Recent Events

May 10th, 2008

(New York, NY) The Teachings of Jon was shown at the "Go Sprout!" festival in New York to a wonderful response. Held at The Metropolitian Museam of Art, the festival is an annual event featuring films and art by or about persons with disabilities. Filmmaker Jennifer Owensby was available for a Q & A following the showing.

April 7th, 2008

(Mansfield, OH) Jennifer Owensby, Jon's little sister and filmmaker, spoke at a training inservice at Richland Newhope Residential Services.

Since the film aired in April, 2004, Jennifer has been invited to speak at a number of training seminars and other events. She offers her insights and stories of personal experience in order to help others better understand how to connect and communicate with
someone like Jon.

For more information, please email Jennifer at jennifer@wakingheartfilms.com

Go Sprout!

       The Sprout Film Festival starts tomorrow (Friday, May 1, 2009) at the Metropolitan Museam of Art in New York, NY. It's a wonderful festival, and if you have the chance to go we highly recommend it! Wishing you all great success this weekend!

       Find out more at www.sproutfilmfestival.org

What's New With Jon

       Many of you who have seen "The Teachings of Jon" have emailed us questions about Jon. How old is he now, does he still love his furbies, have there been any major changes in his life... So we thought we would make some updates to the website and created this space, where we will try to keep all of Jon's fans up to date!

       Most of the movie was taped in 2000-2001, and Jon celebrated his 40th birthday in the film. So this past March, Jon turned 47, and yes, he still loves his furbies. There have been some pretty big changes in Jon's life since the film was made. The most significant change is that in 2002 Jon was approved for a CAP Worker (Community Alternatives Program). This is a State program which provides in home assistance for families with a person with a severe disability. For the last several years, Jon's CAP Worker has been a woman named Sandra, whom Jon adores. Her involvement in Jon's life has provided much needed respit for Jon's parents, who are now in their mid-seventies.

       Through Sandra's hard work and determination, she has also helped work with Jon's diet and exercise regiment, and as a result he has lost over 45 lbs! He is feeling better than ever, and is more active than he's been in years. And, most importantly, Jon is happy.