‘Wretches and Jabberers’

Date
Mar 31, 2015, 4:30 pm6:00 pm
Location
McCormick Hall, Room 101

Speaker

Details

Event Description

Oscar® winner and twice Academy Award®-nominated filmmaker Gerardine Wurzburg will screen her feature documentary Wretches & Jabberers. Wurzburg is currently a visiting lecturer in the Council of the Humanities and the Anschutz Distinguished Fellow in American Studies. Wurzburg’s inspiring documentary chronicles the world travels of disability rights advocates Tracy Thresher and Larry Bissonnette in a bold quest to change attitudes about the intelligence and abilities of people with autism.

In the film, Tracy and Larry take to the road to promote awareness of the hidden intelligence in those who face speech and communication challenges, connecting with others like them across the globe who struggle to find a means of expression. Tracy, Larry and their support team, Harvey Lavoy and Pascal Cheng, visit Sri Lanka, Japan and Finland, giving interviews and presentations and learning about the lives of people with autism in these countries. Viewers share in their eye-opening experiences as the men negotiate the terrain of travel, culture and new friendships on what they aptly named The World Intelligence Magnified Tour.

All four men will engage in a conversation with the audience following the screening.

 
Sponsors
  • Program in American Studies
  • Program in Teacher Preparation