Get Closer
90 second video. I really don't want to say too much about this, because the message is strongest if you go into it blank. It doesn't take up a lot of your time. Sound is not necessary for the message, though apparently the song used is powerful for some people.
Video shows a busy pedestrian intersection of a Swiss city. A person in a teddy bear suit stands still as pedestrians wander by, staring. Eventually the bear begins to open his arms at passers-by, as if asking for a hug. After several refusals, a young male happily steps up to hug the bear. A montage follows of people from all walks of life hugging this massive teddy bear in their city street. The bear even pats several dogs that are brought to him. At the end of the video, the person in the bear suit removes the head of the suit to show he is a man with facial traits that suggest mental disability. As he stares challengingly into the camera, the text "Do we need to disguise ourselves to get closer?" is shown, followed by the text, "Get closer." The view flips to a rear view of the man walking away from the camera and shows the text "Pro Infirmis. We make handicaps disappear."
I have said to a few people how I have ended up in a job field I didn't really expect to--accessible education--but I really, really am pleased with the extra skills and experience I'm getting in a facet of the world I really didn't interact with much before. I recognize the lengths that I still need to go in facing my own accessibility discrimination, and this video really hits home to me. I cried for pretty much the second half of it after figuring out what was going on (I knew going into it that it was about disability awareness, so it was easy to figure out.)
Click to viewVideo shows a busy pedestrian intersection of a Swiss city. A person in a teddy bear suit stands still as pedestrians wander by, staring. Eventually the bear begins to open his arms at passers-by, as if asking for a hug. After several refusals, a young male happily steps up to hug the bear. A montage follows of people from all walks of life hugging this massive teddy bear in their city street. The bear even pats several dogs that are brought to him. At the end of the video, the person in the bear suit removes the head of the suit to show he is a man with facial traits that suggest mental disability. As he stares challengingly into the camera, the text "Do we need to disguise ourselves to get closer?" is shown, followed by the text, "Get closer." The view flips to a rear view of the man walking away from the camera and shows the text "Pro Infirmis. We make handicaps disappear."
I have said to a few people how I have ended up in a job field I didn't really expect to--accessible education--but I really, really am pleased with the extra skills and experience I'm getting in a facet of the world I really didn't interact with much before. I recognize the lengths that I still need to go in facing my own accessibility discrimination, and this video really hits home to me. I cried for pretty much the second half of it after figuring out what was going on (I knew going into it that it was about disability awareness, so it was easy to figure out.)