Home

 

 

When Hurricane Katrina struck the city of New Orleans on August 29, 2005, hundreds of people with developmental disabilities were displaced. Roads were severely crowded or impassable. Cell phones didn't work. Many didn't know where their family members were. And yet direct support professionals stayed with those they supported and made sure everyone evacuated to higher ground. For months, these dedicated women and men, working long hours for low pay, put others before themselves, providing care and support during the most difficult of times with improvised resources. For these heroes of New Orleans, being a direct support professional is much more than a job.

This film is being screened with:
Body & Soul: Diana & Kathy
 
 
 

director: Jerry Smith

Jerry Smith works at the University of Minnesota's Institute on Community Integration where he specializes in documentaries on disability and social issues. Recent films include "Other Voices," a documentary on a progressive alternative to traditional quality assurance programs in southeastern Minnesota, and "Offense Taken," a documentary looking at one community's response to the public use of the word "retarded," and "Able & Willing," a show exploring mentoring and employment opportunities for young adults with disabilities.