Arts, Media, Culture Thematic Area
Bringing together the arts we have been able to reach a deeper understanding of the human condition. With the main purpose of changing attitudes and prejudices we engage audiences and challenge their stereotypes. We have assembled an international collection from artists, musicians and filmmakers with or without disabilities. Through art, music and filmmaking this program shares a global perspective of what inclusion, participation and disability really means.
Voices, Vision, Visibility
Disability Media Initiative 
The "It's Our Story" Flag is a conceptual disability art piece that measures 12' x 20' feet. It has to be seen, heard, and felt to fully recognize its power. The IOS Flag has three distinct viewing dimensions. The front represents the faces and voices of the most diversified community on Earth. The back depicts the future under development that will free our story to the online generation while the center visually articulates the heart of art.
The IOS Flag is comprised of 744 handmade Story Sticks that represent video portraits from 61 cities. 548 of these interviews will be available for viewing via mini DVD players. The remaining 192 are available for sponsorship, donations, and future contributors. The IOS Flag serves as a platform for the voices of DMI archives to be heard answering one question. Why is this project so important? Over 2 hours of actual footage respond to this question that emanate from speakers attached to Our Story Flag. Our voices are heard from the front and our faces are seen on the back. A mere 1/3 of 1% of the voices within the DMI archives fill the air with their responses of that one question. Imagine, what the other 99.67% of "It's Our Story" could tell us about us.
