The New York Times Op-Doc, My Disability Roadmap, centers Samuel Habib from nineteen to twenty one years old, his dreams for his life, and the barriers he faces in reaching them. Samuel uses a power wheelchair for mobility while someone walks beside him operating the joystick, and to communicate he uses Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) that voices the inputted information. While Samuel describes his life as good, filled with college classes, hanging with friends, traveling, and thrill seeking, he desires to live a more independent life. He would like to move out of his parents’ home, grow a career, get married, have children; the wishes that many have for themselves. However, Samuel is the only one within his close family and friends to have a disability, leaving him without true representation or guidance to fully realize his vision. Samuel decides to look to adults with disabilities who are further along in their journey and has conversations with them regarding “work, education, relationships, and every part of living a full life with a disability”(Habib, 2022).
What can students learn from My Disability Roadmap?
Through Samuel’s interviews with those who already achieved the goals that he is striving for, he gains perspective, advice, and encouragement. This illustrates the importance of finding mentors and building community when one is lacking. Between the interviews and Samuel’s storytelling from his own lens, the documentary erases the danger of a single narrative that often fuels misconceptions about marginalized groups. At the same time, the production of the documentary also exemplifies the disability rights principle ‘nothing about us without us’ through Samuel sharing his own multifaceted story of living with a disability with the support of a film crew, many of whom also have disabilities.
Check out the free documentary below and share with the middle and high school students in your life.
References
National Association of Councils on Developmental Disabilities. (2025). Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month 2025. https://nacdd.org/ddam2025/
Ride Ahead. (2022). About. Ride Ahead Film. https://www.rideaheadfilm.com/about
Like Right Now Films. (2022). My Disability Roadmap [Movie poster]. Like Right Now Films. https://likerightnowfilms.com/film/3356/My-Disability-Roadmap
