Using two GoPro cameras, 22-year-old filmmaker Samuel Habib introduces himself to the world — and the world to his perspective.
What’s captured is not only a relatable coming-of-age story of a self-proclaimed “speed freak” and Red Sox fan from New Hampshire, but a candid reflection on coming-of-age while navigating the sociopolitical implications of having a disability. Specifically, in Habib’s case, it’s cerebral palsy, epilepsy and a swallowing disorder caused by a GNAO1 neurodevelopmental disorder.
A feature-length follow-up to Habib’s 2022 Emmy Award-winning New York Times Op-Doc “My Disability Roadmap,” which he directed alongside his father Dan. “The Ride Ahead,” which was selected for the DOC NYC Film Festival, focuses on Habib at the precipice of his adult life. He’s 20 and thinking about starting college, hoping to find community and build relationships with his peers. During this tumultuous intrapersonal stage of life, we also see Habib face health crises and external challenges against a society that’s conditioned to underestimate his capabilities. To figure out how to enter adulthood, Habib consults some of his heroes, disabled activists and artists who offer him advice on a breadth of topics, from self-love and education to sexuality.
At the core of “The Ride Ahead” is Habib’s voice, featuring voiceover reflections via his electronic communication device, which is programmed with the help of Dan. Habib makes his aspirations clear in the beginning of the film, where he explains he hopes to get married and have kids, and opted into a brain stimulation surgery for the chance of greater control over his body. We hear Habib’s interjections often throughout the film, bringing us into his world and offering an understanding of his reflections on his experiences. Habib scoffs and laughs over a shot of him flipping through stereotypical depictions of disabled people on TV, like Artie from “Glee” or “The Good Doctor’s” Dr. Shaun Murphy before speaking about how seeing Maysoon Zayrid’s stand-up comedy taught him what positive representation felt like. He tells Dan he’s “pissed off” when interacting with a woman at the airport who speaks in a baby voice, even after Dan reminds her that he’s 20 and not five.
These moments of voice culminate when Habib has the opportunity to speak to then-Vice President Joe Biden at a campaign event around the 2020 New Hampshire primaries. Habib asks Biden a question about his education policy and efforts toward more inclusivity for disabled people, but grows frustrated by the interaction as Biden babies him and caresses his face rather than treating him like an adult. As Habib voices his dissatisfaction with the event and frustrations with the way he’s spoken to, we’re also privy to a moment of growth for Habib — he finds a passion for disability advocacy in education, which later inspires his Disability Unscripted video series at the Disability Rights Center in New Hampshire. Here, he interviews local election candidates about issues he cares about: accessible education, housing and voting.
Interviews between Habib and his heroes validate Habib’s concerns about being a disabled adult, yet offer a sense of hope and optimism. When speaking with marathon runner and Special Olympics gold medalist Andrew Peterson, Peterson gives Habib simple, yet poignant advice: “I ignore anyone who refuses to accept me.”
This sentiment remains a common theme throughout Habib’s cross-country interviews with other disabled activists, each of which open up to Habib about what school was like for them, and even about their past relationships and sexual encounters. These interviews complement footage of Habib at college joining clubs or spending time with his family, demonstrating Habib’s implementation of their advice into his outlook on life.
Throughout “The Ride Ahead,” there are many full-circle moments for Habib as he ushers in the next phases of his adolescence. He has the opportunity to meet and interview the late Judy Heumann in Washington, D.C., whom he had previously made a short film about in high school. She tells him about the difficulties she faced as a student, which Habib carries with him as he works towards putting himself out there on campus. He interviews NYU graduate and Tony Award-winning actress Ali Stroker about her decision to study in New York City, and subsequently traverses the High Line and meets Zayrid outside a comedy club in Chelsea.
In a phase of life overwhelmed by the prospects of independence and control, Habib’s concerns with living a full adult life are more than understandable. But as he demonstrates in “The Ride Ahead,” a few bumps in the road are no match for the network of support — family, friends, care providers and mentors — that are paving the way.
(Featured Image Courtesy of Dan Habib/LikeRightNow Films)
