Student DVD Helps Disabled Kids

Susi Graf, a Video Production instructor at The Art Institute of New York City, has a child who attends P.S. 10 in Brooklyn.  The school has a large population of students with various disabilities.

The school playground was in disrepair, and not suitable for many of the children.  As a class project, Susi Graf and her Video Production students visited the school and created a very moving video about the school’s need for a barrier-free playground.  Scenes of children looking longingly at equipment not in good repair, and not usable by them, are heart-wrenching.

At a closed door meeting, the video was shown to Brooklyn Borough President, Marty Markowitz. He was so moved, he got the project going by securing the first $250,000 in funding.  The second $250,00 was given by the Community Educational Council (CEC) of the New York City Department of Education.

“The video played a substantial part in our quest for funding.  Everyone was so moved by it.  They saw students on the sidelines, and heard their voices.  It was emotional and powerful and really got to everyone in the meeting,” said Laura Scott, Assistant Principal at P.S. 10.  “Visitors and people from other schools and our central Department of Education offices are often so moved when they see it they walk out with tears in their eyes, and a very positive feeling about our school,” she said.  

The effort came to fruition on November 14th, when Borough President Markowitz cut the ribbon on the completed barrier-free playground.  According to P.S. 10 Parent Coordinator Madeline Seide, “Susi Graf and her class made an invaluable contribution to every student that will now and in the future use this beautiful new facility.”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BqZ7t53GWgw