Photo provided A scene from the documentary “Hearts of Glass” to be shown Wednesday at YES Cinema.
The Arc of Bartholomew County is presenting a free, one-hour disability employment documentary “Hearts of Glass” at 6 p.m. Wednesday at YES Cinema, 328 Jackson St. in downtown Columbus. The event is part of the local nonprofit’s emphasis on March as Disabilities Awareness Month.
A question-and-answer session will follow with some of the film’s participants and the documentary director/producer.
Financial support from The Heritage Fund — The Community Foundation of Bartholomew County is making the screening possible, according to organizers.
The promotional synopsis for the film on its website at heartsofglassfilm.com summarizes it this way: “Cutting-edge food production meets social good in an ambitious experiment to provide year-round produce to a mountain town, while providing meaningful employment for community members with disabilities.”
The website details that the film “follows the tumultuous first 15 months of operation of the Wyoming-based Vertical Harvest, a multi-story, state-of-the-art hydroponic greenhouse that grows crops while providing meaningful, competitively-paid jobs for people with disabilities. The film weaves the story of the company’s launch with the personal journeys of several employees with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Innovation and inclusion create a fertile environment for people and plants to grow. “
Grace Kestler, The Arc’s executive director, hopes the film can build awareness about various people’s abilities. U.S. Bureau of Labor statistics show that only 19 percent of those with disabilities were employed last year.
Experts say disabilities can range from severe diabetes to those with mobility issues.
She mentioned that highlighting others’ successes of employing those with disabilities can encourage others to support the same idea.
“We want to share this story and use this as an awareness tool of something similar that we could hopefully one day see here in Columbus,” Kestler said, adding that she already sees the work of local businesses such as Special Dogs and More as significant. “Obviously, we’re aware that there are businesses hiring those with disabilities, and we just want to continue to promote that — and to support businesses and individuals doing that.”
