jews in the d
sponsored
by our
community
partners
untington Woods native
Micah Fialka-Feldman and
his family have faced chal-
lenges that only other parents of
atypical children can begin to
understand. From a young
age, he was labeled “neu-
rologically impaired”
and told that his “low
I.Q.” would prevent him
from achieving anything
significant in his life,
academically or profes-
sionally.
For years, Fialka-Feldman and
his parents, Janice Fialka and Richard
H
Feldman, fought tirelessly to over-
come the stigma and stereotypes
surrounding people with intellectual
disabilities. Today, Fialka-Feldman,
34, is a teaching assistant at
Syracuse University in New
York, a disabilities activist
who speaks before audi-
ences across the country
and a member of the U.S.
Presidential Committee
for People with Intellectual
Disabilities, appointed by
President Obama.
Now, Fialka-Feldman is the subject
of a documentary film, Intelligent
Lives, by award-winning filmmak-
er Dan Habib. The film follows
three young adults with intellectual
disabilities — Michah, Naieer and
Naomie — as they navigate high
school, college and the employment
world, defying society’s perceptions
of intelligence along the way.
Academy Award-winning actor
Chris Cooper narrates the film,
which includes the personal story
and struggles of his late son Jesse,
who had cerebral palsy.
Fialka-Feldman’s sister, Emma, a
Boston public school teacher and pas-
sionate advocate for inclusion in the
educational system, also appears in
the film. By documenting the strug-
gles and successes of its three protag-
onists, the film tackles the question of
what “intelligence” really means as it
challenges the efficacy of traditional
I.Q. testing.
The film depicts how Fialka-
Feldman’s family, along with his
teachers, school administrators and
other community members worked
together to remove obstacles and pave
the way for his future success. This
journey is documented in a book
written by his mother called What
Matters: Reflections on Disability,
Community and Love.
“When we knew the film was going
to come out, we wanted to tell Micah’s
story,” said Fialka, a social worker,
national speaker, author and staunch
advocate for people with disabilities.
“A big message is learning to ask for
help with dignity and intention, not
apology.”
Fialka is pleased with the response
to the film, which has been shown to
general audiences across the country
and named as a selection at many
regional film festivals.
“We have heard from various peo-
ple about the film opening minds
and opening hearts in really powerful
ways,” Fialka said. “This is a film that
captures the imagination of anyone
who wants to create a world where all
See the Film
available at each of the film showings and
at Book Beat in Oak Park, Amazon.com or
through danceofpartnership.com. Learn
more about Michah at
throughthesamedoor.com.
• Saturday, Oct. 6, 1 p.m., Historic
Howell Theatre, 315 E. Grand River Ave.,
Howell. For tickets, call (517) 579-2355 or
visit arclivingston.org/tickets.
• Sunday, Oct. 7, 2 p.m., Berkley
High School Auditorium, 2325 Catalpa
Drive, Berkley. To register, visit bit.ly/
IntelligentLivesMI.
• Thursday, Oct. 18, 5:30 p.m., Wayne
State University, McGregor Conference
Center, Community Arts Center, 450
Reuther Mall, Detroit. RSVP: https://bit.
ly/2OpVPP8. For details, visit bit.ly/
A family dedicated
to inclusion: Janice
Fialka and Richard
Feldman with their
children Michah
and Emma.
Intelligent Lives
Film featuring Michah Fialka-Feldman tackles
what “intelligence” really means.
RONELLE GRIER CONTRIBUTING WRITER
Free showings of Intelligent Lives will
take place in October. Each screening will
be followed by a conversation with Micah,
his family, and other professionals and
community members.
The book What Matters: Reflections on
Disability, Community and Love will be
18
October 4 • 2018
jn
SCAN THIS PAGE TO
SEE A TRAILER FOR
THE FILM.
means all, where diversity may not be
easy, but it’s the right thing.”
Fialka-Feldman made headlines
in 2009, when he sued the Oakland
University Board of Trustees for his
right to live in the university dorms
as a non-matriculating student. After
winning the landmark federal law-
suit, he went on to work at Michigan
Roundtable in Detroit, where he
assisted with workshops and trainings
on race, gender and disabilities at
local high schools and other venues.
In 2015, he earned a certificate in
disability studies from the Syracuse
University School of Education, where
he co-teaches classes in inclusive
education and disability studies and
works as an outreach coordinator at
the Lawrence B. Taishoff Center for
Inclusive Higher Education.
“In many ways, this film is a way
to show that when people are given
opportunities, we don’t know what
their human potential is and what
they are capable of becoming and
doing and living,” said his father.
Feldman recently accompanied his
son to a showing of the film at the
National Press Club in Washington,
D.C. “To see him there being respect-
ed, praised and honored as a pioneer
in inclusion … it was very powerful.”
Fialka-Feldman, who uses technol-
ogy for most of his reading and writ-
ing, says he enjoyed being part of the
documentary, which was filmed over
a three-year period.
“It was pretty cool having them
following me around,” he said. “It
was a great opportunity to share how
I moved to Syracuse and how the
thing of IQ is just a number. I never
thought in my life that I would ever
live out of Michigan, but I did; and
it’s been pretty cool being at Syracuse
University and being in a place that
has been doing work in inclusion for
a while.” ■
2NRYvG8. This event will offer 2.5 social
work CEs.
• Tuesday, Oct. 16, 6 p.m., University of
Detroit Mercy, 4001 W. McNichols Road,
Detroit, Room 115, Life Science Building.
For details, email bbrish@comcast.net.
• Tuesday, Oct. 23, 7 p.m., Central
Michigan University, Mt. Pleasant, details
to be announced.