HALE Film Screening Followed by Panel Discussion led by its Director Brad Bailey

Hale is a brief biopic doc. about Hale Zuckas (b 19440-) born with cerebral palsy and is a world wide advocate for persons with disabilities.   The award winning student film first shows the arduous & time consuming admonitions provided by an aide that enable Hale to function independently.  Hale & millions of individuals with severe disabilities require assistance to survive & maneuver with self-sufficiency.  Hale is a testament to throngs of individuals with disabilities when provided essential accommodations thrive and impact the world.  Dir. Brad Bailey includes archival footage of the 1977 demonstration where over 500 individuals in wheelchairs occupied the San Francisco (SF) Capital leading to reform in legislation.  The disability movement germinated on the Berkeley's Campus during the years Hale was a student. Hale was a founding member of the Center for Independent Living on the campus which became a paradigm for other assisted living facilities.  Hale was the leading activist coercing the SF BART transport system to be accessible for wheelchairs.  Hale articulates using a communication board & a pointer attached to the helmet he manipulates by moving his head.  He was also instrumental in getting the Rehabilitation Act passed in 1973 making it illegal to discriminate against individuals with disabilities.  The Amer Disability Act (ADA) was not passed until the 1990s.  Bailey's doc. & the panel discussion were a cogent reminder no matter race, gender, sexuality, ethnicity, disabilities are universal.  Hale Zuckas changed awareness and response to how we view people with disabilities.  Moreover, the legitimate concerns that out of sight, out of consciousness render complacency & failure to acknowledge, accept and provide collaborative services to assist millions of people with disabilities to integrate fully & productively into society.