2015 TASH Conference

In addition to the hundreds of great presentations with the latest advancement in the field of inclusion, you will also experience the fine art of film making at the 2015 TASH Annual Conference.
This year’s annual conference will host a film festival featuring the nominees for the TASH Positive Images in the Media award. This award honors print, film, or other forms of media renditions that promote positive images of people with disabilities. The films at the festival will portray people with disabilities and their lives accurately with recognition of the complexities of being human.
As an attendee, you will have a chance to view the films and participate in conversations with the creators of the films. The TASH Positive Images in the Media award winner will receive special recognition during one of the General Sessions. For screening times, visit: http://tash.org/2015FilmFestival

We hope you can join us!

"Wretches & Jabberers" tells the story of two men with autism, Tracy Thresher and Larry Bissonnette, journeying around the world to change prevailing attitudes about disability and intelligence. 

About the Film: In Wretches & Jabberers, two men with autism embark on a global quest to change attitudes about disability and intelligence. Determined to put a new face on autism, Tracy Thresher, 42, and Larry Bissonnette, 52, travel to Sri Lanka, Japan and Finland. At each stop, they dissect public attitudes about autism and issue a hopeful challenge to reconsider competency and the future. Growing up, Thresher and Bissonnette were presumed “retarded” and excluded from normal schooling. With limited speech, they both faced lives of social isolation in mental institutions or adult disability centers.

When they learned as adults to communicate by typing, their lives changed dramatically. Their world tour message is that the same possibility exists for others like themselves. Between moving and transformative encounters with young men and women with autism, parents and students, Thresher and Bissonnette take time to explore local sights and culture; dipping and dodging through Sri Lankan traffic in motorized tuk-tuks, discussing the purpose of life with a Buddhist monk and finally relaxing in a traditional Finnish sauna. Along the way, they reunite with old friends, expand the isolated world of a talented young painter and make new allies in their cause. From beginning to end, Thresher and Bissonnette inspire parents and young men and women with autism with a poignant narrative of personal struggle that always rings with intelligence, humor, hope and courage. To learn more about Wretches and Jabberers, go to: http://www.wretchesandjabberers.org/

 

Positive Images in the Media Award Winner

“Becoming Bulletproof” documents the making of an original Western film called “Bulletproof”. “Bulletproof” features actors with and without disabilities who meet every year to write, produce, and star in original short films. The philosophy is to create a truly inclusive community that builds genuine friendships that transcend stigma and stereotypes. Inside the whirlwind filmmaking process of mastering lines, pushing through take after take, and grappling with high expectations, “Becoming Bulletproof” chronicles the genesis of a riveting film and a personally and socially transformative experience.

Together, James and Barnett financed their first feature documentary film SUPERHEROES. The film was a breakout hit at the 2011 Slamdance Film Festival where it won the first ever “Theatrical Release Award”. Both are currently developing new projects at SuperFilms.

Brandon’s mother talks about the impact of early intervention on her son’s life and on her family. Brandon is a teenager and talented musician shares his insights about people with disabilities and music.

About the Film: Brandon’s Story, A Mother’s Voice is an 8 minute video which features Brandon’s mother as she talks about the importance and impact of early intervention on her son’s life and on her family.

Brandon, who is a teenager and talented musician, shares his insights about people with disabilities and music as well. The video was produced by the Integrated Training Collaborative, which is a project of the Partnership for People with Disabilities at VCU. The video is available at https://youtu.be/zIzBK1JgGgM

Afternoon of a Faun: Tanaquil Le Clercq tells the story of Tanaquil "Tanny" Le Clercq, one of the greatest dancers in American ballet, who was tragically stricken by polio at the height of her career. 

With a soul-stirring soundtrack and exquisite visuals, award-winning filmmaker Nancy Buirski brings to the screen the magnificent story of one of the great ballerinas Tanaquil Le Clercq who was struck down by polio and paralyzed

Afternoon of a Faun: Tanaquil Le Clercq, by award-winning director Nancy Buirski, tells the dramatic story of Tanaquil "Tanny" Le Clercq, one of the greatest dancers in the history of the American ballet, who was tragically stricken by polio at the height of her career. Tanny inspired genius choreographers George Balanchine and Jerome Robbins, but the tragedy that she experienced through her illness proved her true power and strength.  A personal, electrifying story like Tanny’s shines light on universal issues of sickness and survival. Aging and affliction spare no one – no matter how privileged or accomplished. Pain is part of our humanity, and the ability to accept our limitations is something we can all relate to.

Of the great ballerinas, Tanaquil Le Clercq (known to all as “Tanny”) may have been the most transcendent. She mesmerized viewers and choreographers alike - her elongated, race-horse physique became the new prototype for the great George Balanchine. The muse to both Balanchine and Jerome Robbins, they loved her as a dancer and a woman. Balanchine married her and Robbins created his famous AFTERNOON OF A FAUN for Tanny. She was the foremost dancer of her day until it suddenly all stopped. At age 27, Tanny was struck down by polio and paralyzed. She never danced again.

"With its extraordinary footage and a story replete with tragic ironies, Nancy Buirski's documentary on famed prima ballerina Tanaquil Le Clercq often soars" - Variety

Informing Families, a project of the Washington State Developmental Disabilities Council, is producing a mini documentary about Dylan's pursuit of a college education, a lifelong dream for Dylan and one of the final civil rights hurdles for individuals with developmental disabilities who continue to fight for full inclusion in all areas of life.

I will talk about the long process to be admitted into The Evergreen State College located in Olympia, Washington. It started when I was 19 and I am now 32 years old. With the help of my community college, private tutors and three years with a non-profit organization called KOKUA , who provided me and others students personal tutors from Evergreen, and the direct support from an Evergreen faculty, I was able to be admitted as a part time student. Slow and steady, I will prove I am capable of becoming a full-time student. Patience and resilience. That's me!


OBJECTIVES: As a result of this session my presentation will provide others living life with a disability an example of what is possible when you build a team around you that says YES to your dreams. In addition, I hope professionals, providers and family members will raise the bar of potential and possibilities for others living life with a disability. Sometimes it takes a pioneer like myself to go first before others dare to follow. I want to inspire others and give them some examples of what worked on my journey to college. If my presentation inspires even one new person with a disability to consider post-secondary education as an option, I have achieved my goal. Another result of my session is to get others inspired by my tenacious way of living life. I never give up on my dreams. Never say Never! Keep trying and reach for your dreams. When told no, hear this as a motivator to try a different way to get what you want. Another learning objective is to encourage others to believe in the possibility of INCLUSION and be inspired to find ways to be included in their communities.

My personal YES team includes an accomplished filmographer who has documented my college journey. It is with great pride that I will be showing this documentary film. Those attending my session will not only hear my words but begin to feel the journey. It shows the ups and downs, happy and sad. I was brought to tears and laughter and felt enormous excitement when I was finally admitted. Showing the film is another way I have embraced being an example for others. Changing people's attitudes and expectations about people living life with a disability is a hard, yet important responsibility. Don't let the struggle define the outcome.

ON A JOURNEY TO FIND HERSELF, THEY FOUND EACH OTHER

From award winning, writer-director Olivier Bernier comes The Sunset Sky, a bitter sweet coming of age story about two siblings on a search for the truth behind their past.

Jennifer, is left as the sole caretaker of her autistic brother, Charlie. After being evicted from their home, Unequipped to deal with the burden of her autistic brother, she decides to drive Charlie across the United States to their father’s whom he has never met.

During their four days on long dusty roads, they are thrust into a life of, laughter, insecurity, violence, crime and self-discovery. As their journey takes a turn for the worse, she discovers that she needs her brother just as much as he needs her. 





 

An honest and heartfelt love story, starring adults on the autism spectrum.

When an upper-class charmer struggling to hide his autism is forced to attend a support group for people on the autism spectrum, he meets a young woman who challenges his identity as "normal".

KEEP THE CHANGE is a love story written for and starring adults on the autism spectrum. This award winning short film has gone on to inspire a feature length film version starring the same cast that will be coming out soon in 2016.

When an upper-class charmer struggling to hide his autism is forced to attend a support group for people on the autism spectrum, he meets a young woman who challenges his identity as "normal".

12 Minute trailer for unfinished project which will be screened during the 40th Birthday Celebration.

Dan Habib's new documentary "Intelligent Lives" (working title) will explore how the segregation of people with intellectual disabilities became the norm, why it's now slowly being dismantled, and the blazing of bold new paths.

Approximately 6.5 million Americans are identified as having an intellectual disability, and most live segregated lives based on low expectations. 17% of students with intellectual disabilities are included in general education classrooms alongside their non-disabled peers, and as adults, 24% are employed. 

In the new documentary film project "Intelligent Lives" (working title), filmmaker Dan Habib will explore how the segregation of people with intellectual disabilities became the norm, why this segregation is slowly being dismantled, and how some people with intellectual disabilities are blazing a bold new path.

"Intelligent Lives" will focus on three central themes:

-The history and legacy of intelligence testing, which was used to justify the forced sterilization and institutionalization of tens of thousands of Americans during the 20th century.

-How narrow perceptions of intelligence continue to disproportionately limit people with disabilities, leading to the isolation and unfulfilled potential of millions of people in the U.S. and worldwide.

-An emerging paradigm in which people with intellectual disabilities participate in general education, college, meaningful employment, relationships, and other aspects of community life.

The film project will explore these themes through personal stories along with a historical perspective on the experience of people with intellectual disabilities, with narration from Academy Award winning actor, Chris Cooper.

Additionally, the film will include interviews with leaders in the fields of education, neuroscience, psychology, and business as we explore a central question: Can any attempt to measure intelligence predict a person’s value, competence, or potential to contribute meaningfully to the world?