Diana Braun and Kathy Conour in Body & Soul

New film on PBS highlights the lives of two women with disabilities who defied the odds and lived independent lives

The film BODY & SOUL: DIANA & KATHY chronicles the life of two of the country’s most remarkable advocates for people with disabilities. Diana Braun, who has Down syndrome, and Kathy Conour, who has cerebral palsy, met three decades ago and vowed to fight to live independent lives. Fearful of being shut away in a nursing home or forced into a state-run institution, Diana and Kathy broke the rules, escaped the system, and modeled a grand experiment in independent living.

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As a result of their efforts today Diana and Kathy are well-known as a tireless and dynamic pair of lobbyists and activists in the disability movement.  Although Kathy is non-verbal, through the help of a mouth stick and the Pathfinder assistive communication device, she writes articles for national magazines and has a lively email correspondence with leaders in the disability rights movement.  Kathy also serves on boards, and continues to lobby effectively for disability rights–Kathy was once even arrested, power chair and all. Diana drives, cooks, shops, takes care of scheduling doctor’s appointments and has been Kathy’s personal assistant and friend for more than 35 years.

The film chronicles a journey from their home in Springfield, IL to Washington, D.C. The trip is physically dangerous and technically illegal—Medicare rules require them to be homebound. History has shown, however the benefits of breaking rules can sometimes outweigh the risks. Although they comprise the largest minority in the United States, people with disabilities are routinely denied equal access and rights. BODY & SOUL: DIANA & KATHY exemplifies the abilities of people with disabilities and helps us understand an important and complex social issue.

The film almost didn’t happen, however. When Diana Braun and Kathy Conour approached Alice Elliott, and asked her to make a film about them, Alice was reluctant. She had just spent five years making her previous film, the Academy Award®  nominated short documentary The Collector of Bedford Street, and wasn’t ready to plunge into another project.

It had been Kathy’s life long dream to have a documentary made about her, so she wouldn’t give up. After visiting Diana and Kathy in Springfield, Illinois, Alice realized what unique subjects they would be and was won over by Kathy’s persistence. For five years, Diana and Kathy gave Alice complete access to their lives. During that time, they filmed in Washington, D.C., as well as Chicago and Springfield. Told in an intimate, vérité style, BODY & SOUL: DIANA & KATHY brings audiences into a private world and sweeps us into a way of life rarely seen on screen and seldom understood.

The film has received a number of awards and recognitions, including a nomination from the International Documentary Association for the Distinguished Short Documentary Award and the TASH Positive Images in Media Award (shared with Including Samuel). The film was produced, directed, and filmed by Alice Elliott (The Collector of Bedford Street) and edited by Rose Rosenblatt (The Education of Shelby Knox, Live Free or Die), original music by Rick Baitz. BODY & SOUL: DIANA & KATHY is a co-production of Alice Elliott and the Independent Television Service (ITVS), with funding provided by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.

BODY & SOUL: DIANA & KATHY, will have its television premiere this fall on PBS in as part of the network’s National Disabilities Awareness programming (check local listings).

More about BODY & SOUL: DIANA & KATHY can be found at www.dianaandkathy.com You can also follow them on Twitter at DianaandKathy or become a fan on Facebook from our web site.