JDN Celebrates Disability Awareness Month with Film Festival

Jewish Disabilities Network (JDN) has partnered with The Arc of Colorado for its Achieve With Us Colorado Film Festival on Sunday, March 30 to celebrate National Developmental Disability Awareness Month. The festival, held at the Sie Film Center, 2510 East Colfax in Denver, celebrates the achievements and successes of people with developmental disabilities. This is a free community event, but iTunes gift card donations will be accepted in lieu of ticket costs to help bring technology to people with disabilities.

Show times are at 1:00, 3:00, and 7:00 pm. All three shows will feature a collection of short films produced by or featuring individuals with developmental disabilities. At 3:00 pm, JDN will have a short presentation. One of the films shown at 3:00 pm will be “White Balance,” a 45-minute Israeli film in Hebrew with English subtitles about a 12-year-old ice skater who is slowly losing his hearing, and therefore his balance, forcing him away from his dream. A brief Q&A with PHAMALY Theatre Company will follow each showing. This event is best for families with children five and older. Childcare will not be provided.

Information, tickets, and film schedule: www.jewishfamilyservice.org/JDAD or contact Inna Ermakov, Jewish Disabilities Network coordinator, at 303.623.0251.

Sponsors of the film festival include The Arc of Colorado, arc Thrift Stores, Denver Film Society, Jewish Family Service, Jewish Disabilities Network, JFK Partners, and Personal Assistance Services of Colorado.

JDN is comprised of Jewish organizations dedicated to addressing the needs of Jewish people with special needs of all kinds and their families. A Jewish Disabilities Network Inclusion Committee is in place to raise awareness and accommodation of people with disabilities within Jewish community agencies and institutions through education, mentoring, and advisement. Members include: Sheryl Goodman and Jane E. Rosenbaum, co-chairs; Gale Chapman, Bernice Dinner, Robin Fleischman, Mark Greenberg, Betty Lehman, Kevin Pettit, Judy Reaven, Jeff Roberts, and Honey Wedgle-Gesundheit.