Disability Pride Month

 Films and Stories to Watch During Disability Pride Month

The Americans with Disabilities Act was signed into law on July 26, 1990. This month, we pay tribute to the incredible impact this landmark civil rights law has had on the lives of individuals with disabilities. Join us as we celebrate Disability Pride Month with this special collection of films and programs that shed light on the disability rights movement and the courageous people who have driven it forward.  

Watch these stories and the works of storytellers whose creations depict the diverse spectrum of disability experiences in North Carolina and beyond online and on the PBS app. 

THE STORY IN US

Deaf Theatre

Throughout history, many Deaf people were told to prioritize speech over sign to help them “blend in” within a hearing-centered society. Deaf theatre pushes back by celebrating ASL and the uniqueness of Deaf culture. This film follows a Deaf theatre program director preparing his first original showcase, highlighting the cast’s heartfelt effort to bring Deaf perspectives center stage.

Watch The Story in Us’ “Deaf Theatre,” streaming now on the PBS app.

AMERICAN MASTERS

Kitty O'Neil: The Fastest Woman in the World

Kitty O’Neil (1946-2018) was a deaf racecar driver, stunt legend, and daredevil. Known as “the fastest woman in the world,” O’Neil broke the land speed record in 1976, clocking an average of over 512 mph in a three-wheeled rocket car across Oregon’s Alvord Desert.

Watch American Masters’ “Kitty O'Neil: The Fastest Woman in the World,” streaming now on the PBS app. Also available with Audio Description and American Sign Language.

MY HOME, NC

Basketball, Friendship and Purpose: The Journey League Story

Journey League is more than a basketball program—it’s a community. Through year-round games, skill-building and friendship, Journey League empowers athletes with special needs to find purpose, joy and belonging. Meet inspiring players whose passion shines at UNC, NC State and NBA halftimes—and see how the game is changing lives, one basket at a time.

Watch My Home, NC's "Basketball, Friendship and Purpose: The Journey League Story," streaming now on the PBS app. 

MY HOME, NC

Blawesome Flower Farm: Redefining Inclusion & Purpose

Raimee Sorensen, a young man with autism, finds success through Blawesome, a flower farm he founded with his mom, Rebecca. The farm fosters meaningful work opportunities and exemplifies that our communities are stronger with spaces where everyone thrives. In this story, follow Raimee as he harvests vibrant blooms and delivers bouquets to his community, proving that disability is not inability.

Watch My Home, NC's "Blawesome Flower Farm: Redefining Inclusion & Purpose," streaming now on the PBS app. 

Autism: Life on the Spectrum

An estimated 1 in 58 North Carolinians live on the Autism Spectrum. Join us as we meet artists, teachers, and others on the Spectrum, and learn about the work being done to eliminate stigma and demystify the science that surrounds this neural disorder.

Watch Autism: Life on the Spectrum, streaming now on the PBS app.

Sci NC

From AI innovation to training service dogs, learn more about the fascinating ways scientific research and technology can help people with disabilities.

Watch Sci NC, streaming now on the PBS app. 

Black Issues Forum

Black Issues Forum is a platform for Black voices in North Carolina. Host Kenia Thompson and a panel of notable guests discuss disparities for people living with Intellectual or Developmental Disabilities (IDD) as well as autism awareness and early intervention.

Watch Black Issues Forum, streaming now on the PBS app. 

Carl the Collector 

Carl is a warm-hearted raccoon with autism who loves collecting and organizing. The series showcases the strengths and experiences of autistic individuals while teaching kids about friendship, problem-solving and communication.   

Watch Carl the Collector every day, 11 AM on Rootle PBS KIDS. Streaming now on the PBS KIDS Video App, YouTube and online.

Change, Not Charity: The Americans with Disabilities Act 

The emotional and dramatic story of the decades-long push for equality and accessibility that culminated in the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) in 1990. A story of courage and perseverance, the film highlights the determined people who literally put their bodies on the line to achieve their goal and change the lives of all Americans.  

Watch Change, Not Charity: The Americans with Disabilities Act, streaming now on the PBS app only with PBS NC Passport. Also available with American Sign Language and Extended Audio Description. 

AMERICAN MASTERS

Marcella 

Discover how celebrated writer Marcella Hazan shaped Italian cuisine in America. After immigrating to New York in the 1950s, she began making authentic dishes from her Italian roots and inspired millions of Americans with her cookbooks while having a disability resulting from a childhood injury that affects the use of her right arm.

Watch American Masters’ “Marcella,” streaming now on the PBS app only with PBS NC Passport. Also available with American Sign Language and Extended Audio Description. 

INDEPENDENT LENS

Vivien's Wild Ride

When legendary film editor Vivien Hillgrove begins losing her sight, she confronts memories of loss and resilience while reinventing herself as an artist with a disability. From her groundbreaking career in cinema to her life on a small farm with her partner, Karen, Vivien’s story reveals how creativity, care, and connection can reshape what it means to see and belong.

Watch Independent Lens', “Vivien's Wild Ride,” streaming now on the PBS app only with PBS NC Passport.

POV

Name Me Lawand 

Lawand, deaf from birth, seeks a fresh start with his family in the UK after a traumatic year in a refugee camp. At Derby's Royal School for the Deaf, he learns sign language and discovers a way to communicate with the world. As he thrives, his family faces deportation, challenging their stability. Name Me Lawand is a love letter to the power of friendship and community. 

Watch POV’s, “Name Me Lawand,” streaming now on the PBS app only with PBS NC Passport.

POV

Is There Anybody Out There?

Born with a rare disability, filmmaker Ella Glendining wonders if there is anyone who can share the experience of living in a body like hers. This simple question–one which non disabled people take for granted, leads to a journey to not only others who live like her–but to the realization that meeting them changes how she views herself in the world, as well as many surprises along the way.

Watch POV’s, “Is There Anybody Out There?,” streaming now on the PBS app only with PBS NC Passport.