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Inclusion Series Newsletter
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Featuring:
The Varna Example
Fall 2009
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In November 2009, Jacky Comforty will premiere Internationally two videos at the ONEWORLD Human Rights Film Festival in Sofia, Bulgaria. The videos are about people with disabilities who were victims of sexual abuse and exploitation. The videos Testimony and This is my Body were sponsored by Ashalim a JDC, Israel non-profit organization.
During his extended stay in Bulgaria in the fall Jacky will travel the country on a screening-speaking tour about Inclusion of all people. Next to translated videos from The Inclusion Series he will show The Varna Example his latest video about Inclusion in Bulgaria.
Jacky Comforty is currently putting the final touches on a new documentary video about inclusion of children at risk at a WIZO day care center in Ashkelon Israel. The movie From Risk to Opportunity will premiere at the first Jerusalem Film Festival dedicated to issues concerning disabilities. |
Inclusive Education
in Bulgaria:
The Varna
Example
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Director Jacky
Comforty has premiered his latest video Inclusive Education: The
Varna Example at the educational conference in Varna, Bulgaria. The
International conference titled Humanism and Pragmatism in XXI
Century Education is a yearly event organized by the City of Varna
department of Education. This conference drew hundreds of scholars,
educators, advocates, administrators and officials.
The 27 minute video was shown to an emotional audience that was very
effected by the words of Bulgarian father of a girl with down
syndrome about his positive mind set towards his daughter's
future, his expectations, and his challenging advice to other
parents who out of concerns about being exposed and ridiculed,
refuse to accept their children's disabilities, and ultimately deny
their children the vital services that can assist with their special
needs.
Comforty's involvement in Bulgaria's education started in 2006 with a
state wide tour showing programs from The Inclusion Series and
lectures to teachers, students, university professors, and parents.
Bulgaria, a new member in the European Union has a lot to do to
achieve the educational and social standards required by the EU.
Human rights of people with disabilities, inclusion of all people
into everyday life and upgrading social services to a 21st century
standards are a great challenge for the socially undeveloped society.
In Israel Jacky has been working since 2006 with the American Joint
Distribution Committee (JDC) to conduct a series of interviews with
people with different disabilities who were victims of sexual abuse
or exploitation. These interviews were the basis for 2 educational
videos and other instructional materials to inform the public and the
disability community, and to train social workers, care takers,
parents and others concerned with the welfare of people with
disabilities, their rights and their safety.
Currently under production is a longitudinal video documenting a
pilot program of early detection, intervention and inclusion of
infants with disabilities in day care centers. The JDC sponsored
program is titled "From Risk to Opportunity" (Mi'sikun
Le'sikuy). In addition to a short educational video about the subject
Comforty plans on rolling out a full length documentary for general
audience. Upon completion these programs will be added to the
Inclusion Series.
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The Inclusion Series
- Overview
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The Inclusion Series is a unique resource for institutions and individuals. It is about
children, families, and educators, and also about teamwork and
support systems. These programs enable viewers to observe the
challenges and rewards of inclusion in action, and provide ideas,
solutions and motivation.
The video series is widely used by students, educators, professionals
and parents worldwide. It is used in workshops, university
classrooms, parent-teacher meetings, in-service training programs,
resource centers, for advocacy, and more. These documentary programs
offer audiences examples of real people with disabilities in
real-life situations. The programs were initially created in
conjunction with the Illinois State Board of Education's Project
CHOICES.
The programs are well crafted by an internationally acclaimed
educational filmmaking master. The videos are genuine, truthful, and
yet dramatically effective and highly sensitive. The film teaches the
viewers, "quietly in the background" through stories and observations.
The stories are multi layered. Body language, individual
'choreography", and interviews enrich the viewing experience and
add insight. The series is a proven classic that can be seen many
times, and stays fresh and powerful and relevant as in the first
time.
"[Those] . . . wanting to do it right will find guidance and
inspiration here for teachers, parents, and all concerned."
School Library Journal
Programs Include:
Step by Step: Heather s
Story
Winner of the Gold Hugo Award at the Chicago International Film
Festival.
This best selling documentary begins when Heather, a little girl with
Down syndrome, is eight years old and in special ed. It follows her
through two years and into the fourth grade in a general education
classroom. Seeing is believing and this two-year, longitudinal study
enables viewers to watch Heather blossom. It also provides the
opportunity to watch her teachers, principal, family, and classmates,
work together and grow along with her.
Choices
This best selling program focuses on four students of varying ages
and disabilities and their classmates, teachers, families, and
communities. It demonstrates how each student has been successfully
included into a general education classroom, and illustrates the kind
of support systems that facilitate the inclusion.
Friendship
This program tells the story of the friendship between two boys, Joel
and Bryce. Bryce has cerebral palsy, while Joel is a typical boy who
has not been labeled. When they meet, the boys play and hang out,
watch movies, fight bad guys, swim in the pool and have fun. In
between meetings, they talk on the phone and exchange emails. This
video offers a presentation by Joel and insightful observations and
commentary by noted inclusion specialists Dr. Marsha Forest, and Jack
Pearpoint, and by Darryl and Janet Thomas, Bryce's parents. The DVD contains
additional interviews with Dr. Marsha Forest, Jack Pearpoint, Darryl
Thomas and Janet Thomas.
Inclusion: Issues for
Educators
This popular video focuses on teachers and administrators. Through
interviews with those involved in providing inclusive opportunities,
it discusses the realities of implementation, strategies for
effective inclusion, and the necessity of support systems.
Families, Friends, Futures
This program examines how inclusion often begins at school and
focuses on two students who, with their friends from school,
participate in typical community activities. It explores the
encouraging effect such participation has on their families views of
their children's future.
Together We're Better (3
DVD set)
A two day workshop with noted inclusion specialists Dr. Marsha Forest,
Dr. Jack Pearpoint, and Judith Snow.
Part 1, Introduction to Inclusion, introduces the philosophy of
inclusion and the idea of giftedness.
Part 2, Strategies, provides strategies for enhancing the
inclusiveness of schools.
Part 3, MAPS and PATHS, demonstrates on stage the MAPS and PATH
processes.
Best of The Inclusion
Series
A great presentation tool. Excerpts from our best selling videos,
with additional interviews. The programs include:
Jackie: A 12 minute segment from Choices.
Heather's Story: Program Highlights: A 17 minute presentation from
Step By Step: Heather's Story.
Kindergarten: An 8 minute segment from Issues for Educators.
Larissa A 8 minute segment from Families, Friends, Futures.
Inclusion High
About Inclusion in High School, diversity, and Co-teaching. This
Chicago neighborhood high school celebrates differences of all kinds.
It draws from its surrounding neighborhood students from 59 countries
around the world. Differences in nationality, race, ethnicity,
language, religion, and culture enrich its learning environment in an
extraordinary way. And the school s simply taken the next natural
step--including students with disabilities.
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To view excerpts from movies, read more reviews or to
order please visit:
www.inclusionseries.com
To download flier www.inclusionseries.com/pdf/inclusion_series_flier.pdf
Process
is everything. Teamwork is essential. The search for a variety of
answers, forever better solutions, continues. In the words of one
teacher, "this symphony that we call Mather High school sounds
beautiful to everyone in the community . . . ."
See if this beautiful sound can be heard in your school, too.
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CALL FOR ENTRIES:
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"Reframing
Reality"
The First International Film Festival in Israel to present films that
challenge the Concept of Disability At the Jerusalem
Cinematheuqe, April 27-29, 2010
"Reframing Reality" is a new film festival which will shed
new light on the reality of people with functioning difficulties:
physical, emotional, mental and sensory. The best film and television
productions, classic and contemporary, from Israel and abroad, will
show people coping with their difficulties. Stress will be placed on
movies focusing on the opportunities for self-fulfillment and
inclusion in social and cultural life in Israel and abroad.
"Reframing Reality" will also encourage creativity and
self-expression for people with functional difficulties. The festival
will include panel discussions, meetings, events and exhibits
presenting new approaches to empower and integrate people with
special needs in all facets of life in the community.
Through the festival's panel discussions, universal values of civil
rights, such as independence, freedom, equality, human dignity and
freedom of speech, will be promoted. These values will help create a
new reality for people with special needs, resulting in overcoming
mental, social and physical obstacles which prevent them from
reaching equality and full inclusion in society.
Participants who want to attend the festival are requested to
register through the Jerusalem Cinematheuqeregister :Web site:
www.jer-cin.org.il phone :
972-2-5654333
Participants who want to order a hotel in Jerusalem during the
festival please apply to Aviva Meirom , Event Manager, the Jerusalem
Cinematheuqe; Phone: 972-2-5654347 email: aviva@jff.org.il
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Programs
that Inform
and Inspire
Comforty
Media Concepts produces
award-winning educational media programs.
We create multimedia that puts the
content in context.
Our programs are captivating, empathic, and
thought-provoking.
CMC
clients include museums, universities, schools, social service
agencies, educational publishers, government, and non-profit
organizations.
www.comforty.com
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Save 15%
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Order
Inclusion Series videos before December 31th, 2009 and receive a 15%
discount.
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Offer Expires:
December 31th, 2009
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Orders
For School, University, Agency, Community Group, or Library
Order Here
For use at Home and for Self Advocacy
Order Here
"This affirmative and practical resource is excellent for staff training and community education on a timely issue."
-- Booklist
"...A wide range of encouraging and informative ideas..."
-- Video Librarian
"An inspiring and encouraging look at what can be done by dedicated, forward looking professionals... well done..."
-- School Library Journal
The Inclusion Series is an award-winning program, widely used by educators, professionals and parents world wide. Screened in workshops, university classrooms, parent-teacher meetings, in-service training programs, and in resource centers.
These programs inspire inclusion. They offer examples of inclusion of people with disabilities in real-life situations.
Produced and directed by acclaimed director Jacky Comforty in conjunction with the Illinois State Board of Education's Project CHOICES.
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