Inclusive Communities
Inclusive Communities leverages WIHD’s expertise and the power of documentary film to promote greater acceptance and inclusion of children and adults with disabilities in schools and communities through curriculum, training, public awareness, and worldwide outreach. Inclusive Communities is directed by the WIHD’s Filmmaker, Dan Habib. Habib is the creator of the award-winning documentary films My Disability Roadmap, Intelligent Lives, Including Samuel, Who Cares About Kelsey?, Mr. Connolly Has ALS, and many other short films on disability-related topics.
Films Dan Habib has developed include:
- “Disabling Segregation“ – TEDx Talk
- Including Samuel
- Intelligent Lives
- Intelligent Lives Postsecondary Transition Mini-Films
- Mr. Connolly Has ALS
- Opening Doors to College
- Restraint and Seclusion: Hear Our Stories
- Together: a SWIFT film on Integrated Educational Framework
- Whatever It Takes: a SWIFT film on Inclusive Academic Instruction
- Who Cares About Kelsey?
Dan and Samuel co-directed the Emmy-winning short film, MY DISABILITY ROADMAP. The 23-minute film is featured in the New York Times website as an Op-Doc and can be viewed on the New York Times website (with captions) or on the film’s website (with captions and audio description). They are co-directing a feature-length film about Samuel’s transition to adulthood, titled THE RIDE AHEAD, to be released in 2024.
Meet Our Inclusive Communities Team
Dan Habib
Inclusive Communities Director
Dan Habib is the Emmy Award winning Director and Producer of the documentary films Including Samuel, Who Cares About Kelsey?, Mr. Connolly Has ALS, My Disability Roadmap, and many other films on disability-related topics.
His 2018 documentary, Intelligent Lives, examines our society’s narrow perceptions of intelligence. The Intelligent Lives project also contains four short films focusing on effective practices in transition for youth with disabilities from high school to higher education and employment.
Habib gave the TEDx talk, “Disabling Segregation” in 2014. He has received the Champion of Human and Civil Rights Award from the National Education Association, and the Justice for All Grassroots Award from the American Association of People with Disabilities. Habib served on President Barack Obama’s President’s Committee for People with Intellectual Disabilities from 2014-2017.
Habib and his wife, Betsy, live in Concord, NH, with their sons Isaiah, 27, and Samuel, 24.
Samuel Habib
Multi-Media Production Assistant and Presenter
Samuel Habib, 24, is a high school graduate and community college student currently pursuing a career as a multimedia storyteller. He is the Emmy Award winning co-director of the New York Times Op-Doc My Disability Roadmap. He interned at the local community access television station in Concord, NH and had a paid job at a video production studio. In 2016, he created a film about disability rights leader Judith Heumann, that was featured in the Breaking Down Barriers Film Festival in Moscow, Russia. Samuel also helped Dan create the nationally broadcast film Mr. Connolly Has ALS. Samuel uses a wheelchair for mobility and a communication device (as well as his voice) to express himself. In addition to exploring his current and future academic and career options, Samuel also navigates significant, chronic health challenges.
For information about Dan and Samuel’s presentations and professional development, contact Dan at dhabib@wihd.org.