Ride Ahead

Florida Premiere

Approaching his 21st birthday, Samuel Habib shares many of the same dreams as his peers: independence, college, travel, new friendships, and romance. But Samuel’s journey comes with unique challenges. Living with GNAO1 Neurodevelopmental Disorder, a rare genetic condition that causes unpredictable seizures and involuntary movements, he relies on a communication device and a 160-kilogram wheelchair to navigate the world. Despite these obstacles, Samuel is determined to defy the odds that too often limit the lives of disabled adults, including unemployment and institutionalization.

In collaboration with his father, Dan, Samuel steps behind the camera to challenge media stereotypes and shed light on the infantilization he frequently encounters. He interviews prominent disability rights pioneers, comedians, performers, and advocates, seeking their advice on how to thrive as an adult with a disability. Among his mentors is disability rights icon Judy Heumann, with whom Samuel discusses the intersection of their Jewish identities and the shared responsibility to advocate for a more just world.

As he embraces their guidance, Samuel begins to map out a future not just for himself, but for other young adults like him. Through immersive GoPro footage mounted on his wheelchair, viewers are invited to experience the world from Samuel’s perspective, offering a powerful, firsthand look at the challenges and triumphs of living with a disability.

This special presentation is hosted at a venue that is fully wheelchair accessible and will be presented with Open Captions, as well as make available audio description devices upon request.