BEING MICHELLE is an award-winning feature documentary following a Deaf woman with autism who survived incarceration, abuse, and systemic injustice. Through her journey of healing and self-expression, the film explores Deaf rights, disability justice, communication access, and the transformative power of human connection.
BEING MICHELLE
AN AWARD-WINNING DOCUMENTARY
WATCH A PREVIEW
ACCESSIBILITY
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SYNOPSIS
BEING MICHELLE tells the powerful story of a Deaf woman with autism who survived incarceration, abuse, and profound injustice within social and criminal justice systems that failed to accommodate her communication needs.
Michelle’s life changed when she met a guide dog and her owner, Kim Law, a blind volunteer life coach teaching classes in prison. Their friendship became the foundation of a powerful journey toward healing. Together, they confront Michelle’s traumatic childhood and painful experiences, as Michelle begins to reclaim her strength and independence. Through her deeply personal artwork, Michelle gives expression to the trauma she has endured, transforming art into a powerful tool for healing.
Ultimately, BEING MICHELLE is a story of resilience, friendship, and the transformative power of human connection. It celebrates two women forging a path toward healing through truth, trust, and the fundamental human right to communication.
“More than an estimated 750,000 incarcerated individuals have a disability. 32% of those in federal prisons and 40% of individuals incarcerated in jails have at least one disability.
Additionally, an estimated 153,000 deaf individuals are incarcerated in jails or state and federal prisons.”
BEING MICHELLE SOCIAL IMPACT CAMPAIGN
The BEING MICHELLE Social Impact Campaign advances Deaf rights, disability justice, and the fundamental human right to communication, particularly within social and criminal justice systems.
Through accessible screenings, educational outreach, and partnerships with advocates, educators, and justice professionals, the campaign works to raise awareness, inspire dialogue, and encourage meaningful systems change.
Support our ongoing impact efforts through a tax-deductible donation to Thriving Roots Initiative, our 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.
SCREENINGS, EVENTS & COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
Join BEING MICHELLE at film screenings, educational events, and community discussions. Discover upcoming opportunities to experience the documentary and engage with filmmakers, Deaf and disabled advocates, and experts working to advance disability justice and communication access. Bring this film to your community.
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HOST A SCREENING
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SCREENINGS & EVENTS
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RECORDED PANEL DISCUSSIONS
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FESTIVAL PHOTOS
WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING ABOUT BEING MICHELLE
“I was lucky enough to watch this film on Delta Airlines on a flight home, and I was so blown away that I went on Google and I found the filmmakers and I called them up and said, "Please come to my house for lunch." And they did. And I was very moved by the story of Michelle and the way this independent documentary was put together, obviously, with a lot of love and a lot of commitment and care and so much intersectionality, you know, whether you are somebody who comes at this through the different angles, you know for me, I have a daughter who is autistic, and when I read the caption on Delta Airline about an autistic woman and her challenges and struggles I thought, Let's watch that."
— ROSIE O’DONNELL
"Of the many things that struck me about this film - the one that will leave the most lasting impression on me is how all of Michelle’s artwork went to every edge, from the very top, to the very bottom, and to every corner of the canvas. There was no border and no room for a frame. In addition to ASL, Michelle utilized every opportunity available to her to express, to communicate and to share her story.”
— MARK MELANSON, Executive Director of CCLN
"I believe that this film should be mandatory viewing for everyone in every court system in this nation. Michelle's story tells the story of the devastating impact of solitary confinement, the devastating impact of being uniquely vulnerable in prison and jail systems because you are a person with disabilities, and again, so resoundingly, the fact that we don't take time to communicate with each other and that just results in misunderstandings that rob people like Michelle of decades of their lives."
— MARC FLIEDNER, Civil Rights Attorney, Disability Rights New York
BRING BEING MICHELLE
TO YOUR AUDIENCE.
Bring BEING MICHELLE to your university, school, library, organization, or community through an accessible educational, institutional, or impact screening.
Available for in-person and virtual audiences worldwide, with opportunities for filmmaker discussions, expert panels, and community conversations exploring Deaf rights, disability justice, communication access, and the experiences of Deaf and disabled people within social and criminal justice systems.
SUPPORT THE BEING MICHELLE IMPACT CAMPAIGN
Help bring Michelle's story to more audiences and advance disability justice, communication access, and meaningful change.
Your contribution supports accessible screenings, educational outreach, and partnerships that promote the rights of Deaf and disabled people within social and criminal justice systems.
WATCH MICHELLE'S PERSONAL MESSAGE
Donations are processed through Thriving Roots Initiative, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.
OUR PARTNERS
UP
COMING
IMPACT
SCREENINGS!
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Join the National Disability Rights Network (NDRN) on November 10, 2026, from 12:00 PM to 3:30 PM EST, for a virtual screening and interactive panel discussion of Being Michelle, the award-winning documentary directed by Atin Mehra.
The film follows Michelle, a Deaf woman with autism who survived incarceration and abuse within systems that failed to accommodate her communication needs. Through her artwork and personal journey, Michelle shares a powerful story of resilience, healing, and self-advocacy.
The panel will explore communication and legal barriers faced by Deaf and autistic individuals, disability rights, criminal justice reform, and the importance of community-based support.
Join advocates and experts for an important conversation about accessibility, inclusion, and the fundamental Right to Communication.
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On August 17, 2026, Being Michelle was featured at the American Probation and Parole Association's 51st Annual Training Institute in Chicago, Illinois, through a special workshop titled “Being Michelle: Communication Access for Deaf and Disabled Individuals.”
The 90-minute workshop explored the fundamental human right to communication for Deaf, Deaf+, and disabled individuals within correctional, probation, and parole systems, using the award-winning documentary Being Michelle as a central case study.
Presenters included Mae Thornton Mehra, producer of Being Michelle; Matthew Burke, Director of Justice Initiatives at Chicago Beyond; and Ben Wright, Director of Disability Access in Prison Education at The Community.
Through firsthand experiences, case studies, and interactive discussions, participants examined communication barriers, accessibility obligations under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), and practical strategies for improving communication access within the criminal justice system.
This educational event advanced Being Michelle's mission to promote disability justice, accessible communication, and meaningful systemic change.
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On June 25, 2024, Being Michelle, the award-winning documentary directed by Atin Mehra, was featured at a special community screening at The Crest Theater in Sacramento, California.
Hosted by the California Policy Center for People with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities, Strategies to Empower People, and California Community Living Network, the event brought community members and advocates together to raise awareness about Deaf and disability rights, communication accessibility, and inclusion.
Special thanks to Gold Sponsors Strategies to Empower People and Alta California Regional Center for supporting this meaningful event.
We extend our heartfelt appreciation to Teresa Anderson, Jacquie Dillard Foss, and Mark Melanson for their dedication to organizing the screening, and to the incredible team of Deaf and hearing interpreters who helped make the event accessible to all.
Through community screenings like this one, Being Michelle continues to inspire conversations about disability justice, the right to communication, and creating a more inclusive society.
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On March 13, 2024, Being Michelle, the award-winning documentary directed by Atin Mehra, was presented at a special community screening at the California School for the Deaf in Fremont, California, from 6:00 PM to 8:30 PM.
The screening highlighted the powerful story of Michelle, a Deaf woman with autism who survived incarceration in a criminal justice system that failed to accommodate her communication needs.
This event provided an opportunity to raise awareness about Deaf and disability rights, accessible communication, inclusion, and the importance of authentic Deaf representation.
Being Michelle continues to inspire meaningful conversations about the fundamental right to communication, disability justice, and creating a more accessible and inclusive society.
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On March 21, 2024, Being Michelle, the award-winning documentary directed by Atin Mehra, was featured at community screenings in Raleigh and Greensboro, North Carolina, in partnership with the North Carolina Division of Services for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing.
The screenings highlighted Michelle's powerful journey as a Deaf woman with autism who survived incarceration in a criminal justice system that failed to accommodate her communication and accessibility needs.
These community screenings helped raise awareness about Deaf and disability rights, communication barriers, criminal justice reform, and the importance of equal access for Deaf and hard of hearing individuals.
Being Michelle continues to inspire conversations about the fundamental Right to Communication, disability justice, and building a more accessible and inclusive society.
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In September 2026, Being Michelle, the award-winning documentary directed by Atin Mehra, was featured at a special screening and discussion at the Women's Community Correctional Center in Kailua, Hawaii, in collaboration with The Try Think Project.
The event brought the documentary's powerful message into a correctional setting, creating an opportunity for meaningful dialogue about trauma, incarceration, disability rights, communication accessibility, and healing.
Being Michelle tells the story of Michelle, a Deaf woman with autism who survived incarceration in a criminal justice system that failed to accommodate her communication needs. Her journey highlights the importance of understanding, human connection, and the fundamental right to communication.
Through screenings and discussions like this one, Being Michelle continues to encourage greater awareness, compassion, and meaningful change within correctional institutions, advocating for more accessible and inclusive systems for Deaf and disabled individuals.