Park City, January 17 – In 2020, filmmaker and disability advocate Juliet Romeo reached out to Slamdance co-founder Peter Baxter, stressing the need for a program for and by disabled filmmakers. Conversations turned to action and Slamdance Unstoppable was born. In 2021, the virtual Slamdance Film Festival included a showcase of disability-inclusive short films. In 2023, Slamdance Unstoppable, which included both short and feature films, aired both in-person and virtually. This year, all Slamdance Unstoppable films will screen in both Park City and Salt Lake City.
Uplifting and amplifying stories by disabled filmmakers is vital due to the disproportionately low representation of disability in the entertainment industry both in front of and behind the camera. In a recent study by USC Annenberg, only 1.9% of all speaking characters in the top 100 grossing films of 2022 were portrayed as disabled, an incredibly small number compared to the 27% of the U.S. population that is Disabled. By showcasing this collection, the Slamdance Unstoppable block is helping to change these statistics. [continue reading…]
The holiday season is right around the corner, meaning we must start preparing ways to make it fun and accessible for all. The best way to make it enjoyable for everyone is to ensure everyone who attends the holiday celebration is included!
Many holidays are filled with expectations—rules about how to look and act that everyone seems to just know, everyone except for me. At least, this is how I have often felt as a high-masking and late-diagnosed/discovered Autistic person. Christmas has always been one of my favorite holidays, but it has also been one of the most challenging. I was raised Roman Catholic; when the Advent wreath was placed on my church’s altar, I knew that the most wonderful time of the year was finally here! The weeks leading up to Christmas were much better than the holiday itself, but I have only recently begun to understand why the majority of my childhood Christmases ended with me in tears. Growing up, my neurodivergence was undetected and misunderstood. This resulted in a lack of adequate support and accommodations, which made special occasions, like Christmas, especially difficult for me. 
December religious holidays and celebrations are natural opportunities for houses of worship to embrace practices that welcome and support people with disabilities in all aspects of the community. One of the most common questions we get is, “Our congregation wants to include disabled people, but where do we begin?”
In the Presidential election of 2020, 
RespectAbility is gearing up for a critical year in state legislative policy. With several key states carrying stalled bills over from 2023 into 2024, the first few months will bring significant opportunities for individuals with disabilities.
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services released its 
Monthly Employment Update for People with Disabilities
