Crip Camp: A Disability Revolution is a 2020 documentary about Camp Jened, a summer camp in upstate New York that served teens with disabilities. Directed, written and co-produced by Nicole Newnham and James LeBrecht, the film was released on Netflix.The film follows campers from the early 1970s who later became activists in the disability rights movement. This clip shows members discussing their relationship with their parents.

discussion

What is the purpose of this scene? What does it tell us about the campers?

How are the feelings about parents shared among the group, creating communal bonds among them?

What is the purpose and value of using raw, archival footage in this scene? How does the archival footage lend to the scene’s authenticity in its portrayal of disability?

How and why is archival footage and providing historical context important to this (and other) documentary?