The purpose of David's Story - Documentary Video Production

This is a video that I am attempting to produce with fellow Canberra Institute of Technology students, studying Certificate III in Disability. The objective is to tell the struggles of people with disabilities.

David's Story is a pilot documentary (first testing documentary) to see how we can use social media, digital media and social networking to educate and inform the global community about people with disabilities. The purpose of this video is to show the community, educational institutions and potential employers that disabled people have skills and abilities that can contribute productively to communities and the workplace.

David's story is to explore the possibilities of telling the stories of other people with disabilities. This will give disabled people a voice (advocacy). To spread the word of acceptance into the community (inclusion) and be appreciated for what they can give to the community.

Even though I (Daryl Williams) have a disability, I realise there are others whose lives are far more adversely impacted by a disability. There is discrimination, verbally, physically, mentally and spiritually inflicted on disabled people due to miss-information. Society in general, doesn't realise or aren't aware of the struggles disabled people face everyday.

One method that can be used to educate society in general is by using video to speak for disabled people. These videos can be put on the internet using social media websites such as Youtube and other video websites. Using social media educates the community on a global scale.

These videos can be embedded on websites and blog sites where disability advocates can write articles for and about disabled people. They can also be used by educators in primary, secondary, tertiary education, community organisations, employers, corporations, charity organisations, agencies, services and non-profit-government organisations.

The message of the video is to tell the world that, yes these people are disabled but:

• they have feelings like everyone else
• they have needs and wants like everyone else
• they can communicate
• if they can't communicate verbally they can use communication aids
• they can study and learn in technical colleges and Universities
• they can work and contribute to the community and workplace environments

The videos can:

• educate the global community about the different types of disabilities
• educate the global community that disabled people have rights just like everybody else
• allow disabled people to give their perspective of the treatment they receive, both bad and good
• give disabled people a voice so they can advocate or speak for themselves and on behalf of their peers

The video/s are not to exploit disabled people, but to give them a voice (advocacy) and allow them to share their life experience with others. Also to promote their needs and requirements that gives them a quality of life and empowerment.