EQUITY AND INCLUSION WEEKLY FILM & DISCUSSION

July 20: 12:00 – 2:00

The Florida Project 2017 (1:51 min) Set on a stretch of highway in a budget motel managed by Bobby (Willem Dafoe), just outside the imagined utopia of Disney World, THE FLORIDA PROJECT follows six-year-old Moonee and her rebellious mother over the course of a single summer. The slice of life plot focuses on the summertime adventures of a six-year-old girl who lives with her unemployed single mother in a budget motel in Kissimmee, Florida. Their struggle to make ends meet and stave off homelessness takes place in an environment dominated by the nearby Walt Disney World, which was code named "The Florida Project" during its early planning stages. Willem Dafoe was nominated for an Oscar, a Golden Globe and a BAFTA for his performance. Nominated for Best Director and Best Feature at the Film Independent Spirit Awards. Official Selection at the Cannes Film Festival.

July 27: 12:00 – 1:15

Neurodivergence

Autism Goes to College 2020 (1:02 min) As the number of students on the autism spectrum attending college steadily climbs, schools and students alike are trying to figure out how to manage the unique challenges experienced by this community. Getting accepted is often easy enough, but once on campus, navigating college can be challenging in many ways, often leaving students to figure it out as they go along. Five students on the autism spectrum Guillermo, Jasmine, Caroline, Jonathan, and Aniella — invite viewers into their dorms and classrooms to show the world how they make college work for them. They share their dreams, fears, failures, and successes with candid insights and humor. The students in the film come up against the typical challenges any other college student would encounter such as academic loads, making friends, handling roommate situations, and handling money. Disability services counselors at colleges try out a patchwork of new approaches and programs to help both students and faculty better accommodate their unique needs.