Through the Same Door: Inclusion Includes College

When he was in first grade, Micah Fialka-Feldman told his parents “I want to go in the same door as my friends.” A developmentally-disabled child enrolled in special-education classes, Micah didn't understand why he had to attend a different classroom than his peers. Ever since, Micah has been mainstreamed into regular classes, and since inclusion has worked well for him up through high school, his desire to continue on to college seemed natural. Through the Same Door, which basically follows Micah's everyday life on campus and at home, illustrates how well-integrated Micah seems to be, both academically and socially. The documentary also looks at how peer support groups—in which students take responsibility for someone with a disability—can benefit both parties and lead to genuine friendships. Janice Fialka, Micah's mother and the co-producer of Through the Same Door, is a professional presenter and advocate on issues related to disability, and this program seems designed to show both young cognitively-disabled people and family and support personnel that inclusion works beyond traditional K-12 education. Unfortunately, the film is characterized by home-video quality footage, rambling interviews, and poor editing, although these technical drawbacks would perhaps be overlooked by those who will benefit from the content, making this a strong optional purchase. Aud: H, C, P. (E. Gieschen)