Justice and Disability Storytelling | DiStory: Then and Now

DiStory is about justice and disability storytelling.

Our stories will be shared in many ways. They are intended to be used by students and teachers, by people with and without disabilities.

The stories are shared as a way to work towards change. One form of storytelling that DiStory is using is Digital Stories.

We worked with people at Re•Vision to create eight digital stories. Four of these stories were created by survivors. Four were created by other members of DiStory who did not live in institutions.

Each of the storytellers has experienced challenges and continues to face many barriers in this world.

The questions accompanying each video were created by the DiStory group members who participated in the making of the digital stories. These questions are meant to prompt viewers to reflect on something important to the person who created the video.

Here we are sharing their stories.

Bill's Story

Reflection Questions:

What do you think this video says about the way patients in the institution were being treated?
How do you think the media and legal authorities could have done a better job of investigating these hospital programs and holding perpetrators of abuse responsible?
Who do you think should be responsible now for the care of children labeled/with intellectual disabilities?
How do you think we can make sure the public and future generations don’t forget this history and to continue to hold abusers accountable?

Kevin's Story

Reflection Questions:

What do you think are some ways that you could be nice to kids you work with, if you were a staff member in a group home? For example, helping children and teens manage their money?
How do you think life in group homes is harder for kids who are Indigenous
What are some ways you could help kids to feel safe, to have peace and quiet in their lives?

Cindy's Story

Reflection Questions:

How do you think engaging with personal stories by institutional survivors helps people like you to become better listeners?
What do you think it means to be a good listener to people labeled/with intellectual disabilities?

Sean's Story

Reflection Questions:

How does this video help you to understand that we are all equal?

Antoinette's Story

Reflection Questions:

How do you think living in the institution made people feel?
What do you think were the impacts of siblings being separated from one another?

Palma's Story

Reflection Questions:

How do you think people labelled/with intellectual disability and mental health challenges experience stigma? For example, feeling like people are scared of them.
Where do you think this stigma comes from?
Where do you think assumptions and judgemental attitudes come from?
How do you think social media (like Facebook, Instagram, Snap Chat etc.) plays a role in repeating or perpetuating these assumptions?

Marie's Story

Reflection Questions:

How do you thing people labeled/with intellectual disabilities were impacted by living in institutions and how were they impacted by the transition into community?
How do you think institutional survivors felt when they were integrated into the community?
How do you feel about people with disabilities when they have employment?
How do you think they are treated by co-workers?

Doreen's Story

Reflection Questions:

Based on this video, what are some different ways you think children experience abuse?
What do you think might be some ways that survivors of childhood abuse heal?