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Words Count: People First Language Explained

Labels have a huge impact on the disabled community because most people do not look beyond the medical diagnosis that defines them, such as blind, deaf or autistic.
People First Language changes that behavior by putting the individual first and describing people in terms of their needs, not problems. These videos will explain this idea in simple terms with positive examples in order to build awareness and change behavior. Everyone involved in this project has a diagnosed disability, including crew, producers and cast.

  • Samuel Lawrence
    Director
  • Samuel Lawrence
    Writer
  • Samuel Lawrence
    Producer
  • Conner Long
    Key Cast
  • Project Type:
    Documentary
  • Runtime:
    3 minutes 37 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    January 31, 2018
  • Production Budget:
    0 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    United States
  • Country of Filming:
    United States
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    Yes
  • Student Project:
    Yes
  • The Arc of Larimer County Film Festival
    Fort Collins, Colorado
    United States
    March 2, 2018
    2nd Place
  • The Arc of Weld County Film Festival
    Greely, Colorado
    United States
    March 29, 2018
    Featured Film
Director Biography - Samuel Lawrence

I am a person with autism. Contrary to what you might think, this is an incredible gift for a filmmaker. I see things that most people ignore. My films reflect my experience of growing up with a disability and ideas about how society needs to change to become more inclusive.

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Director Statement

Words Count: People First Language Explained is a short documentary exploring the role of labelling in limiting the potential of people with disabilities. Created by a young filmmaker with autism in cooperation with the ARC of Weld County, it explains how labelling impacts people and the importance of accepting people for who they are, not who we may think they are because of a medical diagnosis.