How's Your News?

How's Your News is a television program that delivers news from different areas of the United States via adult reporters with disabilities, who met at a special needs camp years ago. I remember I saw a documentary (4 or 5 years ago) about the news team and fell in love with them a little bit. All of the people involved in the program are so sweet and genuine, plus it's absolutely fantastic to see those who might not have regular opportunities to realize their dreams and potential, finally have the means to do so. Recently, MTV picked up the whole concept, including the original team, and created a show with the same name.

Susan Harrington is 41 years old, legally blind and has an undetermined mental disability. She receptionist for the Department of Mental Retardation and lives in an assisted living home in Massachusetts. A How's Your News reporter since 1998, she also has an amazing operatic singing voice and is very good at Scrabble. She actually sings the How's Your News theme song which I'm currently searching out to make my ring tone.


Robert Bird is a 51 year old with Down Syndrome and a speech impediment that sounds like he is speaking his own language. He has been a How's Your News reporter since 1998 and lives with his sister and her family in Massachusetts, where he does janitorial work. I love this guy! The rest of the cast call him 'Gramps'.

Sean Costello is 38 years old, has Down Syndrome and is a full-time custodian in New Hampshire, where he lives with his mother. A How's Your News reporter since 1998, he has been to the National Special Olympics several times, excelling in weightlifting and basketball. Sean also has amazing dance moves.

Larry Perry is 60 years old, lives in Massachusetts and has severe spastic cerebral palsy, which renders him unable to form words with his voice. He actually conducts most of his interviews with a word board and questions composed ahead of time. Larry is awesome and does stunts the rest of the group won't, like rolling down huge, grassy slopes without his wheelchair. I love that he has been a part of How's Your News since it's creation, you can just tell from the sparkle in his eyes it makes his life complete.

Jeremy Vest is 21 years old from Maryland who joined the news team in 2004. He has Williams Syndrome, which makes him hard to focus on one thing, instead skipping around from subject to subject. He also has great musical ability, excelling in both the drums and piano. Jeremy is so amazing, I wish he was my best friend. He says the most randomly smart things and is definitely going places.

Lucas Wahl is a 23 year old from Arizona and only recently joined How's Your News in 2007. He also has Williams Syndrome and can play the guitar behind his head and with his teeth, even though he accidentally cut off half his index finger a few years ago! Jeremy and Lucas are so hilarious together. I love watching them play off each other's eccentric observations.

If you haven't already checked out the show, you definitely should. Or at least look at some of their stuff online, I guarantee you will learn something and fall in love with these guys.
How's Your News ... recommendation of the week.