Lest We Forget - Partners

"Ours is not to place the blame for the past, but to set the course for the future." -John F. Kennedy

From behind the walls to the long journey home --- history as it can be told only by those who lived it

Lest We Forget is an initiative to record and preserve the first person histories of people labeled 'mentally retarded' who lived in state institutions, as well as the stories of the families they left behind and pioneering professionals and advocates whose dedication and sacrifices led a civil rights movement.

While the stories focus on Ohio, they are of national historical significance, as they reflect the stories of individuals, families and communities across the United States during a time in history that until now has remained shrouded in silence,fear and mystery - take the journey on a little known civil rights movement from segregation to integration, from isolation to inclusion.

Lest We Forget includes an audio documentary, Lest We Forget: Spoken Histories, produced by Jeff Moyer:Music From The Heart and Partners For Community Living and an award-winning film documentary, "Lest We Forget:Silent Voices",a Mark R. Lyons film, produced by Partners For Community Living.more

Lest We Forget: Silent Voices

"Absolutely fabulous! So enlightening and by far puts mental disabilities into a whole new perspective." - Review from Western Psychological Association Film Festival - Olympia, Washington

This award-winning film documentary by filmmaker Mark R. Lyons and produced by Partners For Community Living. The national premiere was held at Wright State University in Dayton, Ohio, in October, 2007. It was selected for the 2008 Sprout Film Festival in New York City, the 2008 Athens (Ohio) International Film Festival and the Western Psychological Association Film Festival. It received an Award of Excellence from Ohio Public Images; a Leadership Award from the INclusion Network of Cincinnati; and selected for the 2010 Different From What Film Festival in Tempe, Arizona.

Now in national distribution by Fanlight Productions, the film has been screened in venues across the United States and Canada as part of the touring Sprout Film Festival.

Among those who have purchased the film are:

Bridges of Wisconsin

George Mason University

Georgia State University

National Library of Medicine - National Institutes of Health

Sinclair Community College

Syracuse University

Topeka Kansas Public Libraries

Tulsa Oklahoma Public Libraries

University of Alaska

University of California at Berkley

University of Nebraska

University of Texas

University of Wisconsin

Wright State University

Xavier University

Lest We Forget has been made possible by the commitment of advocates, professionals, families and donors who collaborated to make sure that this important part of our history as a society and as a nation is not lost nor forgotten. The documentaries were funded in full through the generosity of donors who share a common commitment to the inclusion and integration of people with developmental disabilities as full and equal participating members of our communities. We honor the following for their support:

Ardmore Foundation/CREST Network

Brighter Tomorrow Foundation

County of Summit Board of Developmental Disabilities

Gorman-Hewitt-Ayars Memorial Fund

Hamilton County Board of Developmental Disabilities

McGohan Brabender

Montgomery County Board of Developmental Disabilities

Ohio Developmental Disabilities Council

Wright State University

Purchase copies of the audio and film documentaries or Contact Us at partners@choicesincl.com for information on scheduling a screening or presentation.