Lights, camera, action! BOCES 2 students are ready for their close-up! The close-up in question? Helping future doctors treat patients. Seemingly no easy task, but BELL and Transition Program students faced the challenge head-on during their interviews for the nationally-recognized video series Positive Exposure.
Positive Exposure, founded 20 years ago by photographer Rick Guidotti, collaborates with nonprofit organizations, hospitals, medical schools and other entities to promote a more inclusive world where differences are understood and celebrated. Their work has been featured in publications such as People, The American Journal of Medical Genetics, The New York Times and others.
“Positive Exposure is doing groundbreaking work and we are so excited to be a part of it,” said Kym Woodard, BELL Program Director. “We are thrilled that the faces and personalities of Roberts Wesleyan College BELL Program students can help tell this important story.”
This particular video is a part of a project called FRAME, or Faces Redefining the Art of Medical Education. The FRAME films introduce medical professionals to various intellectual and developmental disabilities, but they also model valuing people over diagnoses. Students spoke candidly about their experiences growing up with intellectual disabilities in order to help medical professionals gain a better understanding of life from their patients’ viewpoint.
The students also spoke about ways in which programs like BELL have helped them become stronger advocates for themselves.
“Being in BELL helped me to feel more confident,” said Haley Wentworth (Spencerport). “I was nervous to be on my own. Now I feel confident that I can do things myself. My friends support me. They encourage me and tell me that I can do it.”
“Being in BELL has really helped me learn to speak up for myself,” said Samantha Majchzrak (Churchville-Chili). “People don’t always understand what I want, but by advocating for myself it helps people know what I need.”
The BELL program has also helped the students prepare to be more independent.
“I’m going to live in a dorm with a roommate from BELL in the fall,” said Adam Tharrett (Greece). “I’ve never lived by myself before, so next year is going to be a new start for me. I want to be on my own, not have to rely on someone all the time.”