District 75 is the Special Education District within the New York City Department of Education. The videos on this site are part of an unusual collection, a slice of history of Special Education since 2003. The nature of the videos are documentary, instructive, illustrative, whimsical, and most of all, respectful of the authentic practice, and experience, of teachers, students and administrators. In telling these stories I am sharing a peek into a special world filled with talent, compassion, extremely hard work, and enormous insight into how to teach and how to learn. I'm very appreciative of how welcoming schools have been to the intrusion of a video camera into the midst of often difficult and delicately balanced scenarios.

I feel deeply that these videos bear witness to the intense professionalism of teachers and the determination of students who often have to fight to absorb, move, remember, speak and understand.

It is humbling to be behind the camera and to be asked to tell the stories.

Susan Abdulezer
Video Producer
District 75, NYC Department of Education