Children’s Content Lab for Disabled TV Creators

Meet the 2022 Lab Fellows

RespectAbility’s newest Lab will provide education and training for disabled TV writers, animators, and creative executives interested in preschool and children’s television and streaming content.

Supported by Netflix’s Fund for Creative Equity, the Children’s Content Lab will span five weeks and include programming by New York-based production partners 9 Story Media Group and Silvergate Media.

October 17 – November 17, 2022, Hybrid in New York City and Via Zoom
Fellows must provide proof of COVID-19 vaccination and booster to participate or have a medical reason for why they cannot be vaccinated. There may be regular testing requirements to attend in-person events.

Join us for:

• Presentations, roundtables, and other workshops with high-level executives and talent from major studios, networks, and production companies
• Informal networking with your cohort
• Project workshops and talent showcase
• 1:1 mentorship

RespectAbility provides ASL interpreters and captioning for all educational and related networking events, and welcomes other accommodations requests. For questions pertaining to the Children’s Content Lab, please contact Lab@RespectAbility.org.

Important Details for Lab Applicants

• Participants should exhibit leadership skills to complete their own projects.
• A bachelor’s degree is not required as long as applicants have acquired the skills needed for their chosen career path in another way.
• Commitment for all sessions of the five-week Lab.
• The value of this Lab is thousands of dollars. However, there is no cost to apply for or participate in this competitive program.
• While people at all income levels are encouraged to apply, extra consideration will be given to people on SSI, SNAP, and TANF.
• Up to 15 candidates will be selected for the Lab.
• Must be located in the New York City area or have the desire to move to NYC.
• Application materials will be evaluated by RespectAbility staff members as well as faculty advisors who are experts in each field, which may include executives from participating production companies.

At-A-Glance Schedule:

Week 1: In-person sessions at 9 Story Media Group and Silvergate Media. Possible topics include: production company’s hiring process, DEIA initiatives, writing.

Weeks 2-4: Virtual evening workshops for peer review and feedback, and mentorship meetups. Additional virtual sessions include: Disability Inclusion Training; When and How to Disclose Your Disability; and individual virtual resume and bio reviews.

Week 5: In-person industry Talent Exhibition with script table reads and an animator’s showcase. Graduation Dinner.

Alumni Initiatives

• Monthly virtual networking session for alumni of all RespectAbility pipeline programing.
• Monthly events (combination of virtual and in-person) for all NYC Children’s Content Lab alumni featuring employers in this space.
• Ongoing career support and job opportunities.

Programmatic Team and Faculty Advisors

Kiah Amara Faculty Advisor Production Accessibility Coordinator, IndieVISIBLE Entertainment	Lauren Appelbaum Programmatic Team RespectAbility SVP, Communications and Entertainment & News Media	Danielle Pretsfelder Demchick Faculty Advisor Casting Director, DPD Casting
Vanni Le Programmatic Team RespectAbility Entertainment Outreach Program Manager	Noriko Louison Faculty Advisor Sr. Research and Curriculum Manager, 9 Story Media Group	Lesley Hennen Programmatic Team Entertainment Media Associate
Martine McDonald Faculty Advisor Narrative Change Consultant, Practice Wonder	Shea Mirzai Faculty Advisor Writer and Co-Chair, WGA Disabled Writers Committee	Jacquill Moss Programmatic Team Entertainment Media Program Coordinator
Isabella Vargas Programmatic Team Entertainment Media & Lab Apprentice	Delbert Whetter Faculty Advisor COO & Head of Business Affairs, Exodus Film Group	Diane J. Wright Faculty Advisor Screenwriter and DEIA-Certified Media Consultant

The Children’s Content Lab for Disabled TV Creators is made possible with the generous support of Netflix