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Some people call my films “the voice” for people with brain injury. I don’t want to be anyone’s voice, especially since no one really needs me to do that. It’s a common but wrong belief that disabled folks can’t speak on their own behalf.

I really feel it’s about access to the resources to craft and share stories. I got my start because of being good friends with a professional filmmaker, and I already was part of the Disability arts community in Portland before my brain injury. A little networking, luck, good timing, and voila: film.

Here’s how some other folks are bringing digital storytelling access to more people.

The Tiziano Project “provides community members in conflict, post-conflict, and under-reported regions with the equipment, training, and affiliations necessary to report their stories and improve their lives.”

This organization brings access to people who would otherwise not have it. They use a mentorship model that goes far beyond getting a video made for us to watch online. Participants get professional level training in journalism and media they can take with them into the job market.

Spend some time at www.tizianoproject.org/projects to see some incredible films such as the “A Young Kosovo” project created in a workshop at Dokufest International Film Festival. The films were made on iPads! I’m so excited because right now I’m working with several folks one-on-one to make short films using a (non-iPad) tablet. Look for this local tablet project to be out at the end of this year.

In other exciting local news, Mainstreamed Media, a Portland, OR area non-profit provides “access and a platform for people with developmental disabilities to cover community events as members of the media.  People with developmental disabilities are creative and have a perspective to share that is not heard nearly enough.”

Look at the communication revolution happening right now through journalism, storytelling, and media!