Campaign for Disability Employment
Video Contests
Over the years, the Campaign for Disability Employment has sponsored two video contests that challenged members of the public to produce compelling disability employment awareness videos.
What Can YOU Do? Video Contest – 2009
Our first “What can YOU do?” Video Contest was held in July 2009. Attracting more than 130 video entries promoting the talent and skills of people with disabilities, the competition was held in celebration of the launch of the Campaign for Disability Employment.
YouTube Video: “Meet Sue” – First Place in 2009 CDE Video Contest
First Prize: “Meet Sue”
The first place prize was awarded to Blake Watson of Byram, MS. Using only text and music, Blake’s video introduces the viewer to “Sue” by sharing the many characteristics that make her who she is before revealing that she has a disability. Compliments of prize sponsor Best Buy, Blake received a generous gift card from the retailer and was honored at an in-store event.
YouTube Video: “Can” – Honorable Mention in 2009 CDE Video Contest
Honorable Mention: “Can”
Produced by Isaac Taleno of Chandler, AZ, “Can” received an honorable mention.
YouTube Video: “Working Together” – Honorable Mention in 2009 CDE Video Contest
Honorable Mention: “Working Together”
Produced by Ian Cinco and Tiffany Navarro of Brooklyn, NY, “Working Together” received an honorable mention.
What Can YOU Do? Video Contest – 2012
The CDE’s 2012 video contest challenged the general public, youth and employers to produce disability employment awareness videos that reflect the diversity of skills people with disabilities offer, challenge common misconceptions about disability and employment, and reinforce the “What can YOU do?” initiative’s core message that at work, it’s what people CAN do that matters.
Contest winners were selected in three categories: General Public, Youth and Employer. Three first-place winners—one in each of the General Public, Youth and Employer categories—received an Apple® iPad®, while two runners-up each received $250, courtesy of the U.S. Business Leadership Network (now known as Disability:IN).
Employer Winner: “Chemists with Disabilities – We All Can”
Produced by Adam Dylewski and the American Chemical Society’s Chemists with Disabilities Committee (Washington, D.C.), this winning entry shares the value and talent that chemists with disabilities bring to the workplace and communicates that chemists with disabilities are an under-utilized resource.
Download text transcript of “Chemists with Disabilities.” (PDF)
General Public Winner: “Challenge Your Assumptions”
Produced by Dylan Johanson (Rosendale, NY), this winning video challenges viewers to question their assumptions about what people with disabilities can do on the job.
Download text transcript of “Challenge Your Assumptions.” (PDF)
Youth Winner: “What WILL You Do?”
Produced by Jake Johnson (Clarence, NY), this video communicates that anyone can achieve their goals if they believe they can and that if you work hard, it doesn’t matter what people say. What matters is what you WILL do.
Runners Up:
The public voted for the top two runner-up videos in the contest. Congratulations to DDSO Employment Plus (Sacramento, CA) and students at the Henry Viscardi School (Albertson, NY) for their submissions. Visit the CDE’s YouTube Channel to view these videos.
