Hybrid disability rights meeting

There was a Fantastic hybrid meeting today for the Accessibility Club of Penn State Harrisburg! We had the pleasure of connecting with CUNY Unlimited FEG, welcoming both virtual and in-person guests including Professor Sue Carpenter, Professor Jeremy Sawyer and Dr.Ingrid Geier of the Fulbright Scholar-in-Residence Program (representing CUNY Kingsborough Community College). We also had great representation from Career Studies at Penn State Harrisburg and SDR, all coming together to discuss vital topics around college accessibility for all students. We were also excited to have members of Crip Video Productions in attendance! This follows up on Margot's (from Crip Video Productions) participation in a panel on disability experience at Penn State Harrisburg on March 20th, 2024, which included a screening of "A Stroke Of Endurance." It's wonderful to see the continued connection and plans to screen these films for college students in the U.S and Austria! This collaboration also highlights the important international discussions happening, like those Margot had with the Inclusion in Higher Education Advocacy Group (IHE UK) during the pandemic, shedding light on disability terms and the challenges faced by disabled actors and students in both the UK and the U.S. Thank you to everyone who contributed to today's valuable discussion! These images are posted with permission.

Disability Studies and Eugenics

On March 24 2025, I spoke to another class of students online who are learning to be elementary school teachers. The students asked about IEPs, my (Margot’s) academic challenges and successes and “A Stroke Of Endurance”. One student told me she had a disabled son and we talked about services that help disabled people get their needs met. One student shared she had a nephew with Cerebral Palsy. To my surprise one student asked about how DEI policy affects disabled people and I explained that disability rights began long before DEI was ever a term. One student asked how I felt about the high abortion rate for babies with Down syndrome which I think is ableist, and this led to a discussion of the history of eugenics and racism, and how these things/policies are rooted in ableism. This discussion was the first presentation I have ever given where these harder topics were addressed and I am forever grateful for the honesty of these students. One student asked where the original idea for “A Stroke Of Endurance” came from and I spoke about how it was a true story and how it was my reply to some movies that I felt were ableist stereotypes of disabled people wanting to die rather than live disabled. Super special thanks to the professor and the class for inviting me!

Cerebral Palsy Awareness Month 2025

https://youtu.be/4VE3EgBQ0DU March is Cerebral Palsy awareness month. This video was originally created in 2021 for a class Dylan Rothbein who is a producer at Crip Video Productions, developed specifically to help parents of disabled children and people pursuing the field of special education to understand the developmental and neurological effects of Cerebral Palsy featuring filmmaker Margot Cole who is the founder and director of Crip Video Productions. If you would like to take one of Dylan Rothbein's classes see here https://dylanrothbein.weebly.com/classes.html To learn more about Cerebral Palsy see here https://cripvideoproductions.com/about.php

Disability and Biodiversity Essay

https://medium.com/@dylanrothbein/how-can-disability-be-found-in-biodiversity-and-help-organisms-to-survive-guest-post-by-margot-7aa4dd0e7b30 I (Margot) wrote an essay on biodiversity and neurodiversity and how it relates to evolution and symbiosis. Our Producer Dylan Rothbein also released 2 videos about Hanukkah. Historiography Cripple Ask, Crippled answer

Fall 2024 disability talks and screenings

On October 16th 2024 I (Margot) I had the privilege of having gave four presentations on disability. I spoke to two medical student classes about disability and bioethics such as how many disability rights activists see euthanasia and medical assistance in dying, and certain genetic testing, as a violation of disability rights (Not Dead Yet 2024). This conversation highlighted the importance of understanding how society views disability and the ethical implications that arise from these views. I discussed how side effects of medications can be disabling, and how invisible physical disabilities can sometimes be misdiagnosed and therefore dismissed as psychological disorders. It’s vital for future healthcare professionals to recognize that not all disabilities are visible and that the impact of treatments can vary greatly among individuals. Then I spoke to a group of college faculty about accessible teaching strategies like UDL. Last I spoke to a class of special education teachers and paraprofessionals about accessibility and my life story. On October 24th 2024 I spoke to another class of students learning to be general education and special education about the film “A Stroke Of Endurance” and modifications that can be made and addressing both mental and physical disability. This session highlighted the importance of recognizing each student’s unique needs and the role of educators in facilitating their success. On December 5th I screened “Drama Sighted” for another group of teaching students to discuss the impacts of bullying of disabled students. The conversation turned into a discussion of “A Stroke Of Endurance” when an audience member mentioned they knew someone who had died of an ischemic stroke recently. One student said they thought Crip Video Productions main mission was to let disabled people know they matter and are valued.

World Cerebral Palsy Day 2024!

Happy World Cerebral Palsy Day 2024 from Crip Video Productions! 🎉🌍 Today, we celebrate the vibrant achievements of individuals with Cerebral Palsy (CP) around the globe! CP is considered a form of neurodiversity, highlighting the unique ways in which individuals experience and interact with the world. At Crip Video Productions, we are dedicated to depicting characters with CP living full and vibrant lives, ensuring that people with Cerebral Palsy are actively involved in all our film productions. We apologize for not always posting on World CP Day, but thanks to a fan’s reminder a few years ago, we’re making it a priority to share annually! 💚 Special thanks to all our supporters for helping spread awareness! For more information about Cerebral Palsy, check out our "About Page" here: Crip Video Productions About Page. Be sure to check out our films: 🎬 Drama Sighted 🎬 Only Those Who Limp Allowed 🎬 Crips Not Creeps 🎬 A Stroke Of Endurance These films focus on the fictionalized personal experiences of individuals with Cerebral Palsy, shedding light on their unique stories and challenges. Plus, don’t miss our public speaking videos like Insights For Educators and Cerebral Palsy Awareness to further your understanding and advocacy! Please share our films with those you love who have Cerebral Palsy or want to learn more about it! This month, we have several public speaking engagements for disability awareness focused on educating the community about the needs of individuals with CP. We'll keep you updated on these events! On September 24 2024 I(Margot) had the opportunity to speak with future educators, who were already starting to teach in classrooms. We discussed music and dance accessibility in classrooms, implementing IEPs, integrating special education disabled students in general education classrooms and accommodating anxiety disorder and Cerebral Palsy and Autism in classrooms. We discussed the challenges teachers face in providing the right support, and the importance of proper diagnoses for students.We discussed how teachers are often not given the right information to assist disabled students and how students may not be properly diagnosed. This led to some students and the instructor saying they were seeking a proper diagnosis for themselves. Let’s continue to advocate for a world where everyone is celebrated and valued as a human being!

Crip Video Productions Video Editor launches a Crowdfunding campaign!

Ladies and gentlemen, young and old, it may seem unusual to hear from Michael Leslie Rubin before the film is even made, but he has an extraordinary project in the works! Michael Rubin, an independent visual effects filmmaker and video editor at Crip Video Productions, is currently contributing by working on the upcoming documentary “What The Body Believes”, as the video editor, on the film co-directed by Mary Lynn Navarro and Margot Cole, and produced by Dylan Rothbein. Following the success of his recent short film, “Once Upon A Time On Mars,” which starred scream queen Candace Hilligoss, Rubin is now embarking on his first feature film project: a two-part adaptation of the Epic of Gilgamesh. This ancient Mesopotamian epic, known for its tale of adventure and the quest for immortality, remains timeless despite being written 4,000 years ago. With advancements in visual effects technology making high-quality production more accessible, Rubin is seizing this moment to bring the epic story to the big screen. To achieve this ambitious goal, Rubin is launching a crowdfunding campaign and is seeking support to assemble a dedicated cast and crew. Every contribution, regardless of size, is valuable and appreciated, and there are exciting perks for backers! Support Michael Rubin’s project and help make the Epic of Gilgamesh come to life. Visit the campaign page here: The Epic of Gilgamesh: Part One on Indiegogo Note: Crip Video Productions will not receive any financial gain from this crowdfunding effort. This crowdfunding effort is seperate from Crip Video Productions! Thank you for your support!