“If we can open up a little bit more to each other and share our stories, that’s what breaks down barriers. ”
a digital call to action through storytelling
objective:
humanizing statistics to honor the lived experiences of families & individual constituents through storytelling.
project details:
PARTNERS IN POLICYMAKING (Pip) is a leadership training program that has chapters around the world. it provides adults with disabilities (self advocates) & parents of school age children with disabilities the tools to influence policy at a local and national level, the goal is increase equity and access for all constituents with disabilities.
SINCE 2019, The Illinois chapter of pip introduced into its curriculum a storytelling component, where Participants wrote a letter explaining why they joined the program and for whom. some participants dedicated this letter to themselves or their children, while others addressed it to their legislatures. Some of these WRITTEN stories evolved into digital stories.
from story creation to voice narration, imagery & video archiving to editing, each story went through multiple phases of development, in hopes to capture the essence of the lived experiences of these constituents & their families.
2023 Stories
Dear griffin, MAY THE FOURTH BE WITH YOU
Self Advocate, Griffin, shares a message from the future.
story run time: 2 minutes 37 seconds
TO THE NEXT GENERATION
SIBLING, GRACE shares a message TO THE NEXT GENERATION of people with disabilities
story run time: 2 minutes 48 seconds
2019 Stories
my heart
Bhairvi Patel, Mother & Pharmacist,
shares the story of 11-year-old, inna,
story run time: 5 minutes
all students can learn
annemarie stone, Educator & parent shares the story of mark. a 4th grader with an iq of 130.
story run time: 4 minutes 30 seconds
I CAN DO ALL THINGS
sandra heidt, single parent shares the story of asher, a high school senior.
story run time: 5 minutes
a gift to talk
chris lenart, self advocate & assistive device user.
he shares with the world a letter he dedicated to himself
story run time: 3 minutes 15 seconds
DEAR STATE OFFICIALS
ROSE MERCURY BARNES, SELF ADVOCATE & LGBTQ COMMUNITY member
rose DEDICATE’s A LETTER TO THEIR LEGISLATURES
STORY RUN TIME: 5 MINUTES
A digital call to action through storytelling