In an effort to raise awareness about students with hidden disabilities such as ADHD and depression, the UCCS College of Education sponsor a free screening of the nationally acclaimed documentary \u201cWho Cares About Kelsey?\u201d at 6 p.m. June 11 in University Center 116.<\/p>\n
The documentary will be followed by a question-and-answer session with the documentary\u2019s maker, Dan Habib, and local education professionals.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe issue of students with emotional and behavioral disabilities affects all of us,\u201d Christi Kasa, associate professor, College of Education, said. \u201cThe film Who Cares about Kelsey? personifies and brings home the challenges individuals face and what we can do to help them.\u201d<\/p>\n
Habib is an Emmy-nominated director\/producer of the film \u201cIncluding Samuel,\u201d which was broadcast nationally on public television. \u201cWho Cares About Kelsey?\u201d was featured in Education Week<\/i> and WBUR and screened at film festivals, national conferences, and school districts around the country.<\/p>\n
In his film, Habib tells the story of Kelsey Carroll who hopes to graduate from high school but faces obstacles including attending a school with a high dropout rate, ADHD, homelessness, sexual abuse, and attention deficit disorder. As a freshman, Carroll didn\u2019t earn a single academic credit and was suspended for dealing drugs. \u201cWho Cares About Kelsey?\u201d is the story of transformation from a defiant and disruptive problem student to a motivated and self-confident young woman. Along the way, critical figures in her personal and educational life shape her coming of age and play important roles in an education revolution that\u2019s about empowering youth with emotional and behavioral challenges.<\/p>\n
Nationally, more than two million young people in the United States have emotional or behavioral disabilities. Youth with emotional and behavioral disabilities have the worst graduation rate of all students with disabilities. Nationally, only 40 percent of students with emotional and behavioral disabilities graduate from high school compared to the national average of 76 percent of all students.<\/p>\n
In Colorado, 52,000 children live with mental health conditions and behavior related disabilities. While Colorado has continued to decrease the high school drop-out rate, 17,000 students continue to drop-out each year.\u00a0 The film \u201cWho Cares About Kelsey?\u201d sheds light on educational practices that can be useful in reducing drop-out rates and supporting students with mental health and behavioral issues.<\/p>\n
To learn more about the film, visit http:\/\/www.whocaresaboutkelsey.com\/<\/a><\/p>\n