THOUGHTS FROM OUR HEAD OF SCHOOL, JOSEPH VORBACH:
On Wednesday night this week, Bishop O'Connell hosted a screening of the documentary film "Intelligent Lives" produced by Dan Habib. The viewing was followed by a panel discussion facilitated by Mrs. Susan Rinaldi, the Director of Expanded Services at our school. The panel included two parents whose children receive expanded services at our school, a current senior who has been a peer mentor for two years, a teacher who supports expanded services in her French classroom, a young man who is a graduate of the Mason Life program at George Mason University (https://masonlife.gmu.edu), the executive director of L'Arche Greater Washington, and our Principal, Mr. Carl Patton.
Mrs Rinaldi introduced the film very beautifully this way:
We are happy you all could join us tonight for the viewing of Dan Habib’s Documentary, Intelligent Lives. I am Susan Rinaldi, the Director of Expanded Services at O’Connell, and have the pleasure of overseeing our inclusive services to students with intellectual or cognitive disabilities. The topic of inclusion is close to my heart and it is a value we seek to live out in our school community.
I came across this film last Fall when looking up a Ted Talk by Dan Habib that I use as an assignment for the 70 students who serve as peer mentors to our 11 students in various classes. His talk, entitled Disabling Segregation, provides a thought-provoking challenge to personal views and experiences with inclusion. Now in this film, Habib approaches the topic through both a historical lens, and a personalized lens following the lives of 3 young adults with intellectual disabilities.
I believe this film will evoke very personal responses, and you may each have a unique experience with it. I think this is because the topic of disability is personal, and our unique experiences with disability, particularly intellectual disability, influence our response to the film. For me, I have the privilege of having a sister with Down Syndrome. Born the spring of my 8th grade year, her life influenced my choice of profession, enriched my life and that of my family. We cannot imagine life without Emily. I still recall the day I met her in the hospital when we were also met by a geneticist who gloomily and decisively told my siblings and I all of the things our newborn sister would never do. He was of course - wrong. To list her abilities would take too long. She, like all of us, is a unique and unrepeatable person, and her value is immeasurable.
This film brings to the surface some unpleasant facts of treatment and attitudes toward individuals with intellectual disabilities in the past century up to today. It may not be a perfect or all encompassing representation of this topic, but it is one person’s attempt to thoughtfully tell a story and raise awareness. I experienced a lot of emotions as I watched it, and they did not all feel good. But I think this is important.
This film serves as a catalyst for dialogue on an important topic related to the dignity and value of a person with intellectual disability - or any person for that matter.
As we view this film, I hope you can be attentive to how it moves you individually, whether positively or negatively and listen for a personal challenge.
In my job at O’Connell, I can be tempted to look at the good I see emerging, and think: we have arrived. But there is always a challenge to see more and do more to authentically value and empower individuals with disabilities who are easily marginalized. I am often humbled by my blind spots, so I am grateful for the aspects of this film that stretched me view.
The panelist's built on Susan's introductory comments. We heard of what God has made possible in our school, not only in terms of how students receiving expanded services have benefited, but how the whole school community has grown and benefited over the past four years. At the same time, the discussion highlighted the unique challenges that children with intellectual and cognitive disabilities continue to face and that efforts to advance inclusive education, locally and beyond, need to continue. A major point along these lines relates to expanding opportunities for students during their college years.
I am grateful for the work that Susan Rinaldi and many others in our community did to make this event possible. I know how much we have grown as a community since we began offering expanded services, and this unique opportunity to continue to grow was very valuable.