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Documentaries by and about persons with disabilities

Climate Strain

Navigating Delhi's congested streets and hazardous air, Pranav Sethi experiences sensory issues that intensify with shifting weather patterns, making everyday life physically and mentally draining.

Filmmaker: Aalap Deboor

Photo of Aalap Deboor.

Aalap Deboor is a producer-entrepreneur with 15 years in the entertainment industry. After a career in entertainment journalism followed by TV programming & production with MTV & Vh1, he started Much Much Media, a Mumbai-based content studio.   Read more about Aalap Deboor

Heat and Hurricanes

For Larry Landrie, a disabled senior in Georgia, rising heat and frequent storms are life-threatening. As extreme weather intensifies, inclusive disaster planning becomes essential.

Filmmaker: Larry Landrie

Photo of Larry Landrie.

Larry Landrie is retired from a 40-year career with the Department of Veterans Affairs. He is admin for the Facebook group, Worldwide Wheelchair Photographers.  Read more about Larry Landrie

Farming Through Extremes

Farmers with disabilities in rural Nepal are facing unprecedented challenges as climate change intensifies. Unpredictable weather patterns, including devastating floods, threaten their livelihoods and disrupt farming in remote, mountainous regions.

Filmmaker: Chhitup Lama

Photo of Chhitup Lama.

Chhitup Lama is the founding executive director of Himalayan Education and Development (HEAD) Nepal.   Read more about Chhitup Lama

News From the Global Frontlines of Disability Justice

The marburg virus under a microscope

Rwanda’s Marburg Crisis

As Rwanda confronts its first-ever Marburg virus outbreak, people with disabilities face heightened risks — not only from the virus but also from the lack of accessible health information.  “Without proper accommodations, such as sign language interpreters, captions, Braille, or visual aids, the Deaf and DeafBlind community may miss crucial information about how to protect themselves, symptoms to watch for, or where to seek help in case of infection,” says Joseph Musabyimana, executive director of the Rwanda Organization of Persons with Deaf Blindness.

Read more about Rwanda’s Marburg Crisis

Three fellows with the Disability Justice Project stand behind their cameras in a room. One is blind and one is low vision.

Capturing Vision Through Sound and Touch

Last summer, the DJP trained Indigenous activists with disabilities from the Pacific on the iPhone camera to create a documentary series on disability and climate change. With VoiceOver, the iPhone provides image descriptions for blind and low-vision filmmakers and offers other accessible features. “If you think about it, it doesn’t make sense for a blind person to use a camera,” says DJP filmmaker Ari Hazelman. “The iPhone gives you more avenues to tell your story in a more profound way as a blind person.”

Read more about Capturing Vision Through Sound and Touch

Alliance Ukwishaka, a young Rwandan woman, sits in a wheelchair in front of a banner about inclusive health services.

Work for All

The We Can Work program equips young Rwandans with disabilities to navigate barriers to employment through education, vocational training, and soft skills development. By fostering inclusive workplaces and advocating for policy changes, the program aims to reduce poverty and promote economic independence. Participants like Alliance Ukwishaka are optimistic that the program will enable them to achieve their dreams and showcase their potential. The initiative is part of a larger effort to support 30 million disabled youth across seven African countries.

Read more about Work for All

Faaolo Utumapu-Utailesolo stands in front of bushes and flowers with a white flower in her hair.

Global Recognition

Faaolo Utumapu-Utailesolo’s film “Dramatic Waves of Change” has been named a finalist in the Focus on Ability International Short Film Festival. The film, completed during a Disability Justice Project workshop in Samoa, highlights the impact of climate change on people with disabilities in Kiribati. Utumapu-Utailesolo, who is blind, used an iPhone with accessibility features to create the film. “Do not leave people with disabilities behind when [you] plan, implement, and monitor programs regarding climate change and disaster,” she says. Her achievement is a testament to the power of inclusive filmmaking.

Read more about Global Recognition

Jean Marie Vianney Mukeshimana, a blind Rwandan man, votes with a Braille ballot.

Advancing Democracy

Rwanda has made significant progress in making its elections more accessible, highlighted by the July 15 general elections where notable accommodations were provided. This was a major step forward in disabled Rwandans’ quest for equal rights and participation. “You cannot imagine how happy I am, for I have voted by myself and privately as others do accessibly,” says Jean Marie Vianney Mukeshimana, who used a Braille voting slate for the first time. “Voting is a deeply emotional and meaningful experience for a person with any disability in Rwanda, reflecting a blend of pride, empowerment, and hope.”

Read more about Advancing Democracy

A photo montage of inaccessible voting places across the US.

Barriers to the Ballot

Despite legislation like the Americans with Disabilities Act, barriers at the polls still hinder — and often prevent — people with disabilities from voting. New restrictive laws in some states, such as criminalizing assistance with voting, exacerbate these issues. Advocacy groups continue to fight for improved accessibility and increased voter turnout among disabled individuals, emphasizing the need for multiple voting options to accommodate diverse needs. ““Of course, we want to vote,” says Claire Stanley with the American Council of the Blind, “but if you can’t, you can’t.”

Read more about Barriers to the Ballot