User:Anarchistemma/sandbox

By 1990, popular culture had begun to shift it’s view of both disabilities and the telethon format. Lewis and the telethon’s methods were criticized by disabled-rights activists who believed the show was “designed to evoke pity rather than empower the disabled.” The activists claimed the telethon perpetuated prejudices and stereotypes and that Lewis treated the children he claimed to be helping with little respect, and that he used offensive language when describing them.