Cultural Perspectives on Living with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities
A Documentary Video Series from Georgetown University National Center for Cultural Competence
Georgetown University National Center for Cultural Competence (NCCC) created Cultural Perspectives on Living with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities, a documentary-style short video series developed as part of the OPWDD-NCCC Partnership for Systems Change Project.
The series uses the power of storytelling to increase awareness, understanding, and knowledge of how culture and language influence the lives of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, their families, and the systems that provide supports and services.
The video series features six themes that are important to the lives of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families and are integral to New York State's system of supports and services.
Introduction Videos from OPWDD and Georgetown University NCCC
Note on videos: Audio and captions are available in multiple languages. Use the gear icon in the video player to choose your language.
Introduction from OPWDD
Featuring: Commissioner Willow Baer and Dr. Hirah Mir
Commissioner Willow Baer and Dr. Hirah Mir of the New York State Office for People With Developmental Disabilities introduce Cultural Perspectives on Living with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities. They share OPWDD's commitment to person-centered services, cultural and linguistic competence, and learning from people with lived experience of developmental disabilities and their families. They also highlight the power of storytelling to bring forward the voices, cultures, languages, and experiences of New Yorkers with developmental disabilities from communities across the state.
Introduction from Georgetown University NCCC
Featuring: Tawara Goode
Tawara Goode of Georgetown University National Center for Cultural Competence introduces Cultural Perspectives on Living with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities. She reflects on the role of culture and language in everyday life and in systems of supports and services for persons with intellectual and developmental disabilities, their families, and communities. She also highlights the OPWDD–NCCC Partnership for Systems Change and invites viewers to watch the documentaries, use the guides, and share these resources to support more inclusive and culturally and linguistically competent systems.
About the Video Series
Each theme includes three videos:
Topic Video: A short introductory video featuring people with lived experience of intellectual and developmental disabilities, family members, and thought leaders. These videos introduce the topic, share everyday life experiences, highlight current research and promising practices, and offer key insights.
Personal Story Videos: Two short documentary-style videos that highlight the lives of New Yorkers with intellectual and developmental disabilities. These stories are shared in their own words or through interviews with family members, in their own environments, and through a cultural lens.
The series was created for multiple audiences, including people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, families, advocates, staff at all levels of the developmental disability system, policy makers, legislators, employers, and other constituency groups.
Defining Culture
In this video series, culture is not limited to race and ethnicity. Culture includes beliefs and practices related to disability, definitions of family and family members, faith beliefs and practices, preferred languages and modes of communication, community membership, chosen place of residence, and socioeconomic status.
Explore the Six Themes
Learn More
About the Speakers and Storytellers: [Link to bio page. Content and headshots to be added later.]
Topic Guides: Each theme includes a web-based guide with key definitions, cultural considerations, reflection questions, and references. Links to the guides are included on each topic page.