Page 8 - JobReady-August 2017 Issue

“Lights, Camera, Independence”: Joey Travolta Leads Students with Disabilities in Film Camp

ovie director and producer young people with developmental
Joey Travolta, who is the older disabilities went to new heights in
Mbrother of Oscar-winning actor 2005 while producing Normal People
John Travolta, took a break from the Scare Me: A Film about Autism. The
bright lights in Hollywood to spend documentary was directed by a fifteen-
some time in northwest Arkansas. year-old boy with autism. Travolta
But he did not take a break from served as his mentor. That experience
filmmaking. led to creation of Inclusion Films to
Travolta directed a series of short teach film to high school juniors and
films in Bentonville with the help of seniors with developmental disabilities.
some Arkansas high school juniors “Two of my best friends growing Standing with Joey Travolta, (middle) from
and seniors with disabilities. Taking up were special ed students. I was left to right, are the following: Maryanne
place at the Northwest Arkansas the protector and that’s carried on. It’s Caldwell, Statewide Transitions Manager,
Community College, the site served always been part of me,” he said. Arkansas Rehabilitation Services; Rachel
Travolta, Director of Partnerships & Business
as the location of Joey Travolta’s Arkansas Rehabilitation Services Development, Inclusion Films; Alan McClain,
Inclusion Film Camp. collaborated with Travolta to find more Commissioner, Arkansas Rehabilitation
This is the first time Travolta has than fifty students from across the Services; Amy Jones, District I Manager,
hosted this camp in Arkansas. “It’s state to participate in this camp. Arkansas Rehabilitation Services; Carl
Daughtery, Chief of Field Services, Arkansas
been a blast. Everyone has jumped Later this year, the students Rehabilitation Services; and Dana Byrum,
in. I think we’re going to have a great and their families will get a chance District IV Manager, Arkansas Rehabilitation
final project,” said Travolta. to see the final product. Arkansas Services.
For eleven years, Travolta and Rehabilitation Services and camp
his staff have conducted film camps organizers are planning a red carpet
across the country, seeking to support gala with the feel of Oscar night to
young people with disabilities in their show the films that were created by
quest to reach their full potential, the students.
despite the challenges with which they “This is an exciting opportunity
live. The camp teaches participants for our students,” said Maryanne
how to apply communication skills, Caldwell, Statewide Transition
teamwork, and self-determination Manager for Arkansas Rehabilitation
techniques that can be transferred into Services. “We are all about
any job setting. ensuring that our students can lead
Travolta’s passion for people independent lives. This camp helps us Camp participants seen in character for their
with disabilities began years before to help them as we groom people with roles in one of the short films.
his celebrated movie career. Travolta disabilities for meaningful careers.”
was a special education teacher in
New Jersey. Yet his desire to help

Arkansas CTE Students Selected as Semifinalists for U.S. Presidential Scholars Program
hree Arkansas high school of Brookland High School, and
seniors were named Emily Richey of Paris High School
Tsemifinalists in the U.S. were nominated for the prestigious
Presidential Scholars Program based honor. This is a program of the U.S.
on their accomplishments in career Department of Education.
and technical education, in addition To be considered, the students
to their academic achievements, had to submit essays, self-
ACT/SAT scores, leadership, and assessments, transcripts, and other Program, created in 1964, recognizes
community service. documents to prove their scholastic the nation’s top high school seniors. It
Oliver Steven-Assheuer of Hot distinction. is one of the nation’s highest honors
Springs High School, Madison Dugger The U.S. Presidential Scholars for high school students.

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