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From the Brunswick Times Record newspaper:
09/22/2006
Beth_Brogan@TimesRecord.Com
Three friends make film to help others with disabilities learn about
self-advocacy
BRUNSWICK - A film produced by and starring three local women affiliated with the Independence Association, an organization that provides services for people with developmental disabilities, will debut tonight at the Speaking Up For Us regional conference at the Fireside Inn in Auburn.
After Amy Madsen, Judy Diemer and Heidi Seger helped to plan the annual conference for Speaking Up For Us (SUFU), an organization that teaches individuals with special needs to learn through legislation to advocate for themselves, they were asked to make the keynote presentation tonight. Working with Pamela Nordwall of Independence Association, they created the film, "The Road to Self Direction: The Story of Three Friends," to teach people with disabilities that they can stick up for themselves, Madsen said.
In the film, the three women explain how they became friends and each others' support system, and how they became more independent.
Madsen, 28, has lived since March in Topsham with her foster mother, Darcy Matias, and the two of Matias' seven children who still live at home. In the film, Madsen tells of her life before meeting Matias.
After SUFU put Madsen in contact with the Disability Rights Center, a protection and advocacy agency for people with disabilities, Madsen went to court to become her own legal guardian. She is now a secretary on the SUFU board.
In the film, which the trio worked to edit this week at the Harpswell Community Television studio, Madsen talks on camera about "difficult things" about her life. She said she did so because it is important for people in less than ideal situations to know how to get out.
"I hope it helps other people out and they will be like me," said Madsen.
Since moving in with Matias, Madsen said she can go shopping, has been to Funtown, and has new glasses for the first time in years.
Heidi Seger lives with her mother, who is essentially housebound. Seger has great family support, Matias said, and dreams of being a stand-up comedian. More recently, she discovered that she enjoyed editing the film.
"'Is there any way I can get some software so I can start doing this kind of thing on my own?' she said she asked Donna Frisoli, program manager at Harpswell Community Television, who volunteered to edit the film.
Judy Diemer, 48, "grew up with a happy family," Matias said, and wanted to be independent, but her parents didn't agree. She has now lived on her own for about 21 years, pays her own bills and is active in fundraising. She is confident and independent, and these days when she goes into a restaurant and asks to speak to the manager, she said, the staff immediately asks, "What are you raising money for now?"
Diemer fought hard to become a mentor with Big Brothers/Big Sisters. Fluent in American Sign Language, she has recently been teaching Matias' daughter to sign.
The three women, with Nordwall and Matias, are thrilled to be screening their film at tonight's conference.
"The Road to Self Direction: the Story of Three Friends" also will be shown on Harpswell Community Television, Nordwall said.
"We're teaching people how to be their own boss," Seger said of the film.
"Stick up for yourself," Madsen chimed in. "Fight for your rights!"