Now Available…
Over the last several months, Boyer & Jackson, P.A. has obtained several documentary films relating to aging and coping with the compromises of disability. We are happy to share these wonderful films with our clients and friends. If you are interested in viewing any of the following films, please contact Laura at 941-365-2304 to make arrangements.
Alzheimer’s is the second-most-feared illness in America following cancer, and it is the nation’s sixth leading cause of death. Is such anxiety justified? The answer, until recently, was not comforting.
The Alzheimer’s Project consists of 4 films. The anchor of The Alzheimer’s Project series is Momentum in Science which features 25 leading scientists, a primetime state-of-the-science report revealing the most cutting-edge research advances. The three additional primetime specials (The Memory Lost Tapes; Grandpa, Will You Remember Me? With Maria Shriver; and Caregivers) capture what it means to experience the disease, to be a child or grandchild of one who suffers, and to care for those who are affected.
Alzheimer’s is an irreversible and progressive brain disease that slowly destroys memory and thinking skills. Since advancing age is the strongest risk factor for Alzheimer’s, as the baby boom generation reaches retirement in 2011, the number of those affected will soar. Hard scientific inquiry is demonstrating that there are a number of ways that we can improve our chances of remaining cognitively vital throughout a long life. These findings are presented in this special.
The Academy Award nominated The Collector of Bedford Street is a 34 minute documentary about filmmaker Alice Elliott’s neighbor, Larry Selman, a community activist and a fundraiser who has an intellectual disability. When Larry’s primary caregiver becomes unable to care for him, his New York City neighborhood community rallies together to protect his independent lifestyle by establishing an adult trust fund in his behalf. The Collector of Bedford Street has screened on television and at festivals and events all over the world, and Larry continues to raise thousands of dollars for charity every year. For more information, please visit http://welcomechange.org/films.
Body & Soul: Diana & Kathy, directed by Academy Award nominee Alice Elliott, is a new short documentary about two disability rights activists, Diana Braun and Kathy Conour. Diana, who has Down syndrome, and Kathy, who has cerebral palsy, met at a sheltered workshop in Illinois three decades ago and vowed to fight to live independent lives. Fearful of being shut away in a nursing home or forced into a state run institution, they broke the rules and escaped the system. Not content to earn menial wages and have their living situation change with the whim of government appropriations, Diana learned to drive, they moved, built their own house, and survived to tell their story. Body & Soul: Diana & Kathy chronicles their ongoing struggle to live independently outside of institutions, Diana’s desperate search to reconnect with her abusive mother, and the lawbreaking journey they take to Washington, D.C. to advocate for the rights of people with disabilities. For Diana and Kathy, this is a journey that’s physically dangerous and technically illegal, so the stakes are uncommonly high. Body & Soul: Diana & Kathy is a story of a profound, creative friendship and about making a difference. Additional information can be found at www.dianaandkathy.com
THE KEY OF G is an award-winning feature documentary about disability, caregiving and interdependence. The film follows Gannet, a charismatic 22-year-old with physical and developmental disabilities, as he leaves his mother’s home to share an apartment with a close-knit group of artists and musicians who support him, not only as paid caregivers, but also as friends. Together they create a uniquely successful model of supported living, and a compelling alternative to institutionalized care.
Gillian Fink is a developmentally disabled young woman who works at a local veterinary clinic, rides horses, and takes dance classes. When Gillian decides to move out of the house, her mother must come to terms with letting go.
The Gillian Film shares the difficulties and joys of both raising and being a person whose abilities are in constant and productive tension with her distinctive thought styles and cognitive capacities. It explores the importance of social inclusion and independent living for people with disabilities.
Dan Habib’s new 58-minute documentary film Including Samuel examines the educational and social inclusion of youth with disabilities. The film is built on the efforts of Habib and his family to include Samuel, 7, in all facets of their lives. Including Samuel also features four other families with varied inclusion experiences, plus interviews with teachers, parents and disability rights experts.
THE OPEN ROAD, AMERICA LOOKS AT AGING- America’s “baby boomers,” much studied and remarkably diverse, are fast nearing retirement age. So what’s in store for nearly 80 million individuals nearing the “third stage” of modern life? Nina Gilden Seavey’s insightful documentary examines the obstacles and opportunities ahead and important social, economic, and cultural issues in this historic demographic shift. Narrated by Michelle Norris.
IT’S ALL IN YOUR APPROACH- Teepa Snow MS, OTR/L, FAOTA, is an occupational therapist and national Alzheimer’s and Dementia education specialist. She has over 30 years experience and has received local, statewide, and national recognition for her expertise in geriatrics and dementia. Teepa’s teaching style is characterized as “dynamic and fun”. Even those participants who bring extensive experience with dementia, comment that her training is “a rewarding experience”, and “immediately useful”. “It’s All in Your Approach” is a 2 1/2 hour training DVD for the CareGivers. It’s based on managing your (not the person with dementia) behavior, actions, words & reactions so you can change the outcome of your experience with the person to a positive interaction for both of you.
Film descriptions taken from the respective DVD distributor’s website.
