Hollywood Inclusion

Writer, actress, director, and producer (sometimes all at the same time), Rachel Handler is a powerhouse. She has a special way of packing a punch with her narrative shorts — most of which are under six minutes long — by providing windows into experiences that are normal to some but never before thought about by others.

Whether you are watching Andy and Kaliope, a capsule into the life of one of the 30-50% of children with disabilities waiting in the adoption system in the U.S. currently, or, her latest film, DERAILED, about the unique systemic barriers and romantic challenges faced by an amputee, you’ll find that these fresh perspectives work so effectively because they simultaneously appeal to experiences or emotions relatable to any viewer. At their heart, each film is about finding love and having the tools to thrive, things most everyone strives for in their own lives.

Handler, who became an amputee from a car accident in 2012, tells Disability Belongs™ that while there have been enormous health and mobility effects following her amputation, “the biggest struggles in my life come from the way society views disability and handles accessibility.” Her scripts grapple with these challenges for catharsis, likely, but also for reinvention and change. The more these kinds of stories are told, the more those in society realize what attitudes they should model after. [continue reading…]

Thomas Wiggins was a pianist with a success story for the ages — he performed at the White House for President James Buchanan and earned the equivalent of $12 million in today’s money through cross-continental tours and sheet sales (more than any pianist at the time). Yet, as a Black, blind and (presumably) autistic man, this success was all too easily stolen from him.

Wiggins’ life is the latest subject of “American Masters: Renegades,” a documentary series showcasing the lives and cultural contributions of little-known historical figures with disabilities. Each short is 12-minutes long and shines the spotlight on one individual. The crew telling these stories come with the background of being disabled, too, adding a layer of authenticity and a palpable sense of passion for bringing justice to these forgotten icons.

Born into slavery in Georgia in 1849, Wiggins and his family were bought at auction by James Neil Bethune. Even when the Emancipation Proclamation was signed by President Lincoln in 1863, declaring the freedom of all enslaved people, Wiggins was not let go of Bethune’s hold. Wanting to continue profiting off his musical talent, Bethune had Wiggins prosecuted under an “inquisition of idiocy,” which took the form of a guardianship that remained for the rest of Wiggins’ life. It also ensured that he never saw a single penny earned from his music career. [continue reading…]

As a disabled veteran who has navigated life with a spinal cord injury, watching “Brad Lomax: Creating Communities of Care” was a deeply moving experience. This documentary, part of the American Masters series, beautifully honors the legacy of Brad Lomax, a true pioneer in the disability rights movement.

Lomax’s life is the latest subject of “American Masters: Renegades,” a documentary series showcasing the lives and cultural contributions of little-known historical figures with disabilities. Each short is 12-minutes long and shines the spotlight on one individual.

It was such an honor to learn more about Brad’s story, which is one of resilience and unwavering commitment. His involvement with the Black Panther Party and his pivotal role in the 504 sit-in at the Federal Building in San Francisco in 1977 were instrumental in the fight for disability rights. This protest was a turning point, leading to the enforcement of Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, which eventually paved the way for the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. [continue reading…]

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When you give birth to your child, the possibility of them being taken away is not something that is typically considered, but parents with disabilities have a higher risk of that chance. About 20% of the children in the American foster care system have parents who have some type of disability. In 1975, a mother’s worst nightmare came true; Celestine Tate Harrington, who was diagnosed with Arthrogryposis Congenita, had her beautiful baby girl taken from her because the Philadelphia Department of Public Welfare deemed her unfit to be a parent after an anonymous call from a concerned neighbor. Her condition left her unable to use her limbs. However, Tate Harrington never let her disability prevent her from providing proper love and care for her children. She used the media to prove to the courts, and the world, that she was more than capable and worthy of motherhood.

Tate Harrington’s life is the latest subject of “American Masters: Renegades,” a documentary series showcasing the lives and cultural contributions of little-known historical figures with disabilities. Each short is 12-minutes long and shines the spotlight on one individual.

Tate Harrington used her lips, teeth, and tongue instead of her hands and feet to perform tasks such as dressing and changing her child, giving her a bottle, and even playing the electric keyboard and writing her own book. [continue reading…]

If the rules aren’t fair for everyone, then we must change them for the better.

“Dancing Rules,” the twenty-fourth episode of PBS Kids’ City Island, calls for the audience to consider how barriers to accessibility violate one of the most sacred values held by children – fairness.

City Island is a series of educational short-form animated videos, set in a city where every object is alive. The series follows Watt (Kimia Bephoornia), a living light-bulb, as he explores his home and helps everyone he meets. [continue reading…]

Brooklyn in “Jurassic World: Chaos Theory.” Season 2 is streaming now on Netflix.

DreamWorks Animation, Universal Pictures, and Amblin Entertainment’s “Jurassic World: Chaos Theory” picks up season two right where it left off, continuing its core themes of looking out for one another – whether it be a friend or a dinosaur – at any cost, and fighting for a version of the world you believe in. Airing on Netflix beginning October 17, the season is full of action, suspense and tender moments, as well as some laughs.

Strikingly, the last episode of season one had revealed that Brooklyn – the sixth member of “The Nublar Six,” a group of friends who survived Camp Cretaceous’ dinosaur-filled island together – was not dead like her friends and family had presumed. Brooklynn had been trying to investigate an underground dinosaur selling operation when things went awry. A dinosaur trained to attack came at her, biting off part of her arm. But luckily, a former DPW officer named Ronnie came to her rescue before anything further could happen.

Brooklynn’s journey as a new amputee following the attack, then, is central to the plot of the new season. And the Jurassic World: Chaos Theory team took care when weaving disability into the storyline.

Peter Lee, an amputee who first worked as a consultant and then transitioned to a permanent seat in the writers’ room, played a crucial role in getting it right. [continue reading…]

Many know book titles such as the “Bicentennial Man” or George Lucas’ “Star Wars,” but may not have heard about Judy Lynn del Rey. Del Rey was an editor and publisher that was instrumental in these two books as well as 65 other best sellers. Del Rey, who was born with dwarfism, started working at Galaxy Fiction and worked her way up to managing editor and then moved along to Ballantine Books and became vice president. In 1977, Del Rey received her own publishing company named Del Rey books and continued her triumph in the science fiction world through her critical feedback on the plot, language, and characters.

Del Rey’s life is the latest subject of “American Masters: Renegades,” a documentary series showcasing the lives and cultural contributions of little-known historical figures with disabilities. Each short is 12-minutes long and shines the spotlight on one individual. [continue reading…]

The short film POSSUM by Sophie Sagan-Gutherz, directed and co-written by Daisy Rosato, is a satirical horror about five young adults at an artist retreat. Going into this film, I had no idea what to expect, but I found it to be a creative and unique visualization of how people figure out their true beliefs and the impact this process can have on the people around them.

The five characters—Hadley, Blaze, Annabella, Pinecone, and Tilly—play a game at the beginning of the movie called “Werewolf.” In this game, one person is the werewolf, one is the seer, one is the victim, and the rest are the townsfolk. What I found interesting about this scene is how it foreshadows the larger themes of the movie, suggesting that anyone could be the killer just as easily as they could be the victim. [continue reading…]

Nora Onanian

This past spring, like a game of telephone, my exciting news that I would be able to attend the 2024 Paris Paralympics spread, and was, well… misconstrued. On more than one occasion, I got a text from a friend of my grandma’s, or a peer at school, where the person wished me well in my “big swimming competition.” Either my 90-pound, scrawny physique gives off that of an Olympic athlete, or, many people are unfamiliar with how big of a deal it is to qualify for the Paralympics. The athletic competition is on a global stage, with—not some of, but—the most talented athletes of our time.  

While my once a week swim practice through Adaptive Sports New England is something I enjoy, and take moderately seriously, it is certainly not enough training for an athletic career of Paralympic heights. What those Sunday mornings spent in the pool did do for me, however, was provide an interesting perspective on how the public engages with para-athletes and disability more broadly.

The first swimming competition I entered as an amputee was last March. Organized through Move United—an affiliate of the Paralympic Games—, it was unlike anything I had ever experienced. I don’t think I’ve been in the same room with as many fellow disability community folk, let alone been treated so “normally” (in my opinion, there is no such thing as “normal”) despite my body moving differently than people are used to. Seriously, not a single person batted an eye at my scars, limb difference or anything else I would normally mentally prepare myself for when getting on the diving board at my high school swim meets, or entering any room full of able-bodied people. [continue reading…]