This year is the 7th Annual Reelabilities: NY Disabilities Film Festival. Organized by the JCC Manhattan, ReelAbilities runs from March 12 through March 18, The Festival will be showcasing award-winning films by and about people with special needs at over thirty venues throughout the New York Metro Area, many of which will be the US or NY Premiere.

New York Public Library locations will partake in the festivities and it will be the second year that the 67th Street Library is hosting films and events as a venue. We had amazing films and conversations to follow each event last year. It is with great pleasure that we partake in this event again. It is good to note that any events held at NYPL locations are FREE!

The New York Cares Youth Service Club at Legacy High School, a special needs school on Roosevelt Island, wanted to help the library welcome and celebrate the festival. The group decided to paint a mural symbolizing how people with special needs can contribute to and enrich society.

Tenita Sambula, a junior at Legacy High School, came up with a beautiful concept to illustrate this point.

“I wanted to show how people with special needs are just like everyone else in one way,” said Tenita, “but on the other hand, have something special to offer.”

Her concept became the piece “Creativity from Within,” which her fellow Service Club members painted and donated to the library. Using bright colors and universal symbols, “Creativity from Within” explores what all of us have in common, and celebrates that which makes us unique.

Join us as we explore and discuss a variety of ReelAbilities!