It's the kind of message that should only be told once before the lesson is learned. Unfortunately, Edmonton author Alison Neuman finds that she has to talk about basic human rights every day.
Neuman, the 38-year-old writer of the recently-published young adult spy novel Ice Rose, has spent much of her life fighting a rare disease of the immune system called dermatomyositis that causes inflammation of the connective tissues in the muscles, skin and joints. Because of that, she has not only spent years in physical torment but also had to endure the added grief of living with a disability in a world that she says is all too often inconsiderate of her limitations. That's why she not only speaks out but she also makes human rights part of her professional writings.
"As a person with a disability, I know how difficult it could be growing up to feel as though you were every bit as valuable a person as anyone else. And when you're talking about a basic issue of human dignity, then you're talking about something that's clearly an issue of human rights," she said.
Neuman was nominated in the individual category for the 2011 John Humphrey Centre for Peace and Human Rights Awards, which were given out on Friday evening. While she's thrilled with the attention, she said it's more important to take the time in the spotlight to give her message a louder voice. She specifically writes stories with disabled protagonists in order to raise the issue and give readers good role models.
"To be honest, when I was first in my wheelchair when I was a teen, there were no books available that I could find that had a positive character in a wheelchair," she said.
She pointed out that she had a great love of the James Bond stories but that one of his main nemeses was the wheelchair-bound Ernst Blofeld, an evil genius with designs on world domination who runs the global criminal organization called SPECTRE.
"I wrote this book for the teenage me that wanted something like that to read," she said of her latest novel.
Ice Rose is a Spy Kids-like story about a teenaged girl who discovers that her dad is a secret agent. She comes upon this knowledge after an explosion that leaves her paralyzed. The disability doesn't stop her from rescuing her dad, triumphing over evil and saving the day.
She said that it just goes to prove that you don't have to be 'normal' to be awesome.
"I had spent my whole life searching for normal, and when I was 24, I found normal and I realized I hated it. It was conforming to what everybody else did and what everybody else was and I realized I liked being different."
You can learn more about Neuman's work and writings at www.alisonneuman.ca.
Award winners
Dr. Ernest Khalema won the award in the individual category wherein Neuman was a co-nominee. The South Africa-born activist fought against racism and now teaches human rights and mentors underserved and marginalized youths through programs aimed at promoting positive youth development, asset building, and human dignity.
Claire Edwards won in the youth category. This year she and a friend started a ban on bottled water at their high school. Because of their belief that this consumer product is environmentally damaging, she advocated for alternatives and distributed 1,400 eco-friendly water bottles. She is also the president of her school's Amnesty International Club and has campaigned to improve tap water and sewage treatment for First Nations people.
Edmonton's Food Bank won in the organization category. Canada's first food bank is now 30 years old and it serves as a central warehouse and referral centre for a network of more than 190 agencies, churches and food depots.
ArbreDeVie won in the new and emerging project or organization category. It aims to help at-risk immigrant youth deal with social marginalization while gaining confidence and leadership capacity through music, painting, dance and other forms of art. Through peer mentoring, ArbreDeVie encourages youth to engage in community service and contribute to the well-being of others.
PlanIt Sound won in the business category. This St. Albert-based business uses music to teach essential life skills to youths to enhance their quality of life. It has partnered with both Greater St. Albert Catholic Schools (on a drug awareness campaign) and Alberta Employment and Immigration (on its Youth Power career event), among others.
