While “Out of My Mind” is a coming-of-age film that will appeal to everyone, it means so much more for the millions of children and young adults with disabilities. The scenarios that Melody Brooks encounters are based off real-life experiences that disabled pre-teens and teenagers – and their parents and teachers – often encounter. Learn more about the film, streaming now on Disney+!
The PBS animated series Carl the Collector, aimed at 4-to-8-year-olds, features Carl, a warm-hearted autistic raccoon who enjoys collecting things, and his woodland creature friends including Lotta, a quiet ad self-assured fox, who is also autistic. The production team includes a variety of neurodiverse writers, production staff, animators, advisors, and voice talent.
The USC Annenberg Inclusion Initiative report, “Inequality in 1,700 Popular Films,” found that just 2.2% of all speaking characters in the top 100 films of 2023 were shown with a disability, which is virtually identical to both 2022 (1.9%) and 2015 (2.4%).
For the first time, there is a large-scale report providing quantifiable data regarding the lack of accessibility at film festivals for disabled filmmakers and attendees. The Film Event Accessibility Scorecard is a virtual questionnaire form containing 70 questions that touch upon event attendance experience and recommendations. Between July 22, 2022 and November 20, 2023, 353 [click to continue...]
“Looking at two different UCLA Hollywood Diversity Report studies released in March and May of this year, just 7.1% of theatrical film actors and 4.7% of streaming film actors have a disability. This is in comparison to 26% of the U.S. population.”
“Going blind didn’t affect me in a negative way. I can relate to Peggy’s life because it is pretty much how mine is. When I went blind, I actually started to live. I was doing things that I had not done before.” – Maliaka Mitchell, Voice of Peggy
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5CbUPzq-CwM Roma Murphy has written a variety of content – from short-form comedic digital content to children’s animation – but when working on others’ projects, she was asked to write nondisabled characters. As a writer for Easterseals Disability Film Challenge’s One Night Stand, Murphy had the opportunity to go in a new direction. “This is [click to continue...]
Park City, Utah, Jan 31 – The first 10 minutes of Benjamin Ree’s documentary “Ibelin” is a story about a family coming to terms with loss after their son and brother passes away at 25 from Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy. However, as the film goes on, viewers realize that “Ibelin” is actually a story about the [click to continue...]
Park City, Utah, Jan 31 – The Sundance hit “Frida” takes viewers through the famed painter’s life and how her acquired disability plays a role throughout Frida Kahlo’s life. As a teenager, she wanted to become a doctor. After acquiring her disability, she found fulfillment in painting. In the opening moments, viewers hear an actor [click to continue...]
Park City, Utah, Jan 31 – As “Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story” premiered during the 2024 Sundance Film Festival, audience members were visibly holding back tears, being pulled into the story of not just Christopher Reeve but also his family. The lives of the mother of his first two children, his wife, and his three [click to continue...]
