The Feeling Through Experience is a 90 minute, 3-part screening event
PART 1:
Feeling Through - (18 minutes)
A coming of age film about the unlikely connection between a teen in need and a DeafBlind man. It is the first film ever to feature a DeafBlind actor in a lead role.
PART 2:
Connecting the Dots - (24 minutes)
A documentary following the journey of making Feeling Through and the search for the DeafBlind man who inspired it.
PART 3:
Engaging the Community - (45 minutes)
An integral part of The Feeling Through Experience is bringing the DeafBlind community and other communities together in one space to discuss the films’ various themes as well as topics related to the DeafBlind community. This portion of the event includes a panel discussion and Q&A with:
· Creator - Doug Roland
· DeafBlind Actor - Robert Tarango
· Members of the local DeafBlind community
We are currently hosting accessible virtual livestream screenings!
Contact us at info@feelingthrough.com for interest.
Inspired by Real Events…
While on my way home late one evening in August 2011 in New York City, I encountered a man standing on a deserted street corner holding a sign that read, “I am deaf and blind and need help crossing the street.” Over the next hour, I got to know this man, Artemio, while we sat and waited for his bus. He’d write in his notebook and I’d respond by tracing letters on his palm. When his bus finally arrived, Artemio and I embraced, and his warmth was so genuine that I felt like I was saying goodbye to a dear friend.
Artemio left a lasting impression on me, not merely because he was the first DeafBlind person I had ever met, but, even more so, because he was a kind, charismatic person with whom I felt a mutual bond. I was immediately inspired to write Feeling Through, about the unlikely connection between a teen without a home and a DeafBlind man, but it would be seven years until I aligned with the Helen Keller National Center (HKNC) – a partnership that allowed me to tell this story with the authenticity it deserves.
I was fortunate to have the opportunity to work closely with HKNC to learn about the community and to cast a DeafBlind actor in a lead role (a film-history first). Ultimately, though, Feeling Through is not a film about DeafBlindness. The sum total of Feeling Through—and the powerful experiences and meaningful relationships that created it—comes down to a simple understanding: our capacity to connect transcends our differences.
- Doug Roland - Creator, The Feeling Through Experience
Helen Keller Services
Since 1893, Helen Keller Services (HKS) has been committed to improving the lives of individuals who are blind, visually impaired or have combined hearing and vision loss, helping them to live, work and thrive in the communities of their choice.
HKS is comprised of Helen Keller Services for the Blind (HKSB), a regional division serving the New York City/Long Island area, and the Helen Keller National Center for Deaf-Blind Youth and Adults (HKNC), a national division headquartered in Sands Point, New York, with a network of regional offices that extends HKS’ reach across the United States.
HKNC welcomes the opportunity to answer questions about our services and programs as well as our involvement with the Feeling Through Experience. Please call us at 516-944-8900 or email us at hkncinfo@hknc.org. For general information on HKNC, visit www.helenkeller.org/hknc.
"With Doug's help we have a rare opportunity to further HKNC's mission to promote DeafBlind awareness."
- Sue Ruzenski - Executive Director, HKNC
Where We’re Headed…
We’ve been screening across the country – from NYC to Hawaii – and soon internationally. In addition to our screening events, we’re building a curriculum to share in school to introduce kids of all ages to the DeafBlind community and topics of representation, inclusivity, and accessibility.