I like that it's being talked about for those that may have the same thing and can see this kid doing something like this.
I was a step parent to a child with learning disabilities that caused him many problems until we found the right schooling for him. I also made sure I pointed out that very successful adults who sucked at school too or had his disability over came it and was still able to do great things so he felt less stigmatized about it. He also quit using it as a crutch or excuse. Plus I was a hard ass and didn't let him get away with it.
I don't like seeing any kids being forced to do things like the Tiara kids or whatever if they don't want to do it but if my child wanted to do something like model that had a disability of any kind I would show them this article in the OP. Unless my kid was butt ass ugly - I'd steer them towards something else that they may enjoy.
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naturallyfrugal
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Post by naturallyfrugal on Nov 7, 2013 23:16:42 GMT -5
I don't think there's anything wrong with it, but I do like the Boden brand and just bought some Mini Boden shirts for my son at Nordstrom's this week (I also receive the catalogs).
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Post by Deleted on Nov 7, 2013 23:31:33 GMT -5
I think it is great. It is good to see companies working to accommodate disabilities in all areas. Most of them you don't hear about, but putting it out in the press can help others with disabilities see that there may be possibilities they had not considered.
Dealing with a disability and overcoming the limitations or finding creative ways to succeed in spite of them takes a lot of hard work and perseverance.
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greeniis10
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Post by greeniis10 on Nov 8, 2013 10:45:16 GMT -5
My initial reactions was, no, I don't like it, for similar reasons as Miss Tequila, but it did change my mind slightly that she is not the first child with a disability that they've used in a campaign (as the article notes). Plus, she is pictured along with the other children and not specifically in her wheelchair and/or speaking device, which to me means the disability itself is not being spotlighted. I hope for positive results from this ad. As a parent, even if the intent of the company was honorable (and I'm suspect!lol) I don't like all of the attention given, highlighting her special needs. My daughter is just my daughter. Not a social experiment to make others more aware of special needs. It is hard to explain but I wouldn't want her in a bunch of news articles just because she was special needs. I don't define her by her disability, if that makes any sense. Kind if like if they had a fat kid as a model in the ads. If I were that kids mom I wouldn't want the world saying "ah look, they even put fat kids in the magazine". I have no idea if I'm making sense...I usually don't YES, you usually DO and are NOW making sense! You stated it better than I and I can relate somewhat as oldest DS is blind. He was born with vision, but started deteriorating around age 5 and was completely blind by age 8 due to retinitis pigmentosa. Needless to say the adjustment was overwhelming at first for all of us! But, he has excelled in spite of and probably (at his own admission) because of it. He spent his entire childhood fighting the blindness taking the spotlight for his accomplishments. I believe he succeeded as he is in the final year of his doctorate program at age 26 and is the father of a 7 year old son, but for him it will be a life-long battle to be (ironically) seen as HIM instead of as "blind". In that context, I completely get what you're saying and agree with you.
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Miss Tequila
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Post by Miss Tequila on Nov 8, 2013 10:56:21 GMT -5
As a parent, even if the intent of the company was honorable (and I'm suspect!lol) I don't like all of the attention given, highlighting her special needs. My daughter is just my daughter. Not a social experiment to make others more aware of special needs. It is hard to explain but I wouldn't want her in a bunch of news articles just because she was special needs. I don't define her by her disability, if that makes any sense. Kind if like if they had a fat kid as a model in the ads. If I were that kids mom I wouldn't want the world saying "ah look, they even put fat kids in the magazine". I have no idea if I'm making sense...I usually don't YES, you usually DO and are NOW making sense! You stated it better than I and I can relate somewhat as oldest DS is blind. He was born with vision, but started deteriorating around age 5 and was completely blind by age 8 due to retinitis pigmentosa. Needless to say the adjustment was overwhelming at first for all of us! But, he has excelled in spite of and probably (at his own admission) because of it. He spent his entire childhood fighting the blindness taking the spotlight for his accomplishments. I believe he succeeded as he is in the final year of his doctorate program at age 26 and is the father of a 7 year old son, but for him it will be a life-long battle to be (ironically) seen as HIM instead of as "blind". In that context, I completely get what you're saying and agree with you. EXACTLY! Let's be honest, no one would be talking about this ad if the little girl didn't have CP. I just don't want my child being discussed and debated like that (even though a lot of what I read is very positive). I try very hard to treat her like a regular little girl so it would bother me to have the world focus on her being disabled instead of her being a damn adorable, little blonde girl. But that is just me. I could be in the minority. And kudos to your son for succeeding and not using his disability as an excuse. and I cant' even imagine losing my vision at my age so the thought of such a young boy suddenly losing his is unimaginable.
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whoisjohngalt
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Post by whoisjohngalt on Nov 8, 2013 15:36:48 GMT -5
I so very much admire people who accomplish things despite having big obstacles in their way.
Greeniis - may your son have a wonderful future in his work and with his family.
I often wish that our bookstores were filled with stories such as this one and not biographies of every celebrity-wanna-be. I keep hoping that others will read it and will stop making excuses.
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