Ottawa resident Alan Shain is currently in Bermuda promoting his unique brand of humour that not only makes audiences laugh at their own prejudices, but also smashes stereotypes and demonstrates that disability is just another part of life.

Mr. Shain is a performer, writer and disability activist who has cerebral palsy is on the Island for: "Access Bermuda 2001 - Smashing Stereotypes", which will focus on life and disability.

Through comedy, he attacks the idea of disabled people as passive, helpless and pitiful, and speaking at Hamilton Lions last week, club members were treated to anecdotes of folly and pure stupidity of those unsure of how to deal with such a quick-witted comedian.

Mr. Shain said that being handicapped, everyday situations make for great comedy, and he gave an account of going to a restaurant in Canada to celebrate his upcoming trip to Bermuda.

He said the waiter came to the table where he and a female friend were sitting, ignored him and asked her how many menus they would like.

Mr. Shain said he took the liberty of responding and said: "Well, there are two of us at the table, so let us have four menus."

The waiter returned with four menus, demonstrating people's ineptitude in awkward situations.

Mr. Shain also spoke about his trip to Sydney, Australia last year for the Paralympic Games where more than 3,000 disabled athletes competed.

He said that the disabled athletes were as popular as the regular Olympic athletes, and when they won races, children would crowd around them asking for autographs.

Mr. Shain said that one day some kids saw him in his wheelchair and one said to him: "You must be an athlete, can I have your autograph?"

The boy then asked him what he did, and Mr. Shain responded: "I tell jokes. I see how long I can keep telling jokes before people get up and walk away."

He said the young man then got up and walked away.

Mr. Shain told his audience that for most of his life, he has been his own advocate and he has always aspired to travel the world, but said that it took him years to build up the courage and energy.

He said that most disabled people's energy is taken up trying to prove themselves to non-disabled people and trying to change their prejudice attitudes.

Mr. Shain gave an example of what could be done if these attitudes were removed, and spoke about his first internationl trip which was with a youth group to Costa Rica.

The group was going to do some construction to help local communities, and the organisers wanted some diversification in the group, and so a friend encouraged him to apply.

After receiving his application, the organiser said that Mr. Shain would be perfect for the job, and they set about making preparations for the trip.

Mr. Shain said that all of the money and energy required for the trip was now an inconsequential hurdle as the attitude of acceptance and inclusion were already there.

Mr. Shain was put in charge of organising all of the tools for the project and said he had an excellent experience.

He said that when he was there, the group took some Spanish classes, and when the teacher heard him talk with slurred speech and running all his words into one, the teacher exclaimed that he was already a regular Spanish speaker.