Valpo to host screening of film that seeks to raise disability awareness

VALPARAISO – ‘Teacher of Patience,’ a short documentary set in northwestern Indiana and directed by a local filmmaker, will be screened Wednesday at 7 p.m. at Valparaiso University.

It is the first time the documentary, which has screened at more than a dozen film festivals including Indianapolis, Connecticut, Oregon, Brazil and Sweden, will be screened publicly where it is held.

The film was directed by Carmen Vincent, a Valpo graduate and Chesterton resident. Vincent was named one of the 2022 Women to Watch by the PNW Society of Innovators and was a select participant in RespectAbility’s 2021 Lab for Entertainment Professionals with Disabilities.

The annual First Responder Appreciation & Demonstration Day at the MAAC Emergency Service Training Facility in Valparaiso included activities and live demonstrations of the tools and techniques used by First Responders from Northwest Indiana

Jeffrey D Nicholls, The Times

The documentary follows Emily Felter, who was diagnosed with Down Syndrome, and her paramedic father Tom, both from Hebron, as the two work on a presentation to help Tom’s other first responders understand and raise awareness of Emily’s story Enhance the experiences of people with disabilities.

“The story is really a story about empathy and love,” said Vincent. “What I hope people take away from this is that as long as you treat[people with disabilities]with empathy, compassion and caring, everything will be fine.”

Wednesday’s screening is free. It is located on the second floor of the Harre student union. The film is about 30 minutes long. After the screening there will be a Q&A with the director.

“I really hope it will be an opportunity to learn as a community and have this important conversation,” Vincent said.