On a cold and sunny day that started in Bed-Stuy’s Ginjan Cafe and ended in Herbert Von King Park, I conversed with Marion Myrie on her inspiring journey as a filmmaker. Her work is shining the spotlight on the representation of the disabled community in her home country of Jamaica and beyond. Through her advocacy, legislative contributions and storytelling, Marion has brought disability rights into sharper focus, leveraging her experiences to spark conversations that inspire systemic change.
How it started
Reflecting on her early life, Marion traced the origins of her passion back to her days at Immaculate Conception High School. “That’s where I first understood the power of storytelling,” she shared. However, her professional path initially began at Jamaica’s Ministry of Labour and Social Security.
“I always thought I’d work in foreign affairs or as an ambassador,” she admitted. Yet, Marion started as a data collector and then was later promoted at first to administrative assistant to the project director for the Programme of Advancement for Health & Education (PATH). Her role later pivoted to the administrator of the Disabilities Technical Cooperation Project, funded by the Japanese government. Her responsibilities not only opened her eyes to systemic neglect but also propelled her into action.
Her contributions were critical to the development of the National Register of Persons with Disabilities — a foundational step for advancing disability rights. “Some politicians would say, ‘We don’t know the numbers.’ Our work gave them the data they needed to move forward,” she explained.
Her team’s findings played a vital role in passing Jamaica’s long-overdue Disability Act in 2014, aligning with the country’s commitment to the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNDRPD); a commitment made in 2007, verifiable by the UNDRPD document.
Her work exposed her to personal stories. Ones of resilience, discrimination and systematic oppression. “The stories were so compelling that I felt academia couldn’t capture their depth,” she explained. “That’s when I turned to filmmaking.”
Her first documentary, “Towards a More Inclusive Jamaica,” which premiered for the first time in New York at the 2024 Conch Shell International Film Festival, told the story of Sasha, a woman with a disability who experienced blatant discrimination. The film shed light on the urgent need for cultural and systemic reform while amplifying voices too often ignored.
This transition into using storytelling as a tool for advocacy not only earned her acclaim but also validated the importance of authentic representation. Conrad Harris, head of the Jamaica Society for the Blind, affirmed her mission: “We need more stories like these — ones that tell our truths without resorting to stereotypes.”
Challenges and critiques of the system
Despite her achievements, she remains an advocate for more resources with Jamaica’s infrastructure and support systems for the disabled. “The Jamaica Council for Persons with Disabilities receives the smallest government subvention. It’s appalling when you consider the global prevalence of disabilities,” she lamented.
Her remarks extended to public infrastructure, pointing out the inaccessibility of streets, cracked sidewalks and ramps which need improved designs. “It’s not just about having a ramp. If the journey from home to that ramp is an obstacle course, what good does it do?” she asked pointedly.
A new chapter, same commitment
Marion is navigating personal milestones while continuing her advocacy through filmmaking. Her next project will focus on Makeda Gordon, a woman from rural Montego Bay, whose world was turned upside down when she was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis.
As she prepares and embraces a new life chapter, her resolve remains unshaken. “Every story matters,” she emphasized. “For too long, the disabled community’s stories have been overlooked or misrepresented. It’s time we listen, learn, and act.”
Marion’s filmmaker journey is a testament to the power of storytelling in driving social change. Her work underscores the importance of using multiple platforms to amplify marginalized voices and bring overlooked narratives to the forefront. As her films reach wider audiences, her message is clear: the fight for disability rights and representation is far from over.
Edited by Steven London & James Sutton
