- Welcome to POV.
I'm Pete Schwaba, host of PBS Wisconsin's Director's Cut.
Most of you know the journey into adulthood is uncertain
and filled with challenges.
Imagine facing those challenges you did
when you were an early 20-something,
but also disabled and confined to a wheelchair.
That is the story for the main character
in tonight's film The Ride Ahead.
Samuel Habib is a 21-year-old who wants things
most 21-year-olds are interested in,
including independence, a career, and sex,
and he is not shy about letting the world know, obviously.
All of these little milestones
come with their own set of challenges for anyone,
but for Habib, there is an additional hurdle.
He suffers a rare genetic disorder called GNAO1,
a neurodisorder which is the cause for his cerebral palsy,
epilepsy, and serious speech deficiencies,
which force him to talk through a communication device.
He deals with all of this
while confined to a 350-pound wheelchair.
Despite this, tonight's leading man is an open book
and lets us into his world, showing us firsthand
the challenges he courageously faces.
Samuel is personable and has a great sense of humor,
which helps him cope.
For Habib, moving into the real world is a leap of faith,
but also one that allows him to find community
as he meets others with disabilities,
and in doing so, finds friends and mentors.
It is this community that helps Samuel
navigate the ups and downs of young adulthood,
despite massive challenges.
At this time, I should probably mention that
in addition to being the subject
of this award-winning documentary,
Samuel is also the co-director
and creative force behind tonight's film.
He worked side-by-side with his father, Dan,
an accomplished and award-winning filmmaker
in his own right.
The two men adapted this film
from their Emmy-winning short My Disability Roadmap.
Before becoming an award-winning documentarian,
Dan served in the Obama administration's
Committee for People with Intellectual Disabilities
and was an award-winning photographer.
Dan had already learned patience
as a father and support system for Samuel,
but it was more of an adjustment
being patient with his co-director,
as it can take Samuel an hour to formulate and relate a thought
through his communication device.
The two are a formidable filmmaking team
and developed a unique style to complement their picture.
The Habibs use flashy, charismatic camera work
and really cool and stylized animation.
In addition to celebrating people with disabilities
on camera, in a recent interview,
Dan made a point to say that the majority of the crew
are also comprised of people with disabilities.
And now, prepare to be dazzled by the Habib family,
who masterfully tell Samuel's story
from both sides of the camera.
The Ride Ahead starts now on PBS Wisconsin,
your home for independent film.