Disabilities

Preserving quality of life and independence is a goal for people with disabilities and those who care for them. This series provides a basic, practical reference for caregivers assisting individuals with either physical or mental disabilities. The programs use helpful demonstrations and computer graphics to illustrate techniques and concerns. In addition, there are many illuminating interviews with doctors, caregivers, parents, spouses, and those overcoming disabilities.4-part series, 27-40 minutes each.

As the Iraq War enters its sixth year, American military casualties have reached approximately 34,000 dead and wounded. But numbers aren't personal," says Bill Moyers. "The only way truly to understand the human cost of this war is to know someone who is bearing it." In this edition of the Journal, Moyers interviews iconic talk show host Phil Donahue and award-winning documentarian Ellen Spiro on their film Body of War, an intimate portrait of Tomas Young-a young man who joined the Army to fight in Afghanistan, was deployed instead to Iraq, and was shot and paralyzed from the mid-chest down on his fifth day in-country. Extensive excerpts from the documentary are included. Broadcast dates: March 21, 2008; May 30, 2008; and July 4, 2008. (56 minutes)"

For a person who has a disability, finding and maintaining a job and gaining acceptance at a company can be a difficult process. This program promotes the development of supportive employment within the community by following four very different individuals with disabilities as they meet their respective employment challenges. The program is designed to encourage people with disabilities to persevere in the workplace while helping nondisabled people to better understand the requirements of those who have special needs. (24 minutes)

This program presents an inspiring look at Matt Klemets, 21, and Annalisa Ericson, 28, as they participate in the Special Olympics as well as the community of family, educators, employers, and friends who encourage them to achieve their goals. Candid interviews with the special education directors at Staples High School in Westport, Connecticut; Dr. Donald Cohen, of the Yale Child Study Center; and others address both the rewards and the frustrations of working with people who have mental retardation. (43 minutes)

Although more and more people with disabilities are entering the mainstream of life, the quest for meaningful integration has never been an easy one in America. After discussing the history of institutionalization, this program uses interviews to come to grips with a wide range of disabilities, celebrating the progress being made toward total cultural equality while acknowledging that more still needs to be done to fully bring it about. (28 minutes)

This enlightening three-part series moves beyond the differences between those who are physically or mentally challenged and those who are not. Interviews with people with disabilities, parents, counselors, healthcare professionals, and others emphasize a continuing struggle against preconceptions-with continuing success. 3-part series, 28 minutes each.

For people with special needs, augmentative communication technology is opening the door to fuller expression, better education, and higher self-esteem. This program illustrates the positive impact of augmentative communication technology on the lives of Adam and Mike. Adam, once considered mentally retarded by school staff, has become a college-educated professional-thanks in part to an augmentative device-while the parents of 7-year-old Mike, who does not speak due to autism, believe that technological advances will soon help their son. (28 minutes)

Dekel Shekarzi, a 21-year-old who defines himself as an actor, a poet, a dancer, and a romantic in love with love itself, is defined by many others not by who he is, but by what he was born with: Down's syndrome. This engaging documentary follows Dekel in his everyday life, which is anything but everyday." For him, faith, hope, and willpower have fused together to fuel his dreams. Film of Dekel on stage and at home, candid interviews with his family members, and reflections from this remarkable individual-who evidently is a philosopher, too-reveal an intriguing personality well worth getting to know. (Hebrew with English subtitles, 29 minutes)"

This four-part series presents specific techniques that medical workers can use to help a child in transitional care and his or her family. The programs focus on the importance of fostering cognitive and motor development during an institutional stay, along with recognizing the parents' role and incorporating their involvement in order to have a successful transition from the hospital to the home. 4-part series, 20-25 minutes each.

Often viewed as a weakness, dyslexia actually means that a person processes information differently, and many with the disorder have learned to see it as a strength. This program illustrates the challenges faced by Amanda, Carmen, and Gio-three young people living with dyslexia-through personal interviews with them and those close to them. Viewers are guided into their unique and often overlooked world, made clear through eye-opening scenes at school and home. Produced by filmmakers who are themselves dyslexic, the film serves as a tool for educating others about dyslexia, dyscalculia, and dysgraphia, and for identifying a common vocabulary that can bridge the gap between those with and without learning disabilities. A viewable/printable instructor's guide is available online. (58 minutes)

This program presents a disability simulation in which an all-star football player learns to deal with some of the day-to-day physical challenges faced by single-arm amputees. In addition, two enabling activities are featured: golfing at a course designed specifically for wheelchair users, who compete using specialized clubs and adapted carts, and cruising on a motorcycle ingeniously customized for paraplegics. Also, the importance of wheelchair-friendly sidewalks and street crossings is stressed, and the DynaMyte touch screen communication device for people with speech impairments is demonstrated. (24 minutes)

The Gemini Award-winning series Moving On is the only network TV program in North America of its kind. This lively, life-affirming five-part collection of Moving On episodes with host Joanne Smith, director of the Canadian Paraplegic Association, features debates on important issues, inspiring accounts of personal achievement, and fresh ideas that are helping people with disabilities to live more independently. Each news magazine-style program also unflinchingly challenges the stereotypes that reinforce societal barriers to full inclusion. 5-part series, 24 minutes each.

Cochlear implants could soon make a lifetime of profound deafness a thing of the past-and in the process bring an end to America's vibrant Deaf culture. In this program, NewsHour correspondent Betty Ann Bowser takes a balanced look at the implications of cochlear implant technology on the Deaf community. Dr. John Niparko, director of The Listening Center at Johns Hopkins; King Jordan, president of Gallaudet University; and others share their markedly different perceptions of cochlear implants, with some portraying them as miraculous assistive devices and others as a baneful attempt by the well-meaning hearing majority to fix" the Deaf. (13 minutes)"

During the 1980s, a new civil rights movement got underway-for people with disabilities. In this program, Larry Paradis, executive director of Disability Rights Advocates, speaks with NewsHour correspondent Spencer Michels about the importance of litigation in pressuring companies and communities to comply with the 1990 Americans with Disabilities Act. But are such legal actions actually undermining support for the ADA? Richard Baier, president of the Building Owners and Managers Association International; Congressman Mark Foley (R-FL); and others present their points of view. (12 minutes)

This emotionally charged program filmed in Australia explores the ethics of whether, and in what circumstances, women and men with severe mental or physical disabilities should ever be sterilized. All parties involved desire a better quality of life for people who it is believed are incapable of fully comprehending and then acting on the issues for themselves. But is sterilization, performed in a person's perceived best interests, a humane or an inhuman way to try to achieve it? Candid interviews with parents, caregivers, members of the judiciary, and individuals with disabilities provide numerous angles on a topic that is as compelling as it is controversial. (46 minutes)