The combination of winter weather and the pandemic means that most of us will be spending more time at home in the weeks ahead. We asked Northeast Arc staff to share their recommendations for movies, TV shows, and books featuring individuals with disabilities that you may want to check out to help pass the time! Have something to add? Leave your recommendation as a comment below!
- Monica and David: This 2009 documentary film focuses on the daily lives of Monica and David, a young married couple with Down syndrome.
- Born This Way: Television series featuring seven adults with Down syndrome who work hard to achieve goals and overcome obstacles.
- The Peanut Butter Falcon: This 2019 movie follows a young man with Down syndrome who escapes from a residential nursing home and befriends a wayward fisherman on the run; as the two men form a rapid bond, a social worker attempts to track them.
- Where Hope Grows: A baseball player whose professional career was cut short due to personal problems is suddenly awakened and invigorated by a young-man with Down syndrome who works at the local grocery store.
- Crip Camp: Netflix documentary about a groundbreaking summer camp that galvanizes a group of teens with disabilities to build a movement, forging a new path toward greater equality.
- The Reason I Jump: Book by Naoki Higashida about the inner voice of a thirteen year old boy with autism.
- The Reason I Jump: 2021 documentary movie that examines the lives of five young people who live with autism spectrum disorder.
- Temple Grandin: 2010 movie based on a true story about a Temple Grandin, a woman with autism, as she navigates life, college, and her career.
- Love on the Spectrum: Netflix series that follows young adults with autism as they explore the unpredictable world of dating.
- Life Goes On: Television series that focuses on the fictional Thatcher family, and a character named Corky with Down Syndrome. It was the first major TV series to feature a major character with Down Syndrome.
- Extraordinary People: A documentary film that tells the story of six adults across the autism spectrum, who, despite individual challenges, have found meaningful value and a deep sense of pride from their work at a business called Extraordinary Ventures. The film redefines expectations for employers and society alike, and shows the essential role a job plays for not just these six individuals, but for all adults. Products from Extraordinary Ventures are featured at our store parcels!
In addition to these recommendations, you can also check out SproutFlix, a collection of 280 films focusing on individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities.