In honor of World Down Syndrome Day (WDSD), on March 21 at 8:00 p.m. MSK, Carmen Vincent, Tom Felter, Jr., and Emily Felter will sit down with online attendees to talk about the documentary Teacher of Patience (register for a free screening here) and answer questions about their lives, living with Down syndrome, and their efforts to educate the community about how to interact with individuals with disabilities thoughtfully, respectfully, and with empathy.

Tune in online on AMC’s YouTube channel or VK page to listen to the panel discussion and ask questions!

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To learn about and sign up for the free screening of Teacher of Patience on March 21 at 7:30 p.m. MSK, go here.

To learn about the film Teacher of Patience, go to the film’s website.

To learn about World Down Syndrome Day, go to this website.

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Panelists

Carmen Vincent — Director/Producer/Camera/Editor

Carmen Vincent is a documentary filmmaker based in Northwest Indiana with a passion for telling stories that amplify often-misunderstood human experiences.

While Midwestern through-and-through, she has worked with clients and told stories from across the country and in the United Kingdom and Palestine. She is a Nikon Storytellers Scholar, a selected participant of RespectAbility’s 2021 Lab for Entertainment Professionals with Disabilities, and a proud recipient of the Best International Director award at the Georgia Documentary Film Festival for her short documentary, Forever A Champion.

She uses her experience with non-visible disabilities, including OCD and GAD, to pursue her work with creativity, empathy, and curiosity. Because of these disabilities, she is skilled at divergent thinking, attention to detail, and identifying the value in people. Carmen is committed to challenging stigma by proving that people with disabilities like hers are reliable, talented, and effective creators.

Carmen holds a bachelor’s degree in Digital Media from Valparaiso University and she participates in numerous professional organizations such as FWD-Doc, D-Word, Duneland Chamber, NATAS Chicago/Midwest, and more.

Tom Felter, Jr. — Key Participant

Tom Felter, Jr. has worked in Emergency Medical Services for over 30 years, with additional experience as a police officer and firefighter. He first developed and presented The Emily Talk in February of 2015. Since then, he and Emily have presented The Emily Talk dozens of times across the region, state, and country.

He’s an avid coffee-lover, and he best enjoys his cup of coffee on the front porch while watching Emily ride her bike.

"I hope Teacher of Patience brings awareness to the importance of learning about disabilities and patiently getting to know individuals with disabilities."

-Tom Felter, Jr.

Emily Felter — Key Participant​

Emily Felter is a 27-year-old self-advocate who plays an active role in teaching others about Down syndrome and disability by interacting with others before, after, and sometimes during The Emily Talk. The Emily Talk is a presentation that she inspired her paramedic father to develop and its aim is to teach first responders about the disability community.

On a typical day, you can catch her riding her bike for hours on end, listening to music on blast, and enjoying a nice, cold Dr. Pepper while spending time with her family.

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Accessibility

The event is in English and with open captions in Russian.

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ALL AMERICAN CENTER IN MOSCOW EVENTS ARE FREE OF CHARGE / ВСЕ МЕРОПРИЯТИЯ АМЕРИКАНСКОГО ЦЕНТРА В МОСКВЕ БЕСПЛАТНЫ

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Tune in to watch this live-streamed panel discussion and Q&A session on the American Center in Moscow’s YouTube channel and VK page on March 21, 2023, at 8:00 p.m. MSK.

You can register below and leave your valid email address to receive a reminder 30 minutes before the online event begins.

To join other AMC Online programs, please check the American Center’s website and TimePad calendars.

#WorldDownSyndromeDay