‘Handicap This’ Duo Put Life with a Disability Center Stage

posted on Nov 09 by Guest Author in the Cerebral Palsy, Disability News, Fun category

Two Chicago men may soon be bringing their life story–complete with lots of humor and music–to a theater stage near you. Mike Berkson, who has cerebral palsy, and his personal assistant Tim Wambach are co-producers of the play, Handicap This, which gives audiences an intimate look into the lives of people with physical disabilities. Wambach and Berkson want to change people’s perceptions of individuals with disabilities, while increasing sensitivity and awareness of the daily challenges they face. Mainly, the duo hope the show will also get the message across that people with disabilities can and do live normal, full lives.

The two originally met in 2001, when Wambach applied for a school aid position.

“Then Dan Walsh, who is the student services person at Springlake Middle School, said to me, ‘You know, there’s a kid coming next year, his name is Mike Berkson, and I think you guys would really get along well,’” said Wambach. “I met Mike that summer and we’ve in some way, shape or form been together ever since.”

The idea of taking their life story onto the stage materialized seven years later. The enlisted the help of friend Molly Mulcrone to write the script.

“She finished that in September 2009 and since that first script we have continuously worked on it, changed it, tightened it, made it better,” explained Wambach. That’s how Handicap This was born.

Berkson added, “I like the word ‘handicap’ because disabled means you’re not able to do something. Handicap just feels like you have something you have to deal with but there’s nothing about ability.”

The two men also co-authored a book entitled, How We Roll.

“We use that book as pretty much as a kind of foundation of where Handicap This comes from,” said Wamback. “A lot of stories that are in the book are in the show, and what’s cool about it is it’s our life, and to turn that into a show isn’t always the easiest thing to do, but we’ve been able to take the best parts of certain obstacles and adversities and turn them into learning experiences, teaching experiences and entertaining moments.”

Currently performing at the North Shore Center for the Performing Arts in Skokie, Illinois, the pair plan to take their act on the road to reach a wider audience very soon.

“The Easter Seals out in LA has contacted us about potentially bringing us out there. Another organization in Canada has been talking about bringing us out. We were definitely looking to travel and are able to travel. We are a mobile show and we’re ready to roll,” said Wambach.

Berkson is equally psyched about taking their life story on the road. “It’s a dream. It’s really cool because we know each other really well so we’re able to collaborate well and really take things from our real life and infuse it into the show. There’s a lot of room for change so if something happens that we want to add in the show, we can add it. I think that’s what makes it fun for both of us.”

Source:
http://abclocal.go.com/wls/story?section=news/disability_issues&id=8393470
http://www.handicapthis.com/
https://www.facebook.com/HandicapThis