Jason DaSilva’s New Film Tackles the Unpredictability of Multiple Sclerosis
February 22, 2022
Ian RuderAward-winning filmmaker and 2014 New Mobility Person of the Year Jason DaSilva’s new documentary chronicles his quest to understand why he got primary progressive multiple sclerosis. The 30-minute film Predicting My MS debuted Feb. 23 on the PBS science series NOVA.
DaSilva used the pause brought on by the pandemic to reach out to family members, doctors and researchers to better understand the disease and any possible causes in his personal history. The result is a fast-moving, informative and optimistic watch for anyone interested in MS or DaSilva’s work. “I went through every possibility and left no stone unturned,” he says.
DaSilva’s MS is unusually agressive, and he chronicled its progression in his 2013 documentary, When I Walk. Since then, he has directed more than a dozen documentaries and short films.
His 2018 documentary, The Disability Trap, chronicled the agonizing choices he and many others with disabilities face because of state-to-state differences in Medicaid. His dilemma was stark: Move to a Texas nursing home to be closer to his young son or keep living independently in New York City with excellent attendant care but no direct access to his son. He opted to remain in New York City, and his experience from the ordeal only motivated him more. “I want to keep telling the stories of other people with disabilities that are being affected by Medicaid,” he says. “That people with disabilities who are on Medicaid have to be locked in by where they live is crazy to me.”
In 2021, DaSilva’s nonprofit launched the AXS Film Fund to support creators of color with disabilities. The team behind Fire Through Dry Grass, the upcoming documentary from New Mobility’s 2021 People of the Year, was one of the fund’s first five award recipients. DaSilva is currently producing “When They Walk,” the final film in a trilogy focusing on his life with MS.
Predicting My MS premiered Feb. 23, on the PBS science series NOVA. You can watch the entire documentary below. Find out more about DaSilva and his work at axslab.org.
Photo by Charlie Samuels.
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I was diagnosed in 1996, before symptoms started. I am a pianist, suddenly unable to open my hands wide enough to get 8 keys. Nobody in my family had MS, nor my grandparents. Last year a cousin younger than me had MS, she is 40. I have primary progressive MS. I do not walk for the last 18 years, I was born in 1962. I have had 6 strokes and 1 heart attack.The Rebif (beta-1a) did very little to help me. The medical team did even less. After roughly five unending years of trauma in the family my MS developed into progressive. There have been many changes in the last 3 to 4 years. Many falls, many fractured bones, and three moves all in five years. I have gone downhill. Considerably. We tried every shot available but nothing was working. There has been little if any progress in finding a reliable treatment for Multiple Sclerosis, I started on MS Herbal Treatment from Kycuyu Health Clinic, the herbal treatment immensely helped my Multiple Sclerosis condition, i had huge improvements. Go to kycuyuhealthclinic. com. My life is back. I Adhere anyone reading this to try natural approach.
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