With his tale on video, James can see it whenever he wants and so can the greater community. Most bank procedures involve the written word, the use of banking jargon or a combination of the two, both of which may be hard for a person with a developmental disability. Video can be used instead of the written word to express concerns and show what needs to be learned about banking. Video use makes opportunities for sharing concerns and problem solving. Given the government's concern with personal responsibility, participatory video could help people with developmental disabilities take control of their lives.
Video can also help people share stories, thus increasing self-esteem and community connnection.
In actual fact, it is the process of the video use that accomplishes so much. In 1967, Donald Snowden, then of Memorial University, introduced the use of video for community change. In what is now called the Fogo Process, Snowden made a video series about poverty from the perspective of those who experienced it. In 35 screenings, they showed these interviews to over half of the 5,000 Fogo Island inhabitants. Through watching the video, community members became aware of shared problems.