In discussions about inclusion, people with intellectual disabilities are often left out of the conversation.  Castro Valley Adult and Career Education (CVACE) in collaboration with the Castro Valley Community Alliance hope to change that with a free film screening of Intelligent Lives followed by a panel discussion on Sunday, September 24th at 2:00 pm at the Castro Valley Center for the Arts.

The film is narrated by Academy Award-winning actor and narrator Chris Cooper who shares his personal experience with his child. It follows 3 young adults as they navigate high school, college and the workforce while dealing with stereotypes about intelligence.  The film will be followed by a panel discussion with people with intellectual disabilities and advocates within the community.  Director Dan Habib says:  “INTELLIGENT LIVES is a catalyst to transform the label of intellectual disability from a life sentence of isolation into a life of possibility for the most systematically segregated people in America.”

This hope for the film aligns with the work of the CVACE Strides program for adults with intellectual disabilities including its paid internship program which helps people integrate into the community through work.  CVACE Director Beth Cutter says, “We’ve heard firsthand from employers how much our adults with intellectual disabilities contribute to their workplaces and the community at large.  We hope this film will help erase misconceptions and build towards a more inclusive society.”

The screening is free but space is limited so reserve your spots at https://cvace.link/intelligentlives. If you are a business owner interested in hiring an adult with a disability or learning more about the program, please contact Castro Valley Adult & Career Education at (510) 886-1000.