On Wednesday, February 4 from 12-2 p.m. in CH 100, the documentary film, Disability Downloaded (2023) was shown to a large audience of students, faculty, and staff. This powerful and insightful film, which explores disability etiquette using best practices, is part of the BIG Read Spring 2026 events.
A live panel discussion with the film maker, Dawn Bentley, and Vera Mendoza Arana, Katie Shelley, and Tiff Thompson, who are interviewed in the film, followed the film showing.
Jodi Gore, Instructor of Social Work, and Chris Hendricks, Director of the DCR, lead the online discussion.
During the panel discussion, lead by Jen Hazel, the panelists were asked questions that grounded the audience in their stories, bigger questions around representation and barriers, and connected the panelists’ personal stories to larger institutional responsibilities before turning to the audience to pose questions around assumptions and compliance verse belonging.
If you missed the film and discussion, you will have another opportunity to see it on April 21 during the BIG Read Author event. Check the BIG Read website for more information.
