State disabilities council earns seven Emmys for documentary

Dora Uchel-Martinez of Reno can only imagine the faces of others in her mind.

She is blind and uses the touch of her iPhone screen reader during legislative Zoom meetings to advocate for people with a disability including herself.

“There’s the phrase that goes, ‘About us without us,’ ” Uchel-Martinez states in a documentary. “And that means people who do not have a disability always tell a person with a disability what’s good for us.”

The Nevada Governor’s Council on Developmental Disabilities’ documentary “Our World in Our Words” follows four women who speak about their impairments and daily experiences. The work produced by the NGCDD in partnership with Mountain Dog Visual Media and Tanglewood Productions, received seven Emmys in four categories from the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences Pacific Southwest Chapter on June 21 in San Diego.

NGCDD Executive Director Catherine Nielsen said the documentary was a seven-year project that began as four individual films eventually merging into one story. It celebrates access, inclusion and empowerment for people with intellectual/developmental disabilities (I/DD) and allows the four women featured to speak for themselves.

“We had the thought and the concept of, ‘Why are we speaking for anybody? We really shouldn't speak for anyone,’” she said. “If they have the opportunity or we have the ability, we should elevate their voices in the ways that we can.”

Nielsen said one of the NGCDD’s most important Emmy achievements was in the “Diversity/Equity/Inclusion – Short Form or Long Form Content” category for specifically highlighting DEI issues in a time when some might worry about the term, Nielsen said.

“I think that this film is a perfect example of what we mean when we talk about creating a diverse community that’s equal for everybody and that includes every type of person out there,” Nielsen said.

In addition to Uchel-Martinez, “Our World in Our Words” introduces Alexis Jones of Henderson, who was diagnosed deaf at 4 years old and recalled hearing with her ear molds for the first time as “overwhelming.” Santa Perez of Las Vegas, a woman with cerebral palsy, explains she uses a computer with Morse code and other assistive technology can be as simple as a drinking straw. Cindi Swanson of Boulder City lost her vision when she was 41, and she relies on software for typing and tactile features in the kitchen for cooking.

Nielsen said Jones, who describes in “Our World in Our Words” it was her dream to try out for the U.S. Women National’s Deaf Soccer Team, since has gone on to join the team after recently graduating from high school.

The NGCDD is one of 56 developmental disabilities organizations established by law in every state. Its work is to assist I/DD persons and their families with self-advocacy and policy-making changes, Nielsen said.

Much of what it does is preferred to happen away from the spotlight to allow individuals with disabilities to speak for themselves.

Helping them to understand their rights and educate them on how to bring change in medical or technological development, city regulations or human perceptions of disabilities is an essential function.

“We know that nothing here is equal or fair, and it certainly isn’t built the way that it should be built,” Nielsen said. “So we’re really here to help be that vessel and make sure there are no barriers to their ability to do that.”

Nielsen, who lives in Carson City with her husband and three children, was diagnosed with epilepsy and multiple sclerosis. Her husband also has severe epilepsy, she said. She said she uses her experience as a catalyst to motivate others.

“I’ve tried to share a lot of our story to make other people like they’re not alone in this,” she said.

During the 2025 legislative session, three of the most important pieces the council asked lawmakers to consider was to strengthen guardianship support, to allow facilities to have cameras and for individuals to have cameras in their bedrooms to prevent abuse if they choose and a paid family caregiver act to go into effect in 2028 to allow families at home to receive the same pay as a non-family member if they receive training.

Nielsen said the council now is working on its next five-year plan to guide its work to determine funding and service needs for I/DD persons. Families often have questions about federal or state laws, Medicare, insurance, mobile therapy, telehealth or recreational opportunities. Lack of providers is prevalent in Nevada’s rural communities, Nielsen said.

The council held a series of town halls in 2024 and 2025 with 191 people attending, including 35 individuals with I/DD, 89 family members and 67 professionals who work within the I/DD community. After receiving input, the plan provides a list of recommendations to address barriers for families, according to Nielsen.

The documentary has had wide-reaching success. To have been eligible for the Emmys, it had to be shown throughout the community in the competition year. Nielsen said it has received encouraging feedback. The NGCDD has a future project in mind focused on children to appeal to their natural curiosity and answer questions about I/DD persons on their level, Nielsen said.

“We’ve had nothing but positive and amazing accolades,” Nielsen said. “We’ve had (the documentary) shown at universities and elementary schools and really, we’re truly trying to educate the next generation to say this is what the world looks like. The Emmys was just kind of the icing on the cake for us for this.

“And I think it’s really starting to open people’s eyes to the fact that there are so many different people in this world, and it’s a beautiful world.”

‘OUR WORLD IN OUR WORDS’ EMMYS

Diversity/Equity/Inclusion – Short Form or Long Form Content: Chris Casaceli, Max Georgeson

Audio Recording, Mixing and Design: Chris Casaceli, Max Georgeson, Will Casaceli

Editor – Long Form Content: Chris Casaceli

Photographer – Long Form Content: Chris Casaceli