More than 40 people gathered to watch Valuing Lives: Wolf Wolfensberger and the Principle of Normalization on December 19. A wide-ranging discussion after the documentary covered the continuing struggle for full inclusion, the importance of voting, parallels to civil rights movements of other marginalized groups, and more.
Guy Caruso, co-producer of the film, Western Coordinator for the Institute on Disabilities at Temple University, and Consortium steering committee member, facilitated the discussion with panelists Paula Davis, parent and Assistant Vice Chancellor for Diversity for the University of Pittsburgh’s Schools of the Health Sciences; Al Condeluci, executive director of Community Living and Support Services (CLASS) and Consortium steering committee member; John L. Tague Jr., Consortium project director; and Bob Nelkin, president and CEO of United Way of Southwestern Pennsylvania.
The event was presented by the Institute on Disabilities at Temple University and co-sponsored by the Western Pennsylvania Disability History and Action Consortium along with the Pennsylvania Developmental Disabilities Council and Disability Rights Pennsylvania.
Extended interviews from the film are available online, including one with Pennsylvania’s Nancy Thaler, deputy secretary of the Office of Developmental Programs for the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services.
