The documentary film The Ride Ahead follows Samuel Habib, a typical twenty-one-year-old, itching to move out, start a career, and find love. On his journey into adulthood, he talks to “badass disabled adults” who mentor him and give advice that is not only applicable to Samuel, but to any young disabled people starting adulthood.

Created by Emmy Award-winners Samuel and father Dan Habib, The Ride Ahead is currently streaming for free on the PBS website and app through September 19 as part of the POV series.

In a behind-the-scenes feature about the film, Samuel says, “We created this documentary… so that young adults with disabilities will feel more seen and heard and find their own mentors.”

At the 2025 Smithsonian Folklife Festival, we had the pleasure of hosting a screening of The Ride Ahead in the National Museum of American History with a talkback afterward featuring Samuel, Dan, and one of his mentors, disability studies scholar Ly Xīnzhèn M. Zhǎngsūn Brown.

“The [Youth and the Future of Culture] program is animated by three interconnected themes: Here Are Our Worlds, Engaging Tradition, and The World We Want,” lead curator Michelle Banks explained at the screening. “Samuel’s film embodies all of those themes, which is why it’s very much timely as well as very important to this Festival program.”  

Missed the screening? Stream the film on the PBS website!

Tori Baker is the accessibility assistant for the Smithsonian Folklife Festival. She coordinated the accessibility services for the Ride Ahead screening at the Festival.