Doodling for Democracy
A mother and her artist son, who has Autism's, inside story of how their beloved disability community is becoming a voting powerhouse.
Doodling for Democracy is a documentary-in-the-making. It’s about a mother and her artist son, who has Autism, who tell the inside story of how their beloved community is becoming a voting powerhouse. When finished, our film will take you behind the scenes of the largest voting community in the US - people with disabilities and our allies.
From now until the 2026 midterm elections the Doodling for Democracy production crew and partners will host local nonpartisan events across the Southeast and Mid-Atlantic regions. We will preview and discuss scenes from the documentary-in-progress, make advocacy art together and learn the latest voting rules and strategies to get out the vote.
Our aim is to increase the disability vote, first time voter participation, and every eligible voter's access to all voting opportunities.
We hope you’ll join us in this exciting project.
The Doodling for Democracy Team
Help Us Finish the Film!
Your donation supports production, accessibility features, and our community outreach and voter education tour.
Contributing to Zeffy is optional. If you select "Other" you can enter $0-to your chosen amount.
_edited.jpg)
“People with disabilities are the sleeping tiger in American politics.”
“They represent a large and growing portion of the electorate, and they could make a critical difference in the outcome of this and future elections.”
Professor Lisa Schur, Co-Director of the Rutgers Program for Disability Research.
Doodling for Democracy: The Documentary
Derek, diagnosed with autism at an early age, brought his parents into the overwhelming world of disability professionals steeped in low expectations. We follow Derek and his mom, Teresa, as they navigate the fraught transition to independence familiar to millions of disability families.
As a young adult man Derek is driven with an ambition to become an artist and voting advocate. Teresa struggles to find a community that sees his potential while doubting she will ever be able to let him go.
In 2020, just before the Presidential election, Teresa comes upon Georgia’s disabled voting advocacy community who recognizes Derek’s art as an asset in their grassroots voter education campaigns. Derek’s mentors see that his art makes democracy more accessible by unlocking the emotional truth of the value of voting. Derek and his beloved community have been increasing voters among those who have felt left out of the democratic process ever since.
In 2025, Derek mentors John Lewis High School students in “Art for Advocacy”. Together they travel to Selma Alabama to walk in the footsteps of John Lewis across the Edmond Pettus Bridge and learn about how young John Lewis championed voter education for those who had only recently won the right to vote.
2026, another election year, finds Derek and Teresa sharing their story and educating voters in communities across the Southeast and Mid=Atlantic regions igniting a movement showcasing the power of the disability vote.
Documentary
Coming in 2027 🎬
Doodling for Democracy The Events
In partnership with the Doodling for Democracy Voter Education Coalition we are offering free, in-person sneak peaks of scenes from the documentary-in-progress, followed by discussion, art making, voter education, and other voting-related activities designed by local communities.
Event participants will be invited to make artistic contributions to our documentary project.
See the Events Calendar for an event near you or contact doodlingfordemocracy@gmail.com if you would like to host an event.
Derek's Doodles
A glimpse into the colorful world of Derek Heard. Each piece tells a story of
hope and civic engagement.
I am more than diagnosis
Drawn image of Derek standing with arm and fist raised and words I am more than with red arrow pointing to diagnosis in small font below a stack of different colored words saying: Advocate Teacher Graphic Designer Business Owner Voter Speaker Brother Son Man Artist. Derek's Doodles logo in bottom right
Shackled Vote
Pair of shackled black man's arms with fists clutching a vote document signed by Derek Heard
_edited.jpg)
All votes matter!
Derek's Doodles logo at top left with orange banner the states, ALL VOTES MATTER! with silloughette of multicolored images of people gathered.
Follow the Journey
Feed from our instagram @instagram.doodlingfordemocracy
