Jim Troesh and I have been friends since the beginning of the disabled movement in Hollywood in the early 1980s. We are averaging 3-5 casting calls looking for limb deficient adults and children per month. It's people like Mr. Landon who were ahead of their time and a very soft spot in his heart. That's why we are all working more. People started seeing us more and more on TV shows, God knows Michael must have used more disabled people and had more scripts depicting us as real people than anyone and all studios and production companies put together.

The photo below of Michael Landon and I was taken at a Media Access Awards ceremony. I received the award for a show I created, produced and hosted called Outlook on the Physically Challenged, we were also honored with a Cable Ace award that same year. I remember talking to Michael about it and he said he'd love to see it. I remember how humble he was about his role in this whole movement. It's like he didn't have any idea what an impact he had, it was like a no brainer for him. I always thought he was a man who did it because it was the right thing to do, he was a visionary man and more importantly he saw us as human beings. He didn't need some suit from the top to contend with and hear why he shouldn't do it. I didn't know him well, but when I had the honor to do so, he made me feel special and focused on what I was saying. I hope his family truly realizes the impact he has had on so many people and opened the doors for us to do our work to break down the social barriers for the generations to come.
 

I want to share just one story about breaking into this business. I had a producer from a hit TV series tell me I can't and won't show you're stump on my show (left arm missing below elbow), I played a Vietnam vet, he said the public would not watch the show and it was NBC policy. Michael on the other hand did the opposite and I bet he did take some heat, it was not something the studios did, they were already afraid that they were "exploiting us" when all we wanted was to work.
 

God Bless you Mr. Landon!

David Smith and Michael at the Media Access Awards