HE has been wheelchair-bound all his life but he plays basketball just like the other guys.
This was among the scenes that James Skouge, assistant professor in assistive technology and media at the University of Hawaii, took last week of people with disabilities.
Skouge arrived on Saipan last June 16 to shoot films showing people with disabilities engaged in common daily situations.
Skouge has been filming people with disabilities for many years now but this is the first time that Saipan was used as the on-site location.
The professor said the film will be shown at the University of Hawaii, the Federated States of Micronesia, Palau and Guam.
“We teach teachers how to work with people with disabilities. We also try to educate the public about them. Our belief is that disabilities are not problems. People with disabilities are just like everybody else. They just bring certain special needs but all individuals bring their own uniqueness,” Skouge said.
He said the parents or guardians of people with disabilities they have filmed agreed to show the film for classroom purposes only.
However, Skouge said they will try to convince the parents to allow the footage to be shown on TV to reach a wider audience.
“We will talk to the family first. But we hope we can air this on local TV, “ he said.
Part of the footage will also be used as visual aids for books and CD-Roms that the university is producing.
