Computer Technologies Program The Bridge to a Career
If you listen to National Public Radio’s “Morning Edition”, you’ve probably heard their broadcast of StoryCorps–average, everyday people interviewing a friend or loved one about their lives. It’s always heart-felt and moving, and the listener comes away enriched with a broader understanding of the life experiences and wisdom of others.
In celebration of the upcoming 25th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) in 2015, Alice Wong has launched the Disability Visibility Project, a year-long grassroots campaign encouraging people with disabilities to record their stories at StoryCorps .
“The history of people with disabilities rarely appears in textbooks,” says Wong. “I’ve had the good fortune to meet so many fascinating and amazing people with disabilities who have been fighting for disability rights for decades. I believe their stories and the stories of everyday Americans with disabilities should be preserved.”
Got a story you’d like to share? It doesn’t have to be about the ADA; they just want real life stories from individuals in the disability community.
StoryCorps has recording booths in San Francisco, Chicago and Atlanta, as well as a Mobile Booth that travels to communities across the country. You can book an interview time online here or you can make an appointment by phone at 800-850-4406. Be sure to mention the Disability Visibility Project in the Notes section of your online reservation form when making your appointment, along with any accommodations or accessibility needs you might have.
Of course, most of us are not experienced interviewers, so the StoryCorps website provides a list of questions you can consider using in your interview or just peruse the list to stimulate your own questions. During the interview, a trained facilitator will be on hand to help with the interview process.
After the recording session, you will receive a broadcast-quality CD of your conversation and a copy will be preserved at the American Folklife Center at the Library of Congress.
Tell your story. Be a part of American history.
