In California, one out of every 11 people suffers from some kind of disability.
In Kern County, that ratio is closer to five to one.
But being disabled can mean a lot of different things, and a group of aspiring filmmakers are hoping to bring that idea to the big screen.
Work is beginning on a 30-minute documentary called the Include Me: The Democracy of Inclusion, and is largely produced by volunteers with different disabilities.
The film focuses on Kern County and the perceptions of disability and inclusion.
A group called Story Lab is putting together the project with the documentary based on the results of a county wide survey that examined the community’s attitudes towards people with disabilities.
"When you're looking at questions of inclusion, it's not an easy question. It's convoluted, it's messy and just not easy,” said Project Coordinator Jill Egland.
But for people like John Borgsdorf and Shaquille Lavon Hill, members of the Story Lab team and both suffer from developmental disabilities, the survey revealed what they already knew.
A prejudice against those with disabilities.
"I've had that problem sometimes where I think I'm as qualified but like I say something wrong or to honest or something like that,” said Borgsdorf, who suffers from Asperger’s Syndrome.
It's human nature to turn your minds and your eyes away from things that trouble you but you at least have to know something,” said Hill, who suffers from Bi-Polar Disorder.
Showing the public what disabled people can do is exactly what filmmaker Fabian Euresti wants to do.
"I might be able to help teach about video production and to tell a story visually and we're all learning life lessons too,” Euresti said.
Lessons this group of filmmakers are hoping to take to the big screen.
The group is hoping to premiere their film this December throughout the Kern County area and will include a community forum with movie goers.
In Kern County, that ratio is closer to five to one.
But being disabled can mean a lot of different things, and a group of aspiring filmmakers are hoping to bring that idea to the big screen.
Work is beginning on a 30-minute documentary called the Include Me: The Democracy of Inclusion, and is largely produced by volunteers with different disabilities.
The film focuses on Kern County and the perceptions of disability and inclusion.
A group called Story Lab is putting together the project with the documentary based on the results of a county wide survey that examined the community’s attitudes towards people with disabilities.
"When you're looking at questions of inclusion, it's not an easy question. It's convoluted, it's messy and just not easy,” said Project Coordinator Jill Egland.
But for people like John Borgsdorf and Shaquille Lavon Hill, members of the Story Lab team and both suffer from developmental disabilities, the survey revealed what they already knew.
A prejudice against those with disabilities.
"I've had that problem sometimes where I think I'm as qualified but like I say something wrong or to honest or something like that,” said Borgsdorf, who suffers from Asperger’s Syndrome.
It's human nature to turn your minds and your eyes away from things that trouble you but you at least have to know something,” said Hill, who suffers from Bi-Polar Disorder.
Showing the public what disabled people can do is exactly what filmmaker Fabian Euresti wants to do.
"I might be able to help teach about video production and to tell a story visually and we're all learning life lessons too,” Euresti said.
Lessons this group of filmmakers are hoping to take to the big screen.
The group is hoping to premiere their film this December throughout the Kern County area and will include a community forum with movie goers.