Reimagining Hollywood: A New Lens on Disability Inclusion

Author: Easterseals Disability Services
Published: 2025/01/29
Publication Type: Findings
Topic: Photo and Film Casting - Publications List

Page Content: Synopsis - Introduction - Main

Synopsis: Explore the state of disability inclusion in Hollywood with this report from Easterseals, advocating for authentic representation and systemic change across the entertainment industry.

Why it matters: This report, Reimagining Hollywood: A New Lens on Disability Inclusion by Easterseals Disability Services, is both insightful and actionable for those interested in the intersection of disability and entertainment. Released during the Sundance Film Festival, it aggregates perspectives from disabled creatives, industry leaders, and a significant sample of disabled adults to paint a comprehensive picture of current disability representation in media. The findings underscore a significant representation gap, with only 40% of disabled adults feeling reflected in media, alongside a demand for authenticity as 74% of disabled consumers favor brands that genuinely include disability in advertising. The report highlights successful examples like "CODA" and "Crip Camp", the rise of production accessibility coordinators, and calls for systemic change in Hollywood. It serves as a vital resource not only for those within the entertainment industry but also for educators, policy makers, and consumers, especially seniors or individuals with disabilities, advocating for more inclusive, accurate, and diverse storytelling that can lead to broader societal benefits and business growth - Disabled World (DW).

Introduction

Reimagining Hollywood: A New Lens on Disability Inclusion - a look at the current state of disability representation across the entertainment industry - just released during the Sundance Film Festival by Easterseals Disability Services. Featuring insights from disabled creatives, industry leaders and a nationwide audience of 800 adults with disabilities, the report provides a behind-the-scenes look at the progress and pitfalls of disability inclusion and authentic storytelling in entertainment.

Findings shine a spotlight on both challenges and opportunities:

Main Item

Disabled talent, entertainment leaders and disability audience offer valuable insights and tangible calls-to-action to advance disability inclusion.

A new Easterseals Disability Services multi-media report, Reimagining Hollywood: A New Lens on Disability Inclusion, provides a comprehensive understanding of how disability inclusion is currently viewed in entertainment and media. While there have been positive steps forward, new data underscores the need for greater inclusion and authenticity in storylines and on-screen representation.

"For more than a decade, we've collaborated with the disability community, especially those working in entertainment, to reframe how disability is viewed by decision makers," said Nancy Weintraub, Chief Advancement Officer, Easterseals Southern California (ESSC). "This report is a follow up to our first in 2018. We wanted to understand how far we've come and how we need to improve. We must continue to break down preconceived notions about disability and further evolve our workplaces."

Reimagining Hollywood: A New Lens on Disability Inclusion provides a deep, honest understanding of the "lived" experiences from disabled creatives, outlining the challenges and unnecessary barriers they face trying to be heard and considered for work, while still pointing to bright spots and some real progress as a path forward.

For example, CODA is the first film with a predominantly Deaf cast to win an Academy Award for Best Picture; Ali Stroker makes history as the first actor who uses a wheelchair to win a Tony Award for Best Performance for her lead role in Oklahoma; and, the documentary Crip Camp, about a summer camp for disabled teenagers, is picked up by Netflix and nominated for an Oscar.

Successes behind the camera are also laying the groundwork for what needs to happen next to advance disability inclusion across entertainment. Most significant is the emergence and adoption of production accessibility coordinators on some sets. It's no surprise that disabled talent are championing production accessibility coordinators, but even more encouraging is the feedback from industry leaders who have interacted with this role on set. They, too, believe accessibility coordinators are valuable and should become a consistent line-item for productions.

Key Insights

Talented disabled creators with growing platforms are building audiences and taking control of their own narrative; the industry, studios and networks should take notice, recognize and value these accomplishments; and understand they are missing out on an untapped audience with real buying power potential.

Entertainment and media have the opportunity to uplift and celebrate the diversity of the disability community. When they do, they'll not only win hearts and minds, but also grow a loyal audience, broaden viewership and increase revenue.

It's not just about any one genre or type of media - film, TV, streaming, digital content, audio, news, social media - disability belongs everywhere. Disabled people need to have a vocal seat at the table, working at every level, from assistants to executives and from background actors to leading roles.

"I don't just want to see a token disabled character in a movie or on television every once in a while. That's not true disability representation," said Emily Ladau, an author and media consultant. "Disabled people belong everywhere in the media industry - behind the scenes, informing every aspect of a media project, working at every level of a company. I want to see disabled people in the background, as supporting characters and in leading roles. Inclusion in Hollywood needs to be a movement and not a moment."

This multi-media report is informed by partnerships with Variety, TheWrap, Hollywood Radio & Television Society (HRTS) and Film Independent, to provide well-rounded perspectives from industry leadership and disabled talent. It included two listening sessions with dozens of disabled creatives to gather concrete calls-to-action Hollywood needs to take to shift the narrative about disability. It also provides perspectives from a nationwide disabled audience. Since 2020, Easterseals has commissioned three surveys* of American adults with disabilities about their perspectives on disability inclusion and authentic representation in media and entertainment, among other topical issues.

Key Findings

Bottom-line, this report reinforces the urgent need for entertainment and media industries to rewrite the script - to amplify disability inclusion is not only a moral imperative but a smart business strategy with wide-reaching benefits.

Easterseals Southern California

Easterseals Southern California is leading the way to full equity, inclusion and access through life-changing disability and community services. Easterseals Southern California provides essential services and on-the-ground supports to more than 19,000 people each year - from early childhood programs for the critical first five years, to autism services, daily and independent living services for adults, employment programs and more. Their public education, policy and advocacy initiatives positively shape perceptions and address the urgent and evolving needs of the one in four Americans with disabilities today.

Attribution/Source(s):
This quality-reviewed publication was selected for publishing by the editors of Disabled World (DW) due to its significant relevance to the disability community. Originally authored by Easterseals Disability Services, and published on 2025/01/29, the content may have been edited for style, clarity, or brevity. For further details or clarifications, Easterseals Disability Services can be contacted at easterseals.com. NOTE: Disabled World does not provide any warranties or endorsements related to this article.

Explore Similar Topics

- The 2025 Easterseals Disability Film Challenge opens Jan. 25, with the competition to be held April 1-6. The awards ceremony to be held May 8 at Sony Pictures Studios.

- Explore the state of disability inclusion in Hollywood with this report from Easterseals, advocating for authentic representation and systemic change across the entertainment industry.

Citing Information and Page References

Disabled World (DW) is a comprehensive online resource providing information and news related to disabilities, assistive technologies, and accessibility. Founded in 2004 our website covers a wide range of topics, including disability rights, healthcare, education, employment, and independent living, with the goal of supporting the disability community and their families.

Cite This Page (APA): Easterseals Disability Services. (2025, January 29). Reimagining Hollywood: A New Lens on Disability Inclusion. Disabled World (DW). Retrieved February 9, 2025 from www.disabled-world.com/communication/casting/reimagining-hollywood.php

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