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A local disability activist who doctors believed wouldn’t live past the age of 10 is the star of a short film about how she’s never let others’ expectations get in her way, released ahead of the UN Day of Disability this week.
Melissa Alves (23), who uses a wheelchair, has partnered with disability charity Enable Jersey for a film highlighting the many ways in which she has overcome the challenges of her disability.
Those have included everything from completing school courses, taking part in marathons, passing her driving test, regularly engaging in wheelchair basketball and even flying a plane.
Produced in conjunction with local filmmaker Rebecca Coley throughout late 2016 and early 2017, the film follows Melissa across iconic island locations where she explains the obstacles her disability has placed before her and how her determination has helped overcome them.
Video: One of three teaser clips for Melissa's short film.
“All my life i was told I couldn’t do things, but I have gone on to prove people wrong,” she explains in a teaser clip.
It goes on to follow her as she engages in wheelchair basketball, a sport that she says helped transform her from “the shyest person in the world” to someone with confidence.
The film also joins her on the sports track, where she explains how Enable Jersey generously replaced a wheelchair that was “twice the size of me” with one fit for competition.
Video: Melissa getting involved in one of her favourite activities, wheelchair basketball.
It will later be shown at schools to help young islanders better understand disability and tackle the stigma, and clips will form part of a social media awareness raising campaign. The film has also been produced with Portuguese subtitles to reach out beyond Jersey's English-speaking community.
“I want people to look at my life and think that if I can do it then they can too,” Melissa told Express.
Speaking about what she wants people to learn from the film, she commented: “That a disability isn’t a barrier to anything in life, I can do anything that everyone else can, I may just do it in a different way. I hope that with this film that the island and everyone that sees it takes it into everyday life to become more inclusive.”
Video: Melissa explains how a special gift from Enable Jersey has helped with her sporting efforts.
Melissa, who already blogs about her experiences, says that the film marks the beginning of her foray into video. She's planning to help spread her message on a new YouTube channel to be launched later this year.
Her short film will premiere at the Aero Club on Thursday at 19:00 as part of Enable Jersey’s week of celebration ahead of the UN Day of People with a Disability this Sunday.
Other events during the week will include:
Tickets for the film can be reserved here.
Follow Express this week for more information about Enable Jersey’s Week of Celebration, and the stories of inspiring islanders who have overcome the challenges of disability.
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