More like unseen, Report from the Center for Media & Social Impact

As part of the year-long partnership for the Heumann Community Partnerships Lab between Dr. Lauren Clark and Keris Jän Myrick, that culminated with a public screening of the film unseen, UCLA students and attendees participated in a groundbreaking study to help documentary filmmakers and advocates understand how to better highlight the stories of traditionally underrepresented communities in media and public discussion. 

The study was led by the Center for Media & Social Impact at American University.  Attendees were invited to participate in the post-screening survey, the results of which have now been published. 

In their report, “More like unseen,” the Center for Media and Social Impact’s questions focused on the following:

1. How do audiences with disabilities experience a documentary film (unseen) that was made with them in mind?
2. How do undocumented audiences experience a documentary film (unseen) that was made with them in mind?
3. How do undocumented audiences with disabilities experience a documentary film (unseen) that was made with them in mind?
4. How do audience members feel the documentary is accessible—or not accessible—to them?
5. In what ways do audiences feel the film resonates with—and connects with—their own experiences? In what ways do they feel it deviates from their own experiences?

Based on approximately 350 respondents, their findings, published in March 2026, note the following points:  

1. the film inspired a significant majority of audience members with disabilities and undocumented audiences to want to improve their situation, improve things for others, and feel more hopeful about the future.
2. the film increased confidence among a large majority of audiences to want to share their experience with others, especially among undocumented audiences and those who identify with a disability
3. the significance of this finding can’t be understated as a notably high percentage of both of these communities also shared that they “rarely” or “never” spoke to people who are not immediate friends or family about their experience before the film. 

Read the executive summary and key findings or the full report by the Center for Media & Social Impact. 

UCLA Disability Studies is honored to have been invited by Set Hernandez and Dr. Conchita Hernández Legorreta to participate in one of the first film-based surveys and we look forward to more stores that center communities with disabilities and undocumented audiences.