Crip Camp is a 2020 documentary directed by Nicole Newnham and James LeBrecht. It depicts the story of Camp Jened in New York and its attendees, as well as explains its role in the shift within the realm of disabilities rights. The main point that the documentary aims to present is that a sense of community and mutual support has the potential to be driving power for those who face serious adversities.
The practice of being surrounded by people of their kind sparks confidence and security in people to pursue their goals and aspirations. The camp gave them an opportunity to experience life to its full potential without being judged or subjected to scrutiny for their differences. For many disabled people, relationships with able-bodied people could be strained due to their differing perspectives on the world. In Camp Jened, they are given a chance to connect with people from various walks of life and learn more about the world from them and about themselves in the process. On the opposite end, the documentary shows that able-bodied people need to make a more vigorous and deliberate effort to understand and heed disabled people’s needs.
The atmosphere in the camp is one of freedom and self-expression. People who work there and attend learn to bond over their similarities and overcome their differences, which encourages both groups to take a more active approach to life. The compassion shown by people at the camp and a sense of kinship inspired disabled people to partake in 1977’s 504 Sit-In, a protest that led to crucial changes within the 1973 Rehabilitation Act, a precursor to the modern-day Disabilities Act.