Washington, D.C., Feb. 1 – As we celebrate Black History Month, which takes place every February, RespectAbility recognizes the contributions made and the important presence of African Americans in the United States. It is important to note this includes more than 5.5 million African Americans living with a disability.

Some celebrities and business leaders are using their voice to share their stories, educating people about both visible and nonvisible disabilities. They are defying the statistics and have remained highly successful with their disabilities. These role models make a big difference in setting high expectations for youth with disabilities. People with disabilities of all backgrounds can be amongst the highest achievers on earth. Harriet Tubman had Epilepsy, actress Halle Berry lives with diabetes, business leader and Shark Tank superstar Daymond John is dyslexic and Stevie Wonder is blind. Poet laureate Amanda Gorman, who had a speech impediment, shared her genius both at the 2021 inauguration and at the Super Bowl. Each of them is a positive role model for success. They are perfect candidates for RespectAbility’s #RespectTheAbility campaign, which is shining a light on individuals with disabilities who are succeeding in their chosen careers. [continue reading…]

Washington, D.C., January 31 – At the opening press conference of the 114th Winter Meeting of the National Governors Association (NGA), Gov. Asa Hutchinson of Arkansas addressed the historical upward trend in labor participation rate for working-aged people with disabilities.

“There is great opportunity to improve the lives and productivity of those with disabilities,” said Gov. Hutchinson. Gov. Hutchinson, who is also responsible for leading NGA in the year ahead, pointed out the profound value of acting “whenever we can make digital access a tool” to create new opportunities.

As of the final quarter of 2021, the labor force participation rate for working-aged people with disabilities is now 2 full percentage points higher than it was before COVID-19. This means that people with disabilities are working in higher numbers than before the pandemic. As employers struggle to fill millions of open jobs across America and in many sectors, people with disabilities remain a fantastic talent pool. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, people with disabilities now have a 35.6 percent labor force participation rate, compared to 76.1 percent for those without disabilities. Thus, Governors who adopt a focused strategy for getting more people with disabilities into the workforce can dramatically grow success in their states. [continue reading…]

Courtesy Of Sundance Institute | Photo By Chris Witt

Los Angeles, CA, January 28 – “892” is a film that stands out with beautiful cinematography, strong characters, and a powerful message. Recently making its debut at the 2022 Sundance Film Festival, the film tells the true story of Marine veteran and father, Brian Brown-Easley, and his experiences with PTSD, schizophrenia, and paranoia while living in a $25 daily-rate motel in Atlanta, GA, and a system that failed him.

“I have to tell my story.” These words said by Brown-Easley couldn’t be more true, and he will get his wish with “892,” which highlights the valuable lessons the audience will learn after watching it.

Leading actor John Boyega gives a masterclass performance as Brian Brown-Easley, taking us through the various stages of his moods: paranoia, shyness, rage, and so much more. One of the sad moments for me was realizing this was actor Michael K. Williams’ last role, who tragically passed away in September 2021. In the film, Michael K. Williams played Eli Bernard, a Marine veteran, who now leads a law enforcement team that is called to the Wells Fargo Bank that Brown-Easley is holding hostage to gain media attention to share his story. Eli was one of the few people in this film that showed an understanding with Brown-Easley that not many others can relate to. [continue reading…]

Toolkit to be featured at “Rising Stars” Event celebrating Jewish Disability Action and Inclusion Month

Download the Toolkit

Los Angeles, CA, January 27 – RespectAbility, an organization that fights stigmas and advances opportunities so people with disabilities can fully participate in all aspects of community, is debuting a new toolkit that will equip Jewish individuals and organizations with the best strategies to promote the full inclusion and participation of Jews with disabilities in all aspects of Jewish life.

The Jewish Disability Inclusion toolkit is available on RespectAbility’s website now and will be featured at RespectAbility’s celebratory event in honor of Jewish Disability Action and Inclusion Month on February 20, 2022, at 4 p.m. PT / 7 p.m. ET. The “Rising Stars” event will pair information about the toolkit with a showcase of some of RespectAbility’s talented speakers with disabilities from the Jewish community.

“The Jewish Disability Inclusion toolkit is a comprehensive resource which brings together not only RespectAbility’s near decade of work on this issue, but the work of key partners including Howard Blas, Gateways: Access to Jewish Education, and Matan,” said Matan Koch, Vice President for Workforce, Leadership and Faith Programs at RespectAbility. “It is an example of the new paradigm of collaboration sweeping the Jewish disability inclusion community.” [continue reading…]

Los Angeles, CA, Jan. 27 – “I Didn’t See You There” is the first feature-length documentary from award-winning Disabled filmmaker, Reid Davenport. Premiering at the 2022 Sundance Film Festival, the powerful film immerses viewers into the day-to-day perspective of a wheelchair user, asking its audience to grapple with the way Disabled people are seen by the world, and thus how Disabled people see the world around them.

Perhaps the film’s most effective choice is that Davenport himself is almost never seen on-camera, save for a few quick glimpses in a window reflection, or his hands entering frame to pour a drink or grab a nearby object. This allows Davenport to show the audience how he sees the world without having to feel like an on-screen spectacle, which in itself is a strong commentary on how Disabled people historically have been viewed and treated by society.

“I wanted to make a film about how I saw the world,” Davenport narrates at the opening of the film. “I thought if I stayed firmly behind the camera, I could show you how I see, without having to be seen.” [continue reading…]

“They tried to bury me, they didn’t realize I was a seed.” – Sinead O’Connor

Sinead O’Connor

Los Angeles, CA, Jan. 27 – In her debut feature film, Nothing Compares, director Kathryn Ferguson explores the tumultuous early career of singer-songwriter turned pop icon, Sinead O’Connor. The film expertly weaves together a combination of archival footage, cinematic re-enactments, and exclusive audio interviews with a number of prominent activists, experts, and musicians including Kathleen Hanna (Bikini Kill, Le Tigre), Peaches, Chuck D (Public Enemy), and more (including O’Connor herself) to dive into the way O’Connor was portrayed by the media during the late 1980s and early 1990s.

A recurring theme throughout the film is mental health – a theme that feels especially timely, given O’Connor’s recent hospitalization after her son’s death, just weeks before the film’s debut. As a survivor of both physical and emotional abuse, O’Connor always has openly discussed her journey with mental illness over the years. [continue reading…]

Dakota Johnson appears in CHA CHA REAL SMOOTH by Cooper Raiff. Courtesy of Sundance Institute.

Los Angeles, Jan. 27 – In the first big buy of the 2022 Sundance Film Festival, Apple has purchased Cooper Raiff’s Cha Cha Real Smooth for $15 million. This feature film, which premiered at the festival, is noteworthy in many ways. The first word that comes to mind when describing Cha Cha Real Smooth is “honest.” Other reviews agree. For example, IndieWire’s David Ehrlich called this film a “disarmingly honest indie about feeling lost in your own life.” Truthfulness emanates from every character. The film follows Andrew (Raiff), a charismatic Bar Mitzvah party starter who quickly befriends Domino (Dakota Johnson) and her middle school-aged autistic daughter, Lola (Vanessa Burghardt). Burghardt was authentically cast; this is her first professional production. [continue reading…]

In some African countries, a complete skeleton of albinos can be exchanged for up to $75,000.

Courtesy of Sundance Institute | photo by Moïse Togo.

Los Angeles, CA, Jan 24 – “$75,000” is a 14-minute short film that immediately captivates the viewer. Spoken in rhythmic first-person voice overs in the languages of Bamabara, Fon, and Yoruba with English subtitles, the narration is based on actual testimonies collected by writer/director Moïse Togo.

Focusing on the physical and moral conditions of people living with albinism in Africa, Togo said he was touched by the story of a 5-year-old girl with albinism who was kidnapped and killed.

“I felt the need to express myself on this phenomenon,” he said during a Q&A following the international short documentary’s premiere at 2022 Sundance Film Festival. [continue reading…]

Los Angeles, CA, Jan. 21 – With one-in-five people having a disability in the U.S. today, the lack of representation – just 2.3 percent of characters in the 100 top-grossing films of 2019 and 8 percent in family films – means that millions of people are unable to see themselves reflected in media.

The 2022 Sundance Film Festival (January 20 – 30) will provide an opportunity for audiences with various disabilities to see themselves represented – all from the comfort of their homes through the virtual festival site. This year, several films feature disability in the plot, including 892, 75,000, Cha Cha Real Smooth, Chilly and Milly, I Didn’t See You There, and Sharp Stick, among others. [continue reading…]