A consumer and his family work together to create public access television programs about mental and physical disabilities.

Some families, fearing the stigma associated with schizophrenia, turn inward when a family member develops the illness. Not the Tylers in Reno, Nevada. They work together to educate the public about the disease, as well as other disabilities.

Joe Tyler, who developed schizophrenia 17 years ago, is the producer and host of two public access television shows "Erasing the Stigma" and "Myths of Disabilities." When he started this project several years ago, the rest of his family decided to pitch in. His wife, the manager of an orthodontist's office, now directs the show, and his parents are on the board of directors.

"Erasing the Stigma" focuses on making people more aware of mental illness. Guests include people with the disease, family members, politicians, judges, and healthcare professionals. Both of the shows use the interview format.

"Myths of Disabilities" addresses both physical and mental disabilities. "We'll invite people with AIDS, diabetes, birth defects, and bipolar and schizoaffective disorders to talk about their illness on this show," explains Joe. "People really open up on the shows and talk about being hospitalized or discriminated against." Both programs reach about 65,000 households in Reno, and 5,000 in Carson City. They will soon be airing in Las Vegas.

Joe says he became personally exposed to the realities of stigma when his first wife left him after she discovered his condition. "She had a sister with schizophrenia and wanted no part of this."

Years later, he married a woman he had known before he became ill. Bunchie, as she is nicknamed, has educated herself about mental illness by taking classes in psychology and attending NAMI meetings. Having struggled with polio as a child, she understands what it feels like to be viewed as different. "We like to joke that she has a perfectly good mind, and I have a perfectly good body, and together we're a perfect couple," says Joe.

Joe recalls that when he started the shows several years ago, his wife noticed that he was floundering with the staff. "She saw me having problems keeping the crew which is made up of people with brain disorders," he says. To help Joe manage the crew, Bunchie took directing classes at a cable access TV station in addition to her regular work. "Basically, she likes telling people what to do and this became another outlet," jokes Joe. "And my parents, who live nearby, love watching the shows and provide me with ideas. We have family dinners during which we just discuss the shows."

Joe's shows have received much local attention. They have even caught the eye of several NAMI chapters around the country, which have purchased some of the programs to show at meetings. Joe's programs have also received funding from Janssen Pharmaceutica.

Being able to reach out to people in the community is what makes this enterprise worthwhile for Joe and his family. "Recently my wife and I were in a cosmetics store and a woman came over to us and said she had seen me on television. Then she whispered that her husband has bipolar disorder, and that the show had given her hope that her husband would do better."