Press for Independence Can Be Interdependence

Big news from Crip Video Productions! 🎬 We are incredibly proud to share that our founder, Margot Cole, will be presenting a special training focused on a topic close to our hearts: strengthening independence. This training is an incredible opportunity for youth and the people who support them—families, educators, mentors, and community partners—to learn together in a welcoming, engaging environment. Margot will be presenting in her capacity as a PYLN member, bringing the same passion and lived experience she pours into our films! Getting the Word Out! We are thrilled that this training is receiving press from The Arc of PA, whom Margot had the pleasure of meeting at the recent PDE conference. You can also find this training opportunity officially listed on the Pennsylvania Training and Technical Assistance Network (PaTTAN) Facebook website! Training Details 📅 Date: June 3, 2026 ⏰ Time: 3:00–4:00 PM 📍 Location: Zoom (Registration required) 👥 Who Should Attend: Youth (PA residents) and their supporters ✅ Cost: FREE (Brought to you through the Pathways 2 Partnership Disability Innovation Fund Grant) Registration Information This session is specifically for PA residents. To ensure we provide the best experience, we are prioritizing spots for youth and their families. Youth & Families: Please register directly through the PaTTAN website link to secure your spot! Professionals: If you are not attending with a youth participant, please email hmangis@gmail.com to be added to our waitlist. We will open remaining spots to the waitlist once youth and families have had priority access. Please help us spread the word! Share this with any youth, families, or colleagues across Pennsylvania who may benefit from this session. For any questions, feel free to reach out to Hillary at the email above.

Interdependence Training

https://www.instagram.com/p/DYPYKnqDp5r/ Big news from Crip Video Productions! 🎬 We are incredibly proud to share that our founder, Margot Cole, will be presenting an upcoming training focused on a topic close to our hearts: strengthening independence. This training is a fantastic opportunity for youth and the people who support them—families, educators, mentors, and community partners—to learn together in an engaging and welcoming environment. Margot will be presenting in her capacity as a PYLN member, bringing her expertise and unique perspective to the table! Training Details: 📅 Date: June 3, 2026 ⏰ Time: 3:00–4:00 PM 📍 Location: Zoom (Registration required to receive the link) 👥 Who Should Attend: Youth and their supports ✅ Cost: FREE (Brought to you through the Pathways 2 Partnership Disability Innovation Fund Grant) Registration Priority: We are prioritizing spots for disabled students/youth and families in PA. Professionals: If you wish to attend without a youth participant, please email hmangis@gmail.com to be added to the waitlist. Spots will be offered to the waitlist after youth and families have had time to register. Please help us spread the word! Share this post with any youth, families, or colleagues who may benefit from this session. For any questions or more info, feel free to contact Hillary at the email above. Thank you for helping us support youth and the people who stand beside them. We hope to see you there!

Spring 2026 Screenings and Stroke Awareness Month

On April 2 2026 I(Margot) did a screening for some students of “Drama Sighted” where we discussed the mental health affects of ableist bullying and how it traumatizes those who are the disabled targets of the bullying. One student liked how the visuals of the film looked on a computer screen. On April 20th 2026 I(Margot) did a screening for some students with intellectual disabilities of “Drama Sighted”, the students got the humor in the film immediately and said they wished they could act in films in the same way. On April 23 2026 I spoke to a group of students who are learning to be teachers in special education. We discussed the dangers of ableism like when one disabled activist was not able to use an accessible toilet and it damaged her bladder and another news story about a woman who used a ventilator who died due to the apartment management not allowing her to install a backup generator. One student asked why a disabled man in a grocery store didn’t seem too happy when she let him cut the cashier line, and I explained it is better to ask a disabled person first so the person does not feel pity or like they are “getting special treatment.” On April 29th 2026 I screened “A Stroke Of Endurance” for another small class and the students said the movie touched their hearts. One student gained a new understanding of why disclosing a disability can be personal and private. One of the instructors loved the empathy between Professor Ben and the students and how the script humanized professors and students, and how the students didn’t want the professor to die. Someone else thought Ava called her mother at the end because she realized things are finite and we have to tell those we love that we love them. Another instructor liked how Ava and Professor Ben explained their brains and neurologic burn out. One person found the faith elements of the film interesting. May is Stroke Awareness Month, and at Crip Video Productions, we are continuing our tradition of raising awareness and celebrating the resilience of the stroke survivor community! Stroke is a far more common disability than many realize, affecting people of all ages. We want to use this month to highlight some critical facts: Pediatric Stroke: Stroke in babies is a known cause of Cerebral Palsy (CP).Young Adult Risks: Strokes in younger people can be caused by complications from birth control, diabetes, or specific nutritional gaps due to genetic and autoimmune issues, such as Vitamin B deficiency anemia known as pernicious anemia. Authenticity is the heartbeat of our work. We are eternally grateful to the stroke survivor who sat down with us for a personal interview on the phone in 2016, to help us accurately portray Professor Ben’s character, his symptoms, and his stroke recovery process. Her insight, along with the incredible support from our fans like the folks at "The Great Now What" , Stromies, and The StrokeCast, and the rest of the survivor community like the person who inspired me to write the film in the first place, who have championed "A Stroke of Endurance" since day one, is what makes this film special. We hope our film continues to serve as a meaningful resource for survivors and their loved ones everywhere. 🎥 Watch "A Stroke of Endurance" for FREE here: https://cripvideoproductions.com/astrokeofendurance.php