Resource from presentation by Beth Haller at CUNY ESA Conference 2012, “Cripples, Idiots, Lepers, and Freaks: Extraordinary Bodies / Extraordinary Minds” - March 22, 2012
Mass media about people with disabilities and disability issues for use in university courses
(All these are available in DVD format or online. Disability or issue is listed in parentheses. Also listed are links to its website or Disability Studies analyses of it. You can find other films here: http://disabilitymovies.com/. Please contact me if you have additions or links for the list: bhaller@towson.edu)
Documentaries
Alicia (living with brain injury) (A promising 18-year-old drama student sustains brain damage; her response to her disability was to start a theatre group and become an active member of the community) http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL87F1B11B7EB06A34
Autism: The Musical (Follows the lives of five LA children on the autism spectrum over the course of six months as they prepare for a musical production) http://www.autismthemusical.com/
Body & Soul: Diana and Kathy (Two women with disabilities support each other and live independently) http://www.dianaandkathy.com/
Body of War (Focuses on returning disabled veteran Tomas Young, 25, who became paralyzed from a bullet to his spine - wounded after serving in Iraq for less than a week) http://www.bodyofwar.com/
Bong & Donnell (A friendship between a disabled boy and a nondisabled boy) http://www.videopress.umaryland.edu/disability_awareness/bongdonnell_PERCH1004.html
Born Freak (Disabled actor Mat Fraser explores how disabled performers survived working in freak shows) http://dsq-sds.org/article/view/575/752
Breathing Lessons. The Life and Work of Mark O’Brien (Polio survivor Mark O’Brien, who was a writer and poet) Watch free online here: http://www.snagfilms.com/films/title/breathing_lessons
Bulgaria's Abandoned Children (Free online documentary about Bulgaria, which has more institutionalized mentally and physically disabled children than anywhere else in Europe.) http://topdocumentaryfilms.com/bulgarias-abandoned-children/
Code of the Freaks (Examines Hollywood images of disability, tracing themes from the 1920s to the present) http://vimeo.com/36204424
Deaf Jam (A deaf teen begins to perform ASL poetry and decides to perform at a poetry slam) http://www.itvs.org/films/deaf-jam
Defining Beauty: Ms. Wheelchair America (Behind-the-scenes look at the 2010 Ms. Wheelchair America Pageant) http://definingbeautydoc.blogspot.com/
Enable (People with disabilities and technology) http://www.rehabtool.com/video/
Freedom Machines (About the significant impact of technology in the lives of people with disabilities) http://dsq-sds.org/article/view/559/736
A Friend Indeed-The Bill Sackter Story (True story of Bill Sackter, who left a lifetime in an institution to emerge as an international hero for people with disabilities) Full documentary online: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iUfaB41xjao&list=FLS3YJgvIPKYs7nM-7y4ylTA&index=6&feature=plpp_video
F**k the Disabled (Gay, disabled comedian Greg Walloch chronicles his life and comedy career) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M_VvygUaEiQ
Going Blind (Blind people tell their personal stories) http://www.goingblindmovie.com/
The Horse Boy (Tale of family resilience in the face of a young boy’s autism) http://www.horseboymovie.com/
How to Die in Oregon (Focuses on physician-assisted suicide in Oregon) http://www.howtodieinoregon.com/
I Can’t Do That But I Can Do This (Kids with learning disabilities discover their abilities) http://www.hbo.com/documentaries/i-cant-do-this-but-i-can-do-that-a-film-for-families-about-learning-differences/synopsis.html
Including Samuel (A film about inclusion. The family of Samuel, who has CP, works to include him in all facets of their lives.) http://www.includingsamuel.com/home.aspx
Journey into Dyslexia (Profile of dyslexic professionals, thriving students and compassionate educators) http://www.hbo.com/documentaries/journey-into-dyslexia/synopsis.html#/documentaries/journey-into-dyslexia/index.html
Journey into Dyslexia (Profile of dyslexic professionals, thriving students and compassionate educators) http://www.hbo.com/documentaries/journey-into-dyslexia/synopsis.html#/documentaries/journey-into-dyslexia/index.html
The Key of G (Man w/ Mowat-Wilson syndrome & independent living) http://www.lateralfilms.com/keyofg/about.html
The Kids are All Right (Online documentary about protests against the MDA Telethon) http://www.thekidsareallright.org/watch.html
King Gimp (Artist w/ CP Dan Keplinger; education access) http://www.videopress.umaryland.edu/King_Gimp.html
Lives Worth Living (The disability rights movement in the USA) http://www.pbs.org/independentlens/lives-worth-living/
Marwencol (Artist with TBI, PTSD creates elaborate miniature scenes depicting WWII)
Lives Worth Living (The disability rights movement in the USA) http://www.pbs.org/independentlens/lives-worth-living/
Marwencol (Artist with TBI, PTSD creates elaborate miniature scenes depicting WWII)
Monica & David (A couple with Down syndrome marry and start life together) http://www.monicaanddavid.com/
A Mother’s Courage: Talking Back to Autism (Discusses facilitated communication and the Rapid Prompting Method) http://www.amotherscourage.org/
My Classic Life as an Artist: A Portrait of Larry Bissonnette (An autistic man becomes an outsider artist after leaving a life in an institution) http://myclassiclifefilm.com/
My Country (It profiles three people with disabilities whose lives have been shaped by the struggle for equal rights) Watch it here: http://www.ada.gov/mycountryvideo/hi_speed_rp/mycountrydslgallery.htm
The Nerves of Us (focuses on Selective Dorsal Rhizotomy (SDR), a surgery for people with CP) http://rhizotomyfilm.com/The_Nerves_of_Us/The_Movie.html
No Bigger Than a Minute (Little person describes his life & societal attitudes) http://www.nobiggerthanaminute.com/
The Other Child (Short documentary about brothers and sisters when one sibling has autism)
A Paralyzing Fear: The Story of Polio in America http://www.snagfilms.com/films/title/a_paralyzing_fear
Plan F (Blind man who is an occupational therapist turned auto mechanic) http://www.blogger.com/goog_1178832309
Praying with Lior (A teen with Down syndrome prepares for his bar mitzvah) http://www.prayingwithlior.com/
Raising Renee (A woman with an intellectual disability becomes more independent after living with her artist sister) http://westcityfilms.com/raising_renee.html
The Real Helen Keller http://www.cultureunplugged.com/documentary/watch-online/filmedia/play/2920/The-Real-Helen-Keller
See What I'm Saying: The Deaf Entertainers Documentary (It follows the journeys of four extraordinary deaf entertainers over the course of a single year as their stories intertwine and culminate in some of the most important events of their lives) www.seewhatimsayingmovie.com
Shameless: The Art of Disability (Art, activism and disability) http://www.onf-nfb.gc.ca/eng/collection/film/?id=51620
Smile Pinki (Indian girl’s life is changed when she finally gets surgery for her cleft palate) http://www.smilepinki.com/
Todd Selby x Christine Sun Kim (Christine Sun Kim is a Deaf performance artist working to reclaim the world of sound for herself. Todd Selby is a blind filmmaker) View here:http://disabilitymovies.com/2011/todd-selby-x-christine-sun-kim/%20
There's Still Hope For Dreams...a Phamaly Story (It follows a theatrical group comprised entirely of disabled performers.) http://differentfromwhatfilm.com/node/18
Touch the Sound (A sound journey with internationally known deaf percussionist Evelyn Glennie) http://www.touch-the-sound.com/
Tying Your Own Shoes (Short animated documentary about four adult artists with Down Syndrome) http://www.nfb.ca/film/tying_your_own_shoes_trailer
The United States of Autism http://usofautism.com/
The United States of Autism http://usofautism.com/
Vital Signs: Crip Culture Talks Back (Disability culture; disabled artists) http://www.fanlight.com/catalog/films/230_vs.php
War Torn 1861-2010 (Documentary about the disabling effects of war) http://www.hbo.com/documentaries/wartorn-1861-2010/index.html
We Are PHAMALy (Follows members of the musical theatre troupe PHAMALy (the Physically Handicapped Amateur Musical Actors League) as they prepare for their production of Once Upon A Mattress) http://dsq-sds.org/article/view/909/1084
When Billy Broke His Head (A man with TBI explores the disability rights movement) http://www.brainline.org/multimedia/video/transcripts/Billy_Golfus-When_Billy_Broke_His_Head.pdf
When I’m Not Alone (A transgender disabled man becomes a disability advocate) http://www.whenimnotalonefilm.com/
Where's Molly? (A brother finds his disabled sister in an institution after 47 years and re-establishes a loving relationship) http://www.wheresmolly.net/
Willowbrook: The Last Great Disgrace (Short documentary about the notorious institution for people with disabilities on Staten Island, NY) http://sproutflix.org/node/323
Wretches and Jabberers (Two autistic men travel the world as advocates) http://www.wretchesandjabberers.org/
Yellow Brick Road (Theater program for people with intellectual disabilities) http://dsq-sds.org/article/view/733/910%20
Films
Adam (Autism)
Assisted Living (Wheelchair use) http://dsq-sds.org/article/view/594/771
Avatar (Wheelchair use) http://dsq-sds.org/article/view/1353/1473
A Beautiful Mind (Mental illness)
Beeswax (Wheelchair user)
Beyond Silence (Deaf community)
Canvas (Mental illness)
Children of a Lesser God (Deaf community)
The Color of Paradise (Blind person)
The Diving Bell & The Butterfly (Locked-in syndrome) http://dsq-sds.org/article/view/101/101
Dumb & Dumber (Blind person) http://dsq-sds.org/article/view/895/1070
The Elephant Man (Neurofibromatosis type I and Proteus syndrome)
Fanaa (Blind person)
Finding Nemo (Memory problem; disabled fin) http://dsq-sds.org/article/view/873/1048
Freaks (Multiple disabilities) http://dsq-sds.org/article/view/581/758
Frida (Wheelchair use) http://dsq-sds.org/article/view/1274/1304
Girlfriend (Down syndrome) Watch here for $5: https://www.thewatchbox.com/movies/2-girlfriend
Harvey Krumpet (Tourette’s syndrome, Alzheimer’s)
Mabul – The Flood (Autism)
Mary and Max (Asperger’s, obesity)
Million Dollar Baby (Wheelchair use) http://dsq-sds.org/article/view/590/767
Mozart and the Whale (Autism)
Music Within (CP; hearing loss)
Musical Chairs (Wheelchair use; amputee)
My Left Foot (CP) Longmore, P. K. (1990). The glorious rage of Christy Brown. Disability Studies Quarterly, 10, 23-25.
My Name is Khan (Autism)
One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest (Multiple disabilities) http://dsq-sds.org/article/view/149/149
Quid Pro Quo (Wheelchair user)
Rain Man (Autism)
Ray (Blind person) http://dsq-sds.org/article/view/591/768
The Ringer (Intellectual disabilities) http://www.nytimes.com/2005/12/11/movies/11bauer.html?_r=1
Rory O’Shea Was Here (CP) http://dsq-sds.org/article/view/703/880
Saved (Wheelchair user)
The Sea Inside (Wheelchair use)
Seabiscuit (Visual impairment, cane use) http://dsq-sds.org/article/view/908/1083
Shallow Hal (CP; obesity) http://dsq-sds.org/article/view/895/1070
Shine (Mental illness)
Simon Birch (Little person) http://dsq-sds.org/article/view/1014/1227
Sling Blade (Intellectual disability)
Snowcake (Autism)
The Soloist (Mental Illness)
The Station Agent (Little person) http://dsq-sds.org/article/view/576/753
Stuck on You (Conjoined twins) http://dsq-sds.org/article/view/895/1070,%20http://dsq-sds.org/article/view/494/671
The Tic Code (Tourette’s syndrome)
There’s Something about Mary (Intellectual disability) http://dsq-sds.org/article/view/895/1070
Tropic Thunder (Intellectual disability) http://www.disaboom.com/movies/quottropic-thunder-hollywood-still-doesnt-get-it/
What’s Eating Gilbert Grape (Intellectual disability)
Whole (BIID)
X-Men, X2 (Wheelchair use) http://dsq-sds.org/article/view/874/1049
Yo, Tambien (Down syndrome)
Entertainment TV
American Horror Story (Down syndrome)
Boston Legal (Little person; autism)
Breaking Bad (CP; cancer)
CSI (Amputee; hearing loss) http://dsq-sds.org/article/view/921/1096
Deadwood (CP) http://dsq-sds.org/article/view/593/770
Family Guy (Wheelchair user)
Friday Night Lights (Wheelchair user)
Friday Night Lights (Wheelchair user)
Glee (Down syndrome; wheelchair use) http://dsq-sds.org/article/view/1354
Heroes (Wheelchair use)
House (Cane use; substance abuse) http://dsq-sds.org/article/view/1583/1549
Joan of Arcadia (Wheelchair user) http://dsq-sds.org/article/view/499/676
The L Word (Deaf person) http://media-and-disability.blogspot.com/2011/08/accessing-new-deaf-representations-on.html
Life Goes On (Down syndrome)
Lost (Wheelchair use) http://dsq-sds.org/article/view/540/717
Monk (OCD)
Nip/Tuck (Multiple disabilities; Little person)
Parenthood (Autistic child)
Parenthood (Autistic child)
Pelswick (Wheelchair user) http://dsq-sds.org/article/view/431/608
Private Practice (Wheelchair use; substance abuse)
Quads (Wheelchair users)
The Secret Life of the American Teenager (Down syndrome)
Sesame Street (Wheelchair user)
South Park (Wheelchair use; walker use) http://dsq-sds.org/article/view/628/805
Switched at Birth (Deaf community)
Temple Grandin (Autism) http://dsq-sds.org/article/view/1659/1610
United States of Tara (Mental illness)
Reality TV
The Amazing Race (Little person; Deaf person; Autism)
Dancing with the Stars (Amputee; Deaf person)
Extreme Home Makeover (Many episodes make over home for disabled adult or child)
How’s Your News? (All stars have intellectual disabilities) http://www.mtv.com/shows/hows_your_news/series.jhtml
The Specials (UKWeb series about group home of adults with intellectual disabilities) http://www.the-specials.com/home
Last Comic Standing (2006 winner, Josh Blue, has CP) http://www.joshblue.com/
The Little Couple (Little people) http://tlc.howstuffworks.com/tv/little-couple
Little People, Big World http://dsq-sds.org/article/view/817/992
My Deaf Family http://www.youtube.com/user/MyDeafFamily
