City to promote Disabilities Film Festival

A representative from the mayor's office is promoting the city's first film festival featuring films by and about people with disabilities.

Mayor Annise Parker presented Elaine Roberts, director of the Mayor's Office for People with Disabilities, as the newest member of ReelAbilities: Houston Disabilities Film Festival 2013 Advisory Committee by the Jewish Family Service Disability Services Alexander Institute for Inclusion.

The committee provides professional guidance in planning the festival, being held Feb. 6-13, 2013.

ReelAbilities is the largest film festival in the nation promoting public appreciation and awareness of the lives, stories and artistic expression of individuals with disabilities, the press release stated.

Jewish Family Service of Houston and its Alexander Institute for Inclusion are the host city organizers.

The Institute for Rehabilitation and Research will serve as the event’s lead sponsor for this new cultural event in Houston’s arts and human services arena.

Screenings will be presented at locations throughout the city in schools, theaters, museums and community centers. There will also be post-screening discussions and multi-media presentations about the diversity explored in the films.

For more information about the festival, call 713-667-9336 or visit www.houston.reelabilities.org.

For more information about the Mayor's Office for People with Disabilities, visit www.houstontx.gov/neighborhoods.