By Albert J. Rizzi, M.Ed. In my last blog, I shared thoughts about people with disabilities being portrayed in film by actors who represent that ability authentically. The catalyst for that was the nomination of Troy Kotsur for his performance in “CODA “, an actor who happens to be deaf playing a character who also
By Albert J. Rizzi, M.Ed. When I was younger, I loved acting and performing in high school. Some of the roles I played were president of Almalou Records in “Bye Bye Birdie”, a degenerate gambler looking to play in the oldest established, permanent floating crap game in New York, in “Guys and Dolls”, and a
“Rhea is a shining example of what access to the right tools means for promoting Ability while creating infinite possibilities in life. Her personal story of trials and tribulations should be an inspiration to us all.” --Albert J. Rizzi, M.Ed., Founder and CEO of My Blind Spot Sharing the colorful realm behind the physical darkness
By Albert J. Rizzi, M.Ed. My disability happened very quickly. My illness was like a freight train out of control without any chance of stopping. I entered the hospital with sight and weighing about 190 lbs. A short two months later, I survived my illness but happened to have been left completely blind and a
By Albert J. Rizzi, M.Ed. As we turn the final page on 2021 and open a new chapter on 2022, it’s my sincere hope that we all experience a new year full of inclusion and life-changing possibilities. While I am a pragmatic realist, planning for the best but preparing for the worst, I think this
By Albert J. Rizzi, M.Ed. As we enter another holiday season, the optimist in me wants to be filled with the magic, hope, and inspiration that usually comes this time of year. However, I must admit to being torn. The specter of COVID hanging like a cloud over us and the divisiveness around how to
Kaizen literally translates to Kai (change) and Zen (good). It is a Japanese word that describes constant and never-ending improvement. Many business experts believe that it was this philosophy that pulled Japan up from the ashes and rubble of World War II to become an economic powerhouse within a generation. It means living with a
By Albert J. Rizzi, M.Ed. This may not come as a surprise to some, but I have a disability AND my physical needs and carnal urges have not been disabled at all! Dare I admit it? My brothers, sisters, and non-binary siblings in the disability community—those who use wheelchairs, have missing limbs, can’t see or
By Albert J. Rizzi, M.Ed. While much of the world is riveted on the start of the 2021 Olympic Games going on in Tokyo, the use of cardboard beds for Olympians, the shorts worn by the Norwegian women’s beach handball team, and the concerns over Covid on the rise, very few people outside of the
School’s Out for Summer. But That Does Not Mean We Stop Learning… By Albert J. Rizzi, M.Ed. If you are a student, you are happy about the school year coming to an end. If you are a parent or guardian, maybe not so much. For approximately the last 500 days or so, the specter of
