"I hear about a summer camp for the handicapped run by hippies. Somebody said you probably will smoke dope with the counselors, and I'm like...sign me up!"

Click here for a full episode transcript

In today's episode we look at the 2020 documentary Crip Camp: A Disability Revolution, which tells the story of a remarkable summer camp for teens with disabilities called Camp Jened that operated in New York State in the 70s. The film contains footage of the camp, and we get to know several of the campers, and then we follow them and see what they did in the decades following—and it is remarkable. The film has tons of info on disability advocacy and the history of people with disabilities fighting for fair treatment, and it makes a strong case that this fight is far from over. It’s also incredibly entertaining, funny, and endearing as we witness the relationships between several of the campers and where those go over the years.

My guest today is Kerri Michael. Kerri does a lot of things, she works for a film organization called Made in Arkansas, she’s a yoga instructor, and a movie nerd like myself. She also works for Disability Rights Arkansas so I immediately thought of her when I watched this movie, and I knew she’d be a good person to have on the show with her combination of disability knowledge and cinema love.

Links

Submit your film to Made in Arkansas on FilmFreeway

Trailer for Crip Camp on Netflix

Disability Self-advocates on Instagram:

• @carson_tueller
• @wheelchair_rapunzel
• @melissablake81
• @mstatilee
• @alistroker
• @theseatednurse
• @mia.mingus
• @keah_maria
• @theheumannperspective

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