The controversy over disabled Blue Peterpresenter Cerrie Burnell last week wouldn't have been tolerated if it had been related to her race, colour or gender writes SEÓNAID DUNNE
LAST TUESDAY afternoon as I was browsing the internet, I spot a headline that makes me choke on my sandwich. The story relates to a new TV presenter on BBC’s children’s channel who, parents claim, has been scaring their children. Parents had posted comments on an online forum claiming that Cerrie Burnell of CBeebies was frightening their children because she has only one hand.
As someone who lost both legs and my right hand in a fire almost 12 years ago, I was furious at first. I was also amazed that this story caused such a furore. If the complaints related to her race, colour, nationality or gender, they would have been ignored immediately. The forum editor would have hit “delete” straight away and no one would be talking about it now.
Burnell has said that she was disappointed by the reaction but hopes that her presence on the channel will, hopefully, encourage people to discuss disability with their children and eliminate the prejudice that disabled people face.
I also got the impression from the articles I read that some journalists were a bit miffed that Burnell was not “up in arms” about the situation.
I presented the RTÉ 1 television programme Three60during 2006 and 2007 but there was no such reaction in this country to my lack of a hand. The programme was a magazine-style show and featured stories about disabled people.
I’m sure that many viewers did not even notice my prosthetic arm as it looks very realistic; it has veins painted on it, manicured nails and is a similar colour to my real hand.
I suspect that people are not only disturbed by the fact that she has only one hand but that it is on display for all to see and not covered up by a prosthetic arm. It is in their face and on their TV screens.
When I had my accident, it took a lot of readjustment to regain my independence. I was burnt so badly that it was like something out of a horror film; a terrible nightmare that I couldn’t wake up from.
The burns on my residual arm mean that I have very little sensation in it. Wearing a prosthetic arm is a substitute for the arm I no longer have and without it, my balance is distorted. I feel naked without it on and it handily covers my red ugly scars.
I imagine that this is not the case for the CBeebies presenter. She was born without a hand and has probably always done everything with her remaining arm or stump. From looking at pictures, you can see that her arm is not ugly and scarred. It has beautiful skin and, I presume, full sensation in it.
If she were to wear a prosthetic hand, it would probably feel like a cumbersome extra hand and not an aid to daily life.
The fact that the complaints were about her disability has been considered valid by some because society still perceives people with disabilities as being unable.
I believe it is society’s own unease with the idea of disability that makes people afraid of it. We live in a culture where appearance is paramount and looking different in any way is seen as unacceptable. Disabled people remind the rest that we are all vulnerable and mortal.
In the past 11 years, people have reacted in many different ways to my prosthetic hand. Some don’t believe it is fake until they look closely. Others are slightly disgusted by it. Many find it fascinating. Almost all come to terms with it over time. It is part of me but a titanium part. People who don’t know me either treat me as a saint or a monster. I am neither.
I have two arms; one cosmetic and a myo electric arm that opens and closes using the muscles in my residual limb. The cosmetic is my “going out’’ arm and my myo electric does all the hard work like driving, peeling vegetables, opening things and tying knots. But it should not be used for taking hot food out of the oven. Melted plastic is no fun to scrub off a cooker. Some things I’ve had to learn the hard way.
I try to use humour to make others comfortable with my missing limbs. Not to put myself down but to poke fun at the situations I sometimes find myself in. You have to laugh when a taxi man who is helping you out of his cab pulls off your arm accidently. What can you say, except “can you give me a hand”?
Being open helps to be comfortable with it and makes others at ease too. Most people with disabilities don’t mind being asked questions about their disability. I think it is the responsibility of disabled people who know about their disability to explain it to those who don’t. It is others’ responsibility to be open to such honesty and accept our individual differences.
The majority of comments posted on the forum were in support of Burnell’s appointment. Many said they “applauded” her bravery. The use of the word applauded makes me giggle because it is, of course, a two-handed operation.
Hopefully, thanks to Burnell, we can begin to get talented people with disabilities on our TV screens. Who knows, I may even chance my arm.
