Blog

US Premiere of Mark - A Call To Action at the Bryn Mawr Film Institute

Mark – a call to action – us premiere

We are pleased to announce that “Mark – A Call To Action” will be making its U.S. Premiere as part of the Bryn Mawr Film Institute Summer Series in June!  There will be a special post-screen conversation with Dr. Paul Bookman (Mark’s Father) and Rachel Bookman (Mark’s sister) along with director Ron Small. Tickets are […]

The Sagami River in Japan.

My friend charlie – sue swenson

Board Member Nagase Osamu brought Sue Swenson into the conversation with GLIDE FUND – we are reminded that there are many people who willingly advocate and dedicate their lives to create positive change for people with disabilities. We wanted to share this message from Sue following the tragedy that took place July 26, 2016. Published […]

At Mark's apartment in Mizue, Edogawa, on February 22, 2015. Mark is on the right and Nagase is on the left. Courtesy of Nagase

Bookman, Mark (1991-2022): Shingon Esoteric Buddhism and Disability Studies

(At Mark’s apartment in Mizue, Edogawa, on February 22, 2015. Mark is on the right and Nagase is on the left. Courtesy of Nagase.) “Wow, you’re working on Shingon Esoteric Buddhism!” I first met Mark Bookman in 2014, when he was studying in Japan as a Fulbright Fellow. He told me about his research at […]

Nagase Osamu Glide Fund Board Member

Glide fund board member nagase osamu

Glide Fund, Board Member Nagase Osamu has an impressive resume and his dedication to raising the voices of those with disabilities, in our opinion is unmatched.  The Premiere of “Mark – A Call To Action” was a pivotal point for the friendship that Mark and Nagase shared over the years. At the time of filming, […]

This project was created to honor the memory of Mark Bookman (1991–2022), an outstanding scholar, activist, and colleague who contributed significantly to the Disability Studies field.

The Disability Studies in Japan project

The Disability Studies in Japan project provides a variety of pedagogy and research resources for the study of disability history and activism from premodern to contemporary times. Resources include suggested reading lists, lesson plans, disability-related terminology, information on advocacy and research groups, and more. This project was created to honor the memory of Mark Bookman […]

Howdy Homemade Ice Cream in the great state of Texas.

Job Creation Foundation Feat. Howdy Homemade

One of the many purposes of Glide Fund is to highlight stories from around the world relating to overcoming disability. And this story involves my dear friend Bob Sambol from Dallas, Texas. Bob Sambol is a famed Dallas Restaurateur and we’ve been friends since 1993 when he opened Bob’s Steak & Chop House. Fast forward to today […]

Rachel Bookman teaching class using adaptive technology for accessibility.

Classroom Adaptability

Multiple technologies made it possible for me to teach in the classroom. Most obviously, my Permobil wheelchair, but parallel parking next to the board to write was a challenge. Instead, I used the Permobil detachable tray on my wheelchair as a teachers podium and the built in USB charger on my wheelchair for my Apple […]

Mark and Rachel Bookman playing in the backyard of their childhood home.

My Big Brother Mark’s Vision

Where to begin? It’s been almost a year since Mark and I last talked. We spoke about his upcoming move to Kyoto, the documentary, GLIDE, and what my next steps should be since I was leaving my job as a high school biology teacher due to repeated exposures and pneumonias. Mark advised that I create […]

Ron Small and Felix Arceneaux onboard a jet airliner bound for Japan.

First Japan Trip

The path to producing “Mark – A Call to Action” began around a year before we shot the first frame. Though Mark was 30 at the time, I had actually not seen him since he was 5 and Paul was instrumental in reintroducing us in the hopes he would be okay with a documentary about […]