RespectAbility Entertainment Professionals Lab 2024
Emma Layden
Emma Layden is a passionate writer from and living in New York City. She uses her experiences as a physically disabled woman to tell compelling, funny, and diverse stories. She and two of her sisters were born with an extremely rare neuromuscular condition known as multiple pterygium syndrome, Escobar variant. It’s a little like muscular dystrophy, a little like cerebral palsy, and it’s definitely a Miranda.
In 2017, Layden graduated from NYU’s Tisch School of The Arts with a degree in Dramatic Writing. Her credits include script work for Yu-Gi-Oh! VRAINS and writing an episode of the hit Netflix/Nickelodeon series, Sharkdog. She has assisted award-winning writer/director, David Shane, on several projects. Additionally, she produces and hosts a series on her Instagram called the “Disability Diaries,” in which she discusses her disability and things happening in the disability community; there have been more than 250 episodes. You also can catch Layden’s disability content on The Recount, where her videos have garnered hundreds of thousands of views.
Layden got her first period at the Barnes & Noble midnight release party of The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn. If you need to know one thing about her, it’s that.
Follow Layden & her #DisabilityDiaries @emmalayden!
Learn More
After an extensive search and interview process, 25 individuals were invited to participate in the Virtual Cohort of RespectAbility’s 2024 Entertainment Lab taking place May 7 – September 24, 2024. This 5-month Lab aims to develop and elevate the talent pipeline of disabled entertainment professionals working behind-the-scenes in television, film, and streaming, while connecting them with industry professionals and creatives. Participants include people with physical, cognitive, sensory, mental health, and other disabilities ranging in age from people in their 20’s through their 60’s. The Lab is a recipient of The Roddenberry Foundation Impact Award.
