The Arc’s Watch & Learn: Disability Film Program
What are schools in your community doing to educate students about people with intellectual and developmental disabilities? The Arc’s Watch & Learn: Disability Film program is an educational outreach initiative for students of all ages. Watch & Learn aims to connect chapters of The Arc with schools in their community to teach students about individuals with disabilities through the power of film.
The program consists of a collection of short films categorized by age group (elementary, middle or high school) that provides students with an in-depth look at the lives of people with disabilities told from their perspective. Through these films, The Arc strives to create discussions among students to create awareness and acceptance of people with disabilities. Watch & Learn is part of The Arc@School.
Chapters that purchase the Watch & Learn program receive:
- A one-year subscription to an online playlist containing four short films geared to a specific age range (elementary, middle, or high school levels) with unlimited use
- Implementation guide that includes:
- Recommendations to help chapters reach out and facilitate partnerships with school districts
- Customizable templates and promotional tools
- Discussion questions for teachers to create classroom dialogue around disability competency
- Pre and post-surveys to gauge students’ perceptions about people with disabilities and knowledge gained
- Technical assistance from The Arc
Elementary School Level Films
Bye
Directed by Anthony Morrison
Follow Jayden, a two-and-a-half-year-old child with autism, as he navigates his first two months of school in the Bronx.
I Love Grilled Cheese
Directed by Scott Anderson
Libby provides some insight about the joys of living with her best friend, and big brother, Max, who has Down syndrome.
Bumblebee
Directed by Jenna Kanell
Despite being told as a child he would never speak or walk, Vance accomplished what doctors’ thought was impossible. Now he has a new challenge: dating. Follow Vance, diagnosed with autism, cerebral palsy, and epilepsy, as he ventures out on his first date.
Jacob’s Turn
Directed by Nick Nanton
An inspirational short documentary about a four-year-old boy with Down syndrome and how his love of baseball transformed the hearts of everyone in his town.
Middle School Level Films
One Question
Directed by Anthony Di Salvo
People with intellectual and developmental disabilities answer the question: If you could change one thing about yourself, what would you change?
JMAXX and The Universal Language
Directed by Ryan Mayers
Jarell, a teenager with autism, has learned to use hip-hop dance as a means to communicate his true self to the world.
Humans of San Jose: Wataru Kubo
Directed by Kaho Kubo
A mini documentary on the personal thoughts of the filmmaker’s brother Wataru Kubo, who has autism.
Extra Ordinary
Directed by David Quinn
A glimpse into the lives of two young people with Down syndrome living happy and fulfilling lives.
High School Level Films
Love, Trails and Dinosaurs
Directed by Alex Oliver
Experience the loving relationship of a mother and her adult son with autism as they hike 900 miles of trails within the Great Smoky Mountains. It’s a powerful story that celebrates a spiritual journey through love, discovery, and healing.
What I Like About Myself
Directed by Myles Tyler-Vasell
As students in a photography group begin practicing interviewing techniques, a simple question receives surprisingly diverse and complex answers.
Heart Over Body
Directed by Jared Corey
Zack Childers is an athlete with cerebral palsy. He was told at a young age that he would never walk without a walker. Since then, Zack’s determination to prove people wrong has formed the person and athlete he is today.
Inside My Life on the Spectrum
Directed by Mia Drake Brandt
Dane shares his personal story of life with autism using musical performance, comedy and informative dialogue.
The Arc promotes and protects the human rights of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and actively supports their full inclusion and participation in the community throughout their lifetimes.
