Long Beach City College’s Disabled Student Programs and Services (DSPS) has opened a door of opportunity to make disabled students feel understood and included, as well as to shed light and educate other students about disabilities by hosting a movie night at the LAC campus.
LBCC’s disabled student’s program will be screening ‘Crip Camp’ for free in the Nordic Lounge on April 15 and they will host another movie night as well on April 29.
This event gives an opportunity for students to start new connections, friendships, education, and understanding on the matter.
As campus continues to increasingly open up since the start of the pandemic, and students become more comfortable with the idea of attending in person events, the DSPS wasted no time in promoting their program and reaching out to students to get the ball rolling.
DSPS held an awareness fair containing roughly 20 booths outside of building A on Thursday, and now they are hosting two movie nights this month.
This is an entertaining way to give the DSPS students a way to feel pride in themselves as students, but it also acts as a resource to give others an inside look to a way of life that differs from their own.
This creates an opportunity for students with disabilities to feel comfort in their capabilities and “highlight some of their abilities,” Jade Adams said.
Jane Adams, admin assistant, pointed out, “Disability does not mean incapable.”
Adams explained there would be snacks and a friendly environment all around, “It’s really just for people to come, and for people to hang out, have some popcorn, watch something engaging. We did put a lot of effort into choosing the films because we also wanted it to be engaging and informative to offer a different perspective on people with disabilities.”
Student, Sheyla Valdebenito, expressed her curiosity about the event tonight night.
“It sounds like ignorance the way I’m talking about it, but we literally don’t know much about it.” Valdebenito said.
Specialty films are made to relate to people with disabilities and to provide a point of view that many aren’t able to understand without a different perspective. It’s a way to communicate their world through a common experience, that being film.
Jade Adams, along with Lisa Duckworth and other LBCC employees, were part of the committee for pulling together a feeless and educating activity for LBCC students.