In honor of Disability Pride Month, we’ve curated a list of ten documentaries that celebrate the lives of individuals with disabilities. These documentaries serve as educational tools for librarians, teachers, and community leaders to inspire discussions on accessibility, inclusion, and the need for systemic changes to support the disability community.
Who Am I To Stop It
Who Am I to Stop It is a moving documentary that explores the challenges and journeys of three artists living with brain injuries. Co-directed by a person with brain injury disabilities, this film focuses on the power of art as a tool for transformation and self-discovery.
Read our review of Who Am I To Stop It
Best and Most Beautiful Things
Best and Most Beautiful Things is a documentary that follows Michelle Smith, a young woman with blindness and autism as she navigates adulthood, explores her sexuality, and searches for love.
Learn more about Best and Most Beautiful Things
Imperfect
Imperfect is a documentary that follows a diverse group of actors with disabilities as they challenge stereotypes and pursue their passion for theater as they rehearse for a production of Chicago.
Read our review of Imperfect
Sexual Healing
Sexual Healing is a heartfelt and sometimes humorous documentary about Evelin, a 53-year-old disabled woman who embarks on a journey to explore her intimacy and sexuality for the first time. The film looks at societal attitudes towards disability and sex, and Evelien's quest for self-discovery and acceptance.
Read our review of Sexual Healing
I’ll Push You
I'll Push You is a documentary about two lifelong friends, Justin Skeesuck and Patrick Gray. Justin has a neuromuscular disease and uses a wheelchair. Together, they embark on an ambitious journey to hike the Camino de Santiago, a 500-mile pilgrimage route across northern Spain.
Learn more about I'll Push You
ParaGold
ParaGold is a documentary that follows four Paralympic equestrians as they strive for a coveted spot on the U.S. Paralympic Dressage team, with dreams set on winning gold at the 2020 Paralympic Games in Tokyo. This compelling film avoids dwelling on the athletes' disabilities and instead celebrates their accomplishments.
Read our review of ParaGold
The Tuba Thieves
The Tuba Thieves is a documentary that takes a look at a series of tuba thefts from Los Angeles high schools. It uses this event to explore how sound and listening shape our reality, particularly from the perspective of Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing individuals.
Read our review of The Tuba Thieves
Deej
Deej is a touching documentary about DJ Savarese, a nonverbal autistic teenager who uses a text-to-voice synthesizer to communicate. The film explores his journey through high school, his dreams of college, and his advocacy for other non-speaking autistic people.
Being Michelle
Being Michelle is a documentary about a deaf woman with autism named Michelle. It tells the story of her difficult experiences in the criminal justice system where her disabilities were not accommodated and highlights the turning point in her life when she meets Kim Law, a blind life coach, who helps Michelle find strength.
Read our review of Being Michelle
Moonlight Sonata: Deafness in Three Movements
Moonlight Sonata: Deafness in Three Movements is a documentary that follows a deaf boy named Jonas who is learning to play Beethoven's Moonlight Sonata, his deaf grandparents, and Beethoven himself who began to lose his hearing when composing the piece.
Learn more about Moonlight Sonata: Deafness in Three Movements