Door to Door (2002)

This inspiring made-for-cable movie tells the story of salesman Bill Porter (William H. Macy), who came into contact with many people during his decades of knocking on doors. Porter, suffering from cerebral palsy, didn't allow his condition to stop him from pursuing a career, and his story touched the hearts and lives of many of his potential customers. Macy also collaborated on the script with director Steven Schachter.  2002   91 minutes

NY Times Review

Also see Jessica Yu's excellent 1999 documentary about the life of  Mark O'Brien.

Music Within (2007)

From NetFlix: After losing his hearing as a soldier during the Vietnam War, Richard Pimentel (Ron Livingston) returns to America, where he falls in with an unlikely circle of friends and finds a new calling as a spokesman for the disabled. His activist efforts eventually lead to the creation of the Americans with Disabilities Act. This inspiring and entertaining true story won the Audience Award at the 2007 AFI Dallas International Film Festival. 2007 93 minutes.

DJE: This is a fairly light-hearted discussion of important topics. The DVD has an interview with the protagonist, Richard Pimental, which is extraordinary (don't miss it!)

King Gimp

Dan Keplinger is the main subject and writer of the 2000 Oscar winning documentary "King Gimp." It is currently distributed to schools and professional training programs as educational material. "King Gimp" is also a featured show on HBO, winner of the Peabody Award and a national Emmy nominee. In 2001 Dan was featured in a Super Bowl commercial for Cingular Wireless to promote self-expression. The commercial was ranked number one in a USA Today survey. For information on the Whiteford-Hadary Academy Award winning documentary, King Gimp, now available on video cassette, please contact: National Films for the Humanities and Sciences 800.257.5126

This is an extraordinary documentary. Well worth the effort to find it.

My Left Foot

Fr. Netflix review: "Daniel Day-Lewis won an Oscar for his portrayal of Irish writer Christy Brown, who was born with cerebral palsy. Misdiagnosed as mentally disabled for the first 10 years of his life, Brown learned to write using his left foot, the only body part he could control. The story unfolds in flashbacks, with Hugh O'Conor as the young Christy equaling Day-Lewis's performance as the adult." This is an extraordinary film, s "must-see" for all health care professionals.

Availability:
Milne Library Williamstown
Netflix
Williams College Libraries