It’s time for me to come out of the closet as a documentary addict. When the bright red Netflix envelope comes, my blood pressure skyrockets in anticipation of pulling a documentary out of the mailer. Without leaving my living room or investing more than a couple of hours, I can get a glimpse into another time, another place, another way of living.
Such is how I met the Toms. “My Flesh and Blood” is a year in the life of an intriguing family. The matriarch, Susan Tom, is the mother of 13 children, 11 of whom she adopted. Most of those 11 have physical or intellectual disabilities or significant medical conditions.
Through the eyes of the camera, we get to see the Tom children play, laugh and cry. They deal with middle school, boys, school plays and P.E., just like any family. We also get to be with them as they deal with heartbreak, pain, disease and death. Just like any family.
Though the Toms are an unusual example, they are not unique. Several families in our own community have adopted multiple children with special needs. Other families have biological children with disabilities. Every family has its own unique experience.
But realistically, I’m not going to go live with those families. They don’t want me (or you) peeking in their private lives. The benefit of the documentary is that it does give me a glimpse behind the scenes. For that hour and a half, I get to live with the Toms. I get to play, laugh and cry with them. I get to spend enough time to see beyond the disability to the authentic child. I have the chance to get out of myself and into the skin of someone else.
I guess I’m not just an addict, I’m a pusher. Not everyone is going to come volunteer at the Tambo Respite Program for kids (Although, we’d love it if you did) or become a host-home provider for an adult with an intellectual disability (We’d take calls for that as well). What you can do is start with a taste of the gateway drug – the documentary.
“My Flesh and Blood” is a good start. “Autism: The Musical” and “The Horse Boy” are excellent as well. If you’re a sports fan, try “The Crash Reel” and find out how an Olympic snowboarder dealt with a traumatic brain injury at the height of his career. There have been a host of great fictional films (many based on real life) that feature characters with disabilities.
Watch. Understand. Get addicted. It’s often the first exciting step to getting involved.
When you’re ready to take that step, call us at Community Connections, 385-3445, to find out all the ways you can be involved.
Tara Kiene is the director of case management with Community Connections Inc.
