Director Amber Sealey: “It’s so important and crucial that we have all sets be accessible”

When Producer Peter Saraf’s daughter first read Sharon M. Draper’s “Out of My Mind,” she pitched it to him as a movie. Ten years later, “Out of My Mind” premiered at Sundance Film Festival and is now available on Disney+, reaching a new audience with a powerful message of inclusion and acceptance.

“Out of My Mind” is not just a coming-of-age film but an authentic and relatable story for the millions of children and young adults with disabilities. The situations that Melody faces are based on real-life experiences commonly encountered by disabled pre-teens and teenagers, as well as their parents and teachers.

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For tens of thousands of Americans with disabilities, working a full day for less than a dollar an hour is a harsh reality. But it’s one that we have the power to change.

The Transformation to Competitive Integrated Employment Act (TCIEA) H.R.1263 and S.533 is a landmark piece of legislation that aims to create a more equitable workforce for people with disabilities. Its primary goal is to end the outdated practice of paying subminimum wages to persons with disabilities through sheltered workshops that operate under Section 14 (c) of the Fair Labor Standards Act. This provision allows employers to obtain a 14(c) certificate, permitting them to pay workers with disabilities less than the federal minimum wage.

Sheltered workshops often isolate disabled people from the rest of the workforce. According to a 2023 U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) report, more than half of these workers earn less than $3.50 per hour, with some making as little as $0.25 per hour. This practice affects approximately 42,000 persons with disabilities across the United States. The TCIEA seeks to change this by creating pathways for persons with disabilities to transition into competitive, integrated employment, where they can receive equal pay and access real opportunities for job development, training, and career advancement. [continue reading…]

Companies are constantly trying to reach their target audience through emails, text messages, TV commercials, social media posts, and targeted ads that pop up on our screens. As a society, we are flooded with marketing messages, but what sets inclusive marketing apart?

Inclusive marketing ensures that a brand’s products and services apply to or benefit all people, regardless of race, gender, ethnicity, religion, ability, sexuality, or social class. It begins with recognizing the need to understand and showcase unique and diverse perspectives and it is a way in which businesses and their consumers can connect on a more personal level. It is also crucial to promote social equality. [continue reading…]

Series Production Team Includes Variety of Neurodivergent Writers, Production Staff, Animators, Advisors, and Voice Talent

PBS Kids has a history of ensuring authentic inclusion in its series. Its newest show Carl the Collector not only continues this pattern but elevates it. The 2D animated series, aimed at 4-to-8-year-olds, features Carl, a warm-hearted autistic raccoon who enjoys collecting things, and his woodland creature friends including Lotta, a quiet and self-assured fox who is also autistic.

By featuring two autistic characters, viewers can better understand that autistic individuals are not all the same. Carl pays extraordinarily close attention to detail and comes up with unique ideas that others might not consider. His collections help him solve problems. While Carl is sensory seeking, Lotta experiences hypersensitivity to loud sounds, powerful smells, and certain food textures. Lotta also has exceptional talents in art and music. [continue reading…]

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…]

Washington, D.C. – Disability Belongs™ is the proud recipient of the 2024 Moxie Award in the nonprofit category. The Moxie Awards recognize organizations that are “innovative, fearless, and willing to embrace risks.”

“I want to congratulate all of the other nominees and winners, and give our sincere thanks to the incredible judges, sponsors, and organizers of this year’s Awards,” said Ariel Simms, President and CEO of Disability Belongs™. “This recognition is even more special to us as we start our next chapter as Disability Belongs™, following an intentional rebranding process to put disability front and center in our name.”

Disability Belongs™ is honored to be recognized for its work transforming the conversation around disability to redefine harmful and ableist narratives that have not only contributed to systemic barriers but to societal isolation and stigmatization. Disability Belongs’ work emphasizes disability not as something to overcome but another part of human diversity. Disability cuts across all demographics and identities and is the one group that anyone can join at any time in their lives. [continue reading…]

When most people think about going to the polls to vote, they aren’t thinking about accessibility. But for the 61 million Americans with disabilities, accessibility is always on their minds.

The Current Landscape

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requires state and local governments and elected officials to ensure that people with disabilities have a full and equal opportunity to vote in all elections. However, a study by the Election Assistance Commission (EAC) during and after the 2022 elections found that 14% of voters with disabilities – approximately 2.2 million people – experienced difficulties voting. The EAC study concluded that if people with disabilities voted at the same rate as those without, there would be around two million more voters. [continue reading…]