REVEL IN THE LIGHT - REVIEW

Deiren Masterson, producer/director, Revel in the Light: The Story of Rebecca Beayni

Reviewed by J. Ruth Nelson, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of Psychology &
Co-Director of the Academic Enrichment & Support Center
Bethel University, St. Paul, Minnesota

This DVD images twenty-one year old Rebecca and the joy on her face in the roles that she enjoys: dancer, painter, artist, teacher, advocate with the Association for Community Living, and friend. Although not able to speak with words, she communicates volumes to those in relationship with her. This DVD briefly chronicles the life of Rebecca Beayni, born in the height of the Lebanese War. Ironically, after Rebecca’s needs were assessed, the public school said that they were much too severe for public schooling. But Rebecca proceeded to build deep and lasting friendships in the community setting of the Catholic church school system. In the United States, students with disabilities are served in the least restrictive setting (LRE), most likely in a neighborhood school if it meets their needs best.
The argument for the LRE is to encourage as much socialization with neighborhood peers while enabling academic progress toward high standards. And yet, it appears from Rebecca’s experience, she was included as an equal member in her Catholic schools and far better off for that experience. The private Catholic schools provided the most inclusive setting and were community for her as the DVD images her receiving her diploma. Her parents asked, “Does it facilitate relationship building?” and made every decision through that perspective. Her mother clearly articulated, as well as those who developed a relationship with Rebecca, that our calling as people of faith is not about power or might, but about loving one another and forming relationships from the very core of our being.

Rebecca’s friendship with Anna Mongillo also illuminated some of her unique strengths such as the enjoyment of just sitting comfortably and not saying anything for periods of time or reveling in the light as the subway pulled into the natural light of outdoors. No one else seemed to care, continuing to read their books and newspapers, but Rebecca expressed delight in the simple pleasure of coming into the natural sunshine. This DVD didn’t present Rebecca as one-dimensional or simplistic, but as having likes and dislikes, evidenced by her facial expressions. This DVD will challenge parishioners and students alike to reexamine the bidirectional nature of relationships with individuals with disabilities, regardless of their faith background. It is not a medical examination of Cerebral Palsy and cognitive delay, but a look at the importance of relationship with all individuals and how we are created with different strengths and weaknesses.

This is a unique DVD in that it incorporates self-determination, advocacy and an integration of disability with a faith community primarily through images. The church and schools became a living community that Rebecca adored. You could see the excitement and love on her face as she was brought into the church building and as she participated in liturgical dance. DVDs that fully integrate their faith view with the reality of disability are few and far between.

A critique might be that the realities of discrimination and poor treatment or other difficult issues even in the church community were not brought out. What were the hard parts of the Catholic community of church and school and how did the family and Rebecca respond to this? These insights would be instructive to church community members, helping professionals and family members in how they can work through such issues that may arise.

This DVD leaves the viewer wanting to know more specifics about Rebecca and her life journey. Most importantly, this DVD does provide a different look at how individuals with disabilities can bring glory to the Lord through the many roles they can play (e.g., teacher to small children, dancer to guide worship) and correspondingly how the church can serve as a community for people with disabilities.