A Griffith High School Student earned second place in Indiana for the National History Day competition. With Natalie Wadkins’ talent, dedication, and passion for the topic, she was able to create an informative documentary about Kitty Cone and the history of Section 504.
The process of creating a piece of work as lengthy as a documentary is not easy. Before deciding to make a project about Kitty Cone and 504’s, she had been looking into autism and other disabilities. “At first, I was interested in exploring autism and other intellectual disabilities because of my involvement in best buddies,” she said. “But while researching, I came across the 504 sit in–something I have never heard of before.” Wadkins chose this topic not just because she found it interesting, but because she wanted to explore voices in history that she was not yet familiar with.
However, choosing a topic is only the first step of the many decisions she needed to make. Before putting the documentary together, Wadkins created a script consisting of the history and impact Kitty Cone had on disability rights. Wadkins was able to create an informative documentary by including news coverage, audio recordings, documents, and old interviews in her script. “I incorporated impactful narration, historical quotes, visual elements, and emotionally resonant audio to create a strong emotional connection for viewers while maintaining historical accuracy and structure,” Wadkins said.
Wadkins’ goal behind choosing such a topic was to give everyone who watches her documentary a new insight on inclusivity and people with disabilities. Wadkins said, “I believe in building a world where everyone feels seen and valued, and this documentary was a way for me to use my voice to encourage that choice.” She also added that the documentary is personal for her, as she works with students with 504 plans and IEPs.
As nationals are coming up in Washington, D.C. on June 8th, Wadkins continues to improve her documentary for the competition. Wadkin’s hard work will hopefully pay off as it did when she earned 2nd place in Indiana.
