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Film, disabilities advocate featured at weekend forum in Port Angeles

Peninsula Daily News - 3/22/2019

PORT ANGELES — For Developmental Disability Awareness Month, Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, Clallam County Health and Human Services, Clallam Mosaic, Concerned Citizens, the Developmental Disabilities Administration and Morningside will host self-advocate Invanova Smith and present a free screening of the documentary film "Intelligent Lives."

All activities are free and open to the public, with doors opening at 12:30 p.m. Saturday at the Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, 301 Lopez Ave.

The event will begin at 1 p.m. with Smith, who is a member of the University of Washington LEND Self-advocacy faculty, a wife, a mother and an individual with autism.

After leaving public school and experiencing both physical and verbal abuse at her first job,

Smith said that after suffering abuse at a workplace, she — with the support and advocacy of her adoptive mother — attended community college and transferred to Central Washington University where she received a degree in history.

"At my first job I experienced abuse, cursing at me all the time, and physical abuse," Smith said. "I did not want this to happen to anyone else, anyone with developmental disabilities. So I took the skills I learned and decided to change things."

During her time at CWU, Smith discovered she had a passion for activism and self-advocacy. Now through her work, and her podcasts, she advocates for individuals with developmental disabilities at the state level.

"We need to be part of the discussions and decision-making processes for how we get care services," Smith said, "how we get support in the community, how we get a job in the community, how we get to even live in the community."

At 2:30 pm, will be the screening of the film "Intelligent Lives," created by filmmaker Dan Habib. The documentary film stars three pioneering young American adults with intellectual disabilities — Micah, Naieer and Naomie — who challenge perceptions of intelligence as they navigate high school, college and the workforce.

After seeing the film during the 2018 Port Townsend Film Festival, Holy Trinity Pastor Kristin Luana Baumann said she knew she needed to bring the film to Port Angeles.

"The stories about Micah, Naieer and Naomie and their families touched my heart," Baumann said. "I know from my own experience how difficult it is to navigate 'the system' when your child differs from the norm ever so slightly.

"This documentary gives insight into the daily struggles of families who care for members with disabilities," continued Baumann. "The movie is worth watching because it helps us experience how all humanity is connected in suffering and joy, no matter how we choose to measure 'intelligence' or 'ability.' "

Following the film at 3:45 p.m., will be a panel discussion featuring Smith along with self-advocates and family members of individuals with developmental disabilities.

The afternoon will end with an ice cream social.

On display throughout Holy Trinity Lutheran Church will be artwork created by participants of Clallam Mosaic.

Smith's podcasts can be viewed on YouTube and found at www.informingfamilies.org/category/videos.

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