Disability Awareness Week 2021

ISU Library subscribes to Kanopy, a vast and eclectic collection of documentaries and feature films. Strong focus on educational resources, social, political, and cultural issues, and numerous international film classics. Here are a number of Kanopy's titles with creators, actors, stories, and themes related to people with disabilities.

Chau, Beyond the Lines (2015)

"During the Vietnam War, the United States dropped 20 million gallons of chemicals onto the dense jungles of Vietnam in order to rid the Northern Vietnamese Army of their food and cover. More than 40 years later, Chau, a teenager living in a Vietnamese care center for kids disabled by the chemical Agent Orange, battles with the reality of his dream to one day become a professional artist. With a rare disability in his arms and legs, Chau is repeatedly told his dream is not only unrealistic, but impossible. At age 17 and against all odds, Chau ventures out into the real world to see if, in fact, he can make his dream a reality." Summary from Kanopy.  In Vietnamese with English subtitles. Duration: 34 min.

Deaf Jam (2011)

"Deaf Jam is the story of deaf teen Aneta Brodski's bold journey into the spoken word slam scene. In a wondrous twist, Aneta, an Israeli immigrant living in the Queens section of New York City, eventually meets Tahani, a hearing Palestinian slam poet. The two women embark on a collaboration/performance duet creating a new form of slam poetry that speaks to both the hearing and the Deaf. Poetry, friendship and respect transcend politics; delightful and endearing, utilizing upbeat music and clever graphics, Deaf Jam immerses us in the richness and complexity of deaf culture and gives us a unique perspective into a world so vibrant, so diverse, it may forever change the way we see the non-hearing." Duration: 71 min.

Do You Dream in Color?

"An enlightening and poignant coming of age story that follows the journeys of four courageous blind teenagers as they strive to achieve their dreams: to be a sponsored skateboarder, travel the world, become a rock star and be the first family member to graduate. Their stories shine a proactive light on the social and institutional obstacles faced by people who are blind and what it takes to surmount those barriers." (Summary from Kanopy) Duration: 76 minutes

Emmanuel's Gift: A Man with a Physical Handicap Attempts to Destigmatize Disabilities in Ghana (2004)

"In Emmanuel's Gift, filmmakers Lisa Lax and Nancy Stern have uncovered a story as compelling as it is important. Narrated by Oprah Winfrey, the film chronicles the life of Emmanuel Ofosu Yeboah, a young Ghanaian man born with a severely deformed right leg, who today, against incalculable odds, is opening minds, hearts and doors-and effecting social and political change throughout his country. If you are born disabled in Ghana, West Africa you are likely to be poisoned, or left to die by your family. If you are not poisoned or left for dead, you are likely to be hidden away in a room or spend your life begging on the streets. Of the twenty million people in Ghana, two million are disabled. This is the story of one disabled man whose mission and purpose is to change all that forever." Summary by Kanopy. In Twi and English, with English subtitles. Duration: 80 min.

Intelligent Lives

"This documentary stars three pioneering young American adults with intellectual disabilities - Micah, Naieer, and Naomie - 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. The documentary 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." (Summary from Kanopy) Duration: 71 minutes

Invitation to Dance (2014)

"Invitation to Dance is an eye-opening insider's account of disability in 21st century America. Simi Linton's story forms the narrative backbone of the documentary. The film traces both her personal growth as a disabled woman, and the larger historically significant developments around her over the past 40 years. Simi serves as navigator and tour guide to a world largely unknown, generally isolated, and commonly dismissed. In 1971, Simi Linton was injured while hitchhiking to Washington to protest the war in Vietnam. Suddenly a young disabled college student, she confronted insidious forms of discrimination she couldn't have imagined before. Over time she joined forces with a vibrant disability community, and realized that political engagement, love, and dance could once again be central to her life." Summary from Kanopy. Duration: 87 min.

The Reason I Jump (2020)

"Based on the best-selling book by Naoki Higashida, later translated into English by author David Mitchell (Cloud Atlas), THE REASON I JUMP is an immersive cinematic exploration of neurodiversity through the experiences of nonspeaking autistic people from around the world. The film blends Higashida's revelatory insights into autism, written when he was just 13, with intimate portraits of five remarkable young people. It opens a window for audiences into an intense and overwhelming, but often joyful, sensory universe." Summary from Kanopy. Duration: 83 min.