The Inclusive Communities Project at the Institute on Disability (IOD) leverages the IODs expertise and the power of documentary film to promote greater acceptance and inclusion of people with disabilities in schools and communities. The Inclusive Communities Project is directed by the IODs Filmmaker in Residence, Dan Habib. Habib's award-winning documentary film "Including Samuel" is built on the Habib family's efforts to include Samuel, 10, in all facets of their lives, a journey that transforms each of them. "Including Samuel" also features four other families with varied inclusion experiences, plus interviews with teachers, parents, students, and disability rights experts. Including Samuel has become more than a film, however. It has evolved into a powerful tool to promote inclusive education, social change, disability rights, and public awareness through curriculum, training, and worldwide outreach.
Dan Habibs new film project is titled "Intelligent Lives," and is a catalyst to transform the label of intellectual disability from a life sentence of isolation into a life of possibility for the most systematically segregated people in America.
"Intelligent Lives" stars three pioneering young American adults with intellectual disabilities--Micah, Naomie, and Naieer--who challenge perceptions of intelligence as they navigate high school, college, and the workforce. Academy Award-winning actor and narrator Chris Cooper contextualizes the lives of these central characters through the emotional personal story of his son Jesse, as the film unpacks the shameful and ongoing track record of intelligence testing in the U.S.
"Intelligent Lives" challenges what it means to be intelligent, and points to a future in which people of all abilities can fully participate in higher education, meaningful employment, and intimate relationships.
The "Intelligent Lives" Education Kit will also contain four short films capturing effective practices in post-secondary transition around the country.
|
