Ady Barkan had his whole life ahead of him. A rising star in political organizing and a new father, life was good. Then came the diagnosis: ALS, a life-threatening disease that would ultimately paralyze Ady’s entire body. He knew he had every right to feel despair. The diagnosis felt like a death sentence. He also knew that he had to make a choice. Returning to his activist roots, Ady vows to fight for healthcare justice so that folks like him, folks that rely on government-sponsored healthcare programs, have the means to survive.

After a chance encounter with a powerful senator is caught on video and goes viral, Ady suddenly finds himself with a platform. Capitalizing on his newfound celebrity, he launches the “Be a Hero” campaign. With support from a talented cohort of young activists, Ady travels the country and builds his people-powered healthcare movement from the ground up. Though Ady’s voice eventually fades, his message remains clear: he’s not going quietly. Not until every person has the right to affordable healthcare. Not until he can leave this world a better place for his son to inherit. This impactful documentary, brimming with inspiration, took home the Audience Award for Best Documentary Feature at SXSW 2021.

After the film, director Nicholas Bruckman, access advocate Liam Dougherty, and inclusion specialist and disability advocate Andraéa Lavant will engage in a conversation about healthcare and disability advocacy, policy, and human rights. 

This screening will take place both *in theater and stream on-demand.