Tufts alumnus and award-winning filmmaker Josh Seftel (LA '90) spoke to students and faculty on Monday about overcoming his learning disabilities. Seftel's new film, "Ennis' Gift," which was screened before the discussion, tells the story of Ennis Cosby, the slain son of comedian Bill Cosby, who was dyslexic. The film will air on HBO next month.
The film, created to memorialize Cosby's son, chronicled Ennis' success despite the limitations caused by his dyslexia. Seftel was approached by the Cosby family, who asked him to produce a documentary on learning disorders. When the Cosbys discovered that Seftel himself was learning disabled, they saw it as a perfect match.
The combination of Seftel's speech and the film struck an emotional chord with many in attendance. Some said they were inspired by the successes Seftel and others in his film achieved when taught alternative approaches to learning.
"I can remember at one point hitting rock bottom with my school work," said Seftel, who studied French literature at Tufts. "I think I was failing a class. I didn't know what was wrong with me. I didn't know I had a problem, I just knew I was not good at reading."
At Tufts, Seftel says he sought solace in the Academic Resource Center, calling it "an island where I knew someone could understand the struggles I was going through."
The 51-minute color documentary featured interviews with celebrities who also have learning disabilities, including actors James Earl Jones, Danny Glover, and Henry Winkler, as well investment guru Charles Schwab. The film also featured several Americans of varying socioeconomic backgrounds and ages.
Their stories showed the way each dealt with learning disorders and how the disorders taught them to overcome adversity. While depicting the pain caused by the disorders, the film expressed hope through a powerfully positive tone.
Senior Mara Schanfield, who learned about the film while working on an independent study project about Tufts' programs for students with learning disorders, organized the speaker event and movie screening.
Schanfield, who has Attention Deficit Disorder, said her goal was to increase the awareness of learning disorders at Tufts and nationally. While acknowledging her overall positive impression of Tufts' treatment of learning disabilities, Schanfield said there were some "really frustrating experiences" with teachers that didn't understand the difficulties caused by learning disorders. "I would love to show the movie again just for professors," she said, adding that workshops could also help familiarize faculty members with learning disabilities.
To this end, Schanfield formed a student-initiated group for people with learning dissabilities.
At Tufts, there are between 150 and 200 students registered with Disabilities Services, including a core group of 30-40 students who extensively utilize the service. "The most asked for accommodation is extended time for taking tests," said Coordinator of Services for Students with Disabilities Sandy Baer. "Providing note-takers and tape recorders for those with difficulties in those areas are also offered. We refer students to get tutoring within the Academic Resource Center."
Schanfield's work brings an "often overlooked minority" to light at Tufts, Baer said. Together with Schanfield, she raised the funds to present "Ennis' Gift" through the Arts, Sciences, and Engineering Diversity Fund that recognizes that students with learning disorders are another element of Tufts' diversity.
Seftel was first introduced to film while on a Study Abroad program during his junior year. He has gone on to make successful documentaries such as "Old Warrior," "Taking on the Kennedys" and "Lost and Found." His films have received over 30 awards and been featured on CBS, PBS, ABC, NPR, The Discovery Channel, and HBO when "Ennis' Gift" debuts at the end of November. Seftel's work has taken him to places as far as Bosnia, Romania, South Africa and Costa Rica.
