Freedom Machines

“Freedom Machines is a remarkable film that will change forever the way you look at disability. It shows the transformative power of technology when placed in the hands of people with disabilities and challenges your ideas about what is achievable today.”

--Ginny Thornburgh, National Organization on Disability


Freedom Machines is an award-winning PBS program that dramatically reframes our views of disability. Riveting personal stories provide an overview of the human and legal dimensions related to issues of accessibility and inclusive education, employment, and independent living through the critical window of technology access. In this unique film, the legal changes of the last 35+ years inform the human struggles of citizens wanting to be active participants in their communities, together with parents and their kids seeking crucial resources from public education systems.


Among its subjects are Susanna Martini, a first-year college student whose mother fought for the tools and services to help her leave home and attend the University of Washington; 38 year-old Floyd Stewart who was paralyzed in mid-life while raising four children; 92 year-old Gladys Wang of San Francisco who is determined to overcome a hearing loss; and high school student Latoya Nesmith who dreams of becoming a translator at the United Nations. Freedom Machines shows how human ingenuity, universal design concepts, and societal commitment can change the world.


Here is some feedback you may find useful:


"Freedom Machines one of the best teaching tools we have ever seen. We are using it throughout our state to train staff at our 53 career training centers."

Janet Hill, Disability Navigator Program Coordinator

Georgia Department of Labor


“Freedom Machines is a great film to introduce people to the uses of assistive technology, whether they are advocates or consumers. The stories are inspiring and it’s a powerful resource for showing how people with a variety of abilities can contribute to their community.”

-Janet Nunez, Director of iTech Center

Parents Helping Parents


Please take a look at our website when you have a moment, at www.FreedomMachines.com.