Storytelling for Advocacy
Georgia Council on Developmental Disabilities, L’arche Atlanta
Stories have the power to shift perception and inspire meaningful change.
They can humanize complex issues and even alter policy. In this series of short films made in collaboration with StoryMuse, we traveled across Georgia to capture what it’s like to live with a developmental disability. Along the way we met an athlete, activist and even an Elvis tribute artist – all with a story to tell. All wanting to live life on their own terms.
Featured Stories
Val & Hagin (2:25) | Three years ago Val and Hagin locked eyes across the dance floor. They’ve been inseparable ever since.
Lydia (2:20) | A lifelong singer, music is in Lydia’s DNA. She reflects on the impact of music therapy in her life.
Stuart (2:50) | Stuart takes us through his morning routine and shares his perspective on the art of patience.
Our team produced, filmed and edited the series two years in a row. The films were shown at outdoor, socially-distanced screenings and later distributed online. →
In Georgia, over 6,000 people with developmental disabilities are waiting to receive a Medicaid waiver that would allow them to live outside institutions and in their own communities. The stories we captured are part of a larger effort to increase awareness of insufficient Medicaid funding and advocate for the rights of those living with disabilities.
“We had many parameters to our vision: political awareness, an eye toward uplifting the humanness of our stories, meeting funder requirements. Monica and Stephanie jumped right in as creative collaborators. Working with them was fun and easy on shoots, the editing process was clear and succinct, and the end result was a success.”
— Irene Turner, Storytelling Project Director
Field Notes
“Stories, as we’ve come to learn, have the power to not only transport but also persuade. They can sweep us away to another time and place and help us see life from a different perspective.”
Behind the Scenes
