NYU-DC Bodies and Boundaries conference, Thursday-Friday 4/2-43,

New York University's academic center in DC, NYU-DC (1307 L Street NW), is sponsoring a conference that addresses mobility and transportation and the city, on April 2nd and 3rd.

The conference kicks off Thursday night (6:30-8:00 pm) with the free screening of Every Speed, followed by a panel discussion with Rae Zimmerman (NYU-Wagner Rudin Center for Transportation), Gabe Rousseau (psychologist, US DOT), Kimberly Lucas (DDOT Capital Bikeshare), and Bruce Deming (bicycle attorney), and then a reception.

Every Speed is a short experimental documentary that looks at the meaning of movement for people with and without physical disabilities – both in terms of design and accessibility of cities and transportation as well as personal experiences of movement – in the context of a culture that places value on independence, speed, and physical ability.

Historically, people with disabilities have been denied accommodations based on arguments of cost, yet able‐bodied people take for granted their reliance on city planning conveniences and a vast and expensive transportation infrastructure. Using voiceover interviews with individuals with and without disabilities, the film explores how city and transportation design both differentiates and unites people with diverse physical abilities.