ReelAbilities: Special Olympics Film Festival
Special Olympics of Notre Dame is very happy to host our first ReelAbilities Film Festival on Friday, September 11thin Carey Auditorium of the Hesburgh Library. All are invited to attend this free event dedicated to celebrating and appreciating the stories of those with disabilities.
The festival will feature two films, followed by a panel discussion and reception. The first film, entitled Wretches and Jabberers (4:30-6:00pm) is a documentary about two men with autism who embark on a global quest to change attitudes about disability and intelligence. Determined to shed new light on autism, Tracy Thresher, 42, and Larry Bissonnette, 52, travel to Sri Lanka, Japan, and Finland. At each stop, they dissect public attitudes about disability and issue a hopeful challenge for the public to reconsider competency and the future.
The second film, A Whole Lott More (7:30-9:00pm), is a documentary about Lott Industries in Toledo, Ohio, which employs 1200 workers with disabilities. The film examines the place of disabilities in the workforce, the meaning of a career, and how work helps those who have disabilities maintain a feeling of purpose. The film also showcases workers' resilience and makes the case for greater employment opportunities for all.
This event is free and open to the public. Feel free to come to one or both films! After the second film, we will open the floor for a half-hour panel discussion featuring panelists who have disabilities, have family members with disabilities, or who serve people with disabilities. A small reception will conclude the event. To RSVP for this free event, please visit reelabilitieschicago.org/
The Institute for Church Life l Human Dignity & Life Initiatives is co-sponsoring the film festival.