I'd Like To Know More...

[Eve Appleton]

...about the ADA. And about the artists. What is your disability and how has it influenced your art? And I'd like to see more art. Any takers?

[karin teresa mccaslin-fain]

I am a D.E.S. daughter see www.desaction.org for an explanation. We are twice as likely to get breast cancer as the normal population. I was in Federal court against the pharmecutical company and placed under court ordered protection for harrassement by the drug company. This was several years ago when my statute started for other things besides cancer. Mainly expensive OB GYN problems and a history of depression. My sister hs schizophrenia. I was in counseling and have been in art therapy for many years. I now have breast cancer and depression. I was a student at a major University and went under the ADA. The law that protects the disabled in the U.S.A.{ I will try to upload a video that was made by B. Obama about how the ADA has been watered down and needs strengthening}. I had many problems with my D.E.S. exposure because I live in a state that has backwards laws that do not protect the D.E.S. exposed. For example it is much harder to find an attorney in Okla. Also there is very little support. I was never taken to a doctor or told that I was D.E.S. exposed until I was in my twenties. There is a book called To Do No Harm D.E.S. and the Dilemma of Modern Medicine. They have done research on D.E.S. and depression as well as 3rd generation effects. D.E.S. is part of my diagnosis since I was exposed inutero to this drug.I had depression for a long time since I was a child so my depression is classified as major. My experience in art school informed my art therapy experience. My experience in art therapy influenced my art. My capstone was about how I use my art too heal with.I had problems receiving my accommodations correctly at the University I attended and had to get a disability attorney. My art while I was in therapy was very expressive of my fears and feelings. I remember throwing pills at my portrait and glueing them down like found objects. I also have taught the mentally disabled art and still exhibit with some artists with diagnosis. I am a member of V.S.A. arts at www.vsarts.org. I could discusses this even further. Also if there is a question of the tremendious cost that my chronic medical problems have imposed on me and on other D.E.S. daughters ask D.E.S Action. We are often stuck with huge bills. I did not get any money from my law suit since my case was dismissed without prejudice. I dismissed it because of the backwards laws in Oklahoma and I ended up pro se.My sister sometimes appears in my artwork and also the scientific formula for D.E.S. I also use text and refer to letters and statements about my case by doctors, I also reference my body and my healing. I was told by my psychitrist to become my own advocate so I brought the head of D.E.S. Action through speakers bureau to speak about D.E.S. in Oklahoma. She was the founder of D.E.S. Action Pat Cody. She spoke before a huge crowd and to the press.I am presently a member of an artist collective for disabled artists who mainly have mental disabilities. I also exhibit with the so called normal population. The ADA is a law that many Universities, Art Galleries and businesses I feel try to wiggle out of.rather then correctly accommodating . them. I feel that the art world stigmatizes the disabled and makes them jump through hoops to kick them out of programs. This has been my experience in a backwards state. I believe that the law should be followed correctly.

[karin teresa mccaslin-fain]

I could not find the video by President B. Obama on the ADA and how it was watered down and needs to be restored. I will keep looking but he made it before he was elected. I did find a wonderful video titled Healing Visions by Anna Gusman Joli. I will post it with the videos. She shows how you can use art to go through grieving to healing. This is an art therapy point of view. Not what they teach in art school.

[karin teresa mccaslin-fain]

Transformation A mixed media painting by Karin Teresa McCaslin-Fain copyright 2005. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

[karin teresa mccaslin-fain]

Woman in a Garden with Birds by Karin Teresa McCaslin-Fain copyright 2005. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

[karin teresa mccaslin-fain]

Woman and Shadow A monotype by Karin Teresa McCaslin-Fain copyright 2005. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

[karin teresa mccaslin-fain]

Woman with a Disability A monotype by Karin Teresa McCaslin-Fain copyright 2005. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

[karin teresa mccaslin-fain]

Under the ADA I was suppose to get accommodations from the University. The University had to receive doctors letters about my condition and a list of all medications I was taking at the time. The University had a disability office and they determined my accommodation based on what was appropriate and the cheapest for the University. My accommodation was extra time, because time does not cost anything. I was also suppose to get a key to a frieght elevator because they did not have a public elevator, I also was given flexibility and a chair to sit in. Unfortunately, my professor refused to call the disability office and decided to yell at me, threaten me and lock me out of the printmaking room. I was also misadvised. This was several years ago around 2005. I was stigmatized because I went to the disability office. The University has made some changes mainly to scare the disabled away. They have not gotten an elevator that is accessible unless you have a key or if you are visiting you would need a cell phone to call someone to access the school of art office 2nd and 3rd floors. The 2nd floor gallery is not accessable if you need to ride the elevator because there is no public elevator only a freight elevator. This prevents too many disabled artists from applying to this art school because they make it frustrating and try to weed you out.I felt they were rude an mean to me once I made them aware of a hidden disability. This has been my experience in a backwards state.I filed a complaint with the department of Education Civil Rights division with the help of a disability law canter. The professor was investigated and so was the art school. The professor lied and said she was accommodating me as needed and I didn't need it because I was making an A. Unfortunately, this professor was not a medical doctor so she could not legally determine my need. My mother past away that semester and I was grieving her and under horrible stress.

[karin teresa mccaslin-fain]

Other artists have used art to heal. Faith Ringgold used her art to lose weight for example. The healing aspects of art must be powerful if you can lose weight by making art.

[karin teresa mccaslin-fain]

Sisters A silkscreen print by Krin Teresa McCaslin-Fain copyright 2005. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

[Kimberly Benton]

I Can't tell you alot about the ADA, but I intend to do some research as soon as my book is published and I have more time. As for my My disability is I have Schitzo-effective disorder, Bipolar disorder and I have
PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder). As for how it has influenced my poetry and writings, I journal, I write as an outlet for my pain or feelings. Then I write a poem or Lyric using my journals. It is my therapy and releases my inner feelings. It is my heart on paper. Some people tell me not to write about such subjects but I am writing truth. It may be sad and ugly but it is truth from this schizophrenic's perspective. I have posted some of my poetry here and at Toronto pictures and If I sign the contract my Book of poetry and writings will be on e-book by Monday. Kimberly Benton