The 26th Annual Rehabilitation Psychology Conference (RP2024) has invited Dr. Stephanie Cawthon and her co-creators of the award-nominated short film, Deaf Capo, to the national conference on Friday, February 23, as part of its “Celebrating Disability in the Arts” series.
The screening of Deaf Capo will be followed by a discussion with Leo Bopp (featured capo — or chant leader — from La Murga de Austin), Dr. Cawthon (Executive Producer), and Dr. Aaron Rochlen (Director).
About Deaf Capo
Filmed in the summer of 2023, Deaf Capo tells the story of Leo Bopp, a deaf chant leader for Los Verdes and La Murga of the pro soccer team Austin Football Club, It was directed by Dr. Cawthon’s colleague at the UT Austin College of Education, Dr. Rochlen, who is also founder of Soccer Assist.
In a thoughtful op-ed, I Hate Inspiration Videos. Here’s Why I Helped Produce One, Dr. Cawthon wrote about what propelled her forward with this project, despite reservations that it could be interpreted as “inspiration porn.”
“It is an important story to tell,” Dr. Cawthon writes. “This video was also not a hearing team focusing on a deaf person. There was a deaf lens at all phases of the project.”
Both the film’s videographer, Andrés “Flash” Otalora, and Dr. Cawthon are deaf and active collaborators on media projects. There were also members of the deaf community in the video who share their own stories and experiences — not just of Leo, but of Austin FC as a whole.
Deaf Capo is now being screened at several film festivals and has been shortlisted for awards consideration.
About RP 2024
Held in Austin, Texas, on February 22-25, RP2024’s theme is “Dismantling Barriers within Society: Advancing Universal Design Across Science, Practice, and Policy.” Universal design emphasizes the rehabilitation psychology community’s shared commitment to promoting anti-ableism through accessibility, inclusion, and usability.
RP2024 is a continuing education program sponsored by the APA Division of Rehabilitation Psychology (Division 22) and the Academy of Rehabilitation Psychology (ARP), in affiliation with the American Board of Rehabilitation Psychology (ABRP), Foundation of Rehabilitation Psychology (FRP), and Council of Rehabilitation Psychology Postdoctoral Training Programs (CRPPTP).
It is designed for psychologists, trainees (undergraduate students, graduate students, predoctoral interns, and postdoctoral fellows), and transdisciplinary rehabilitation professionals across career stages and settings (e.g., practice, research, teaching, administration, policy).