The Quiet Cajuns

From Natasha Aymami of the Helen Keller National Center:

There is a film about the Usher Syndrome Type 1C that is genetically tied to the Acadian population. This film will feature Dan Arabie, a leader in the DeafBlind community in Louisiana and a very proud Cajun. It includes the Babineaux family that has a son with Usher Syndrome that hosts the annual Ush One See 5K, which is a non-profit organization to create awareness and raise funds for a potential cure to stop the vision loss aspect of Usher Syndrome Type 1C. It will also feature Dr. Jennifer Lentz’s research on USH1C. The film will be shown at the Acadiana Center of Arts in Lafayette Louisiana on March 12th at 5pm. It is a FREE event.

Film Synopsis

The Quiet Cajuns: One Heritage. Two Generations. One Disease

There are hundreds of Cajuns who have never heard a fiddle waltz and who lose their vision because of a genetic quirk that came here with the Acadians over two centuries ago. This documentary tells the story of Acadian Usher Syndrome, which has sprinkled many Cajun family trees with deafblind aunts, uncles and cousins. Documenting the genealogy of families like the LeJeunes, Babineauxs, Desormeauxs, Heberts and Benoits helped researchers uncover its molecular basis and bring us to the brink of a cure. Now technology, services and education are eliminating isolation, thus setting yet another vibrant culture on the path to assimilation.

Trailer

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OgmAR2JAjjg