An documentary screening will bring together students, scholars, community members and people with lived experience of disabilities to share insight on romance and dating next week.

The Department of Applied Disability will host a pay-what-you-can presentation of Our Hearts Aren’t Disabled on Sunday, March 16 at 3 p.m. in partnership with The Film House at the First Ontario Performing Arts Centre in downtown St. Catharines.

Filmmaker Josh Dunn is both an interviewer and a subject of the documentary.

The 2021 documentary shares the dating experiences of six individuals of different ages, gender identities, sexual orientations and ethnic backgrounds, all of whom live with mobility challenges.

Following a screening of the film, Assistant Professor Laura Mullins will facilitate a panel discussion and Q&A session with filmmaker Josh Dunn along with Applied Disability Studies graduate students Joey Bognar and Temilade Adesina as well as Assistant Professor Lisa Whittingham.

PhD in Applied Behaviour Analysis student Taylor Manuge (MA ’24) is the Student Coordinator for the Student Engagement and Wellness (SEW) Committee in the Department of Applied Disability Studies. She says she is looking forward not only to the screening, but to the panel as well.

“Having an opportunity to share perspectives, ask questions and hear others’ thoughts on the film is sure to lead to a rich discussion,” she says.

Manuge says she and her SEW Committee colleagues — Adesina, Charles Haugh, Faezah Yazdani Najafabadi and Serena D’Angelo — wanted to help organize this event because it creates important opportunities.

“This film screening is a chance for people to increase their awareness of the experiences of those with disabilities navigating dating and finding love,” says Manuge. “We hope the audience gains an understanding of how able-bodied people can become allies and actively support the dating experiences of people with disabilities.”

Tickets can be reserved by visiting the First Ontario Performing Arts Centre website.