“Life is full of challenges,” said Gene Connolly. “We get little say in what happens to us, but everything to say in how we deal with it. In fact, our response will define us.”

The short film, “Mr. Connolly Has ALS,” about a beloved Concord High School (Concord, N.H.) principal’s journey with ALS and his 14th and final year at Concord, had its public television broadcast debut on June 11 and is available to stream online throughout the U.S. until July 11.

Documentary filmmaker, Dan Habib, beautifully captured Gene Connolly’s positive spirit and humor as his disease progressed and he lost the ability to walk and speak. During the film, Gene, an educator for more than 35 years, sits down with some of the 1,600 students he served as principal, to answer their questions and give some final advice.

The discussions throughout “Mr. Connolly Has ALS” are filled with valuable lessons that show how Gene shaped his optimistic perspective on life – the importance of living life fully, developing resilience, being courageous, showing empathy, and loving freely.

“Courage can take many forms. People who are courageous may be frightened and afraid, but they summon the strength to do the right thing.” (Gene Connolly)

Gene hopes the film helps people better understand ALS and realize the importance of inclusion.

“People don’t understand the disease,” he said. “They think [ALS] has affected my cognitive abilities. While I look different, inside I am the same person. It can be frustrating and exhausting. I have a newfound respect for people with disabilities.”

While inclusion has been a vital part of Gene’s teachings throughout his career, its importance became even more clear to him after his ALS diagnosis.

He said, “Not only is [inclusion] a theoretical philosophy, now it is a practical reality for me.” He added,

“This experience has only made me more sure that inclusion is an essential part of education and life.”

Dan’s son, Samuel, has cerebral palsy and was a Concord High School student. (He graduated from Concord this year.) In one scene of “Mr. Connolly Has ALS,” Samuel and Gene have a conversation using only hand gestures and assistive communication devices.

“Losing my ability to speak has forced me to be a better listener. Now I hear more than a person’s words. I have a greater sensitivity to a person’s tone, the nonverbal message that is every bit as important as the words.” (Gene Connolly)

The ALS Association was honored to be part of the premiere screening of “Mr. Connolly Has ALS” in August 2017. The film was nominated for Best Short for the 2017 International Documentary Association (IDA) Awards.

Watch “Mr. Connolly Has ALS” online here. The national broadcast and streaming received underwriting support from MobilityWorks and Mitsubishi Electric America Foundation.