The Guild has released a trailer for its upcoming documentary, The World Got Smaller: The Spirit of The Guild during COVID-19. The short film will provide a first-hand look at how the pandemic curtailed the community life of individuals with intellectual disabilities. The film is being released to commemorate the second anniversary of the State of Emergency declared in Massachusetts and the subsequent closing of schools. The film will be screened to the public through an online event on Wednesday, March 16 at 1pm EST. To view the trailer and register for the event, go to theworldgotsmaller.com.
The onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in March of 2020 brought life as we knew it to a standstill. Mandates left healthcare providers scrambling to create a blueprint for the unknown. The Guild for Human Services, a Massachusetts-based non-profit that provides residential and academic programming for people with intellectual disabilities, was no exception. Almost overnight, school and residential staff pivoted to move classrooms to students’ residences, create supplemental day programming for adults, and live with those they served during quarantine. Residents were isolated and separated from their loved ones for months on end, all the while navigating the ever-changing state mandates and policies. Through it all, The Guild’s community adapted and grew stronger.
“During this pandemic, we had to make the world of the people we serve smaller,” said Amy C. Sousa, CEO of The Guild. “Their community life was curtailed and their choices reduced. I hope this film will show how individuals with intellectual disabilities are underestimated and how vital it is that we all work to create inclusive communities where people can achieve their full potential and lead high-quality lives.”
The World Got Smaller: The Spirit of The Guild during COVID-19 features interviews with Guild staff, students, residents, and community partners. The film was produced by Viamark Video.