BEING MICHELLE | AWARD-WINNING DOCUMENTARY
BEING MICHELLE is an award-winning feature documentary following a Deaf woman with autism who survived incarceration, abuse, and systemic injustice. Through her journey of healing and self-expression, the film explores Deaf rights, disability justice, communication access, and the transformative power of human connection.
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PREVIEW
ACCESSIBILITY
(Click on CC in the menu bar to enable Closed Captions. Click on the settings wheel to enable the Audio Description track.)
SYNOPSIS
BEING MICHELLE tells the powerful story of a Deaf woman with autism who survived incarceration, abuse, and profound injustice within social and criminal justice systems that failed to accommodate her communication needs.
Michelle’s life changed when she met the guide dog of Kim Law, a blind volunteer life coach teaching classes in prison. Their friendship became the foundation of a powerful journey toward healing. Together, they confront Michelle’s traumatic childhood and painful experiences, as Michelle begins to reclaim her strength and independence. Through her deeply personal artwork, Michelle gives expression to the trauma she has endured, transforming art into a powerful tool for healing.
Ultimately, BEING MICHELLE is a story of resilience, friendship, and the transformative power of human connection. It celebrates two women forging a path toward healing through truth, trust, and the fundamental human right to communication.
“More than an estimated 750,000 incarcerated individuals have a disability. 32% of those in federal prisons and 40% of individuals incarcerated in jails have at least one disability.
Additionally, an estimated 153,000 deaf individuals are incarcerated in jails or state and federal prisons.”
BEING MICHELLE SOCIAL
IMPACT CAMPAIGN
The BEING MICHELLE Social Impact Campaign advances Deaf rights, disability justice, and the fundamental human right to communication, particularly within social and criminal justice systems.
Through accessible screenings, educational outreach, and partnerships with advocates, educators, and justice professionals, the campaign works to raise awareness, inspire dialogue, and encourage meaningful systems change.
Support our ongoing impact efforts through a tax-deductible donation to Thriving Roots Initiative, our 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.
SCREENINGS, EVENTS & COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
Join BEING MICHELLE at film screenings, festivals, educational events, and community discussions. Discover upcoming opportunities to experience the documentary and engage with filmmakers, Deaf and disabled advocates, and experts working to advance disability justice and communication access.
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Screening & Speaker Request
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Upcoming Screenings
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Panel Discussion Recordings
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Festival Photos
What People Are Saying
“I was lucky enough to watch this film on Delta Airlines on a flight home, and I was so blown away that I went on Google and I found the filmmakers and I called them up and said, "Please come to my house for lunch." And they did. And I was very moved by the story of Michelle and the way this independent documentary was put together, obviously, with a lot of love and a lot of commitment and care and so much intersectionality, you know, whether you are somebody who comes at this through the different angles, you know for me, I have a daughter who is autistic, and when I read the caption on Delta Airline about an autistic woman and her challenges and struggles I thought, Let's watch that."
— ROSIE O’DONNELL
"Of the many things that struck me about this film - the one that will leave the most lasting impression on me is how all of Michelle’s artwork went to every edge, from the very top, to the very bottom, and to every corner of the canvas. There was no border and no room for a frame. In addition to ASL, Michelle utilized every opportunity available to her to express, to communicate and to share her story.”
— MARK MELANSON, Executive Director of CCLN
"I believe that this film should be mandatory viewing for everyone in every court system in this nation. Michelle's story tells the story of the devastating impact of solitary confinement, the devastating impact of being uniquely vulnerable in prison and jail systems because you are a person with disabilities, and again, so resoundingly, the fact that we don't take time to communicate with each other and that just results in misunderstandings that rob people like Michelle of decades of their lives."
— MARC FLIEDNER, CIVIL RIGHTS ATTORNEY DISABILITY RIGHTS NEW YORK
BRING BEING MICHELLE
TO YOUR AUDIENCE.
Bring BEING MICHELLE to your university, school, library, organization, or community through an accessible educational, institutional, or impact screening.
Screenings can be organized for in-person or virtual audiences, with opportunities for filmmaker discussions, expert panels, and community conversations. The documentary offers a powerful starting point for exploring Deaf rights, disability justice, communication access, and the experiences of Deaf and disabled individuals within social and criminal justice systems.
UP
COMING
IMPACT
SCREENINGS!
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A huge thank you to California Policy Center for People with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities, Strategies to Empower People, and California Community Living Network for hosting an amazing community Being Michelle screening event at The Crest Theater in Sacramento on June 25, 2024.
Thank you to all sponsors who made the event possible, including Gold Sponsors, Strategies to Empower People and Alta California Regional Center. Thank you to Teresa Anderson, Jacquie Dillard Foss and Mark Melanson for organizing an amazing committee that put this event together! Thank you to the amazing team of Deaf and hearing interpreters who made this event accessible!
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MARCH 13th, 2024 6:00 PM - 8:30 PM in FREMONT, CA
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MARCH 21ST, 2024 in RALEIGH & GREENSBORO, NC
SUPPORT THE BEING MICHELLE IMPACT CAMPAIGN
Help bring Michelle's story to more audiences and advance disability justice, communication access, and meaningful change.
Your contribution supports accessible screenings, educational outreach, and partnerships that promote the rights of Deaf and disabled people within social and criminal justice systems.
Donations are processed through Thriving Roots Initiative, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.
CLICK BELOW TO WATCH THE VIDEO
DONATE TODAY TO SUPPORT THE SOCIAL IMPACT CAMPAIGN FOR BEING MICHELLE.
YOUR DONATION WILL SUPPORT EXPENSES FOR MICHELLE AND OUR TEAM TO USE THIS POWERFUL FILM TO RAISE AWARENESS AND EDUCATE ON FUNDAMENTAL AND BASIC HUMAN RIGHTS FOR DEAF AND DISABLED PEOPLE IN THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM.
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