Writers And Actors With Disabilities Host Picket Line Event To Advocate For Accurate On-Screen Representation

There were several numbers presented at a recent picket line event.

But, while the numbers, tell a story, they aren’t THE story.

This was precisely the message of the themed picket, entitled “Ramping Up: Bringing Disable Creatives Together.”

The cross union event, which featured members of both the WGA and SAG-AFTRA, took place at the Walt Disney
DIS
Studios in Burbank, CA.

The aforementioned numbers show that while disabled people make up 25% of the U.S. population, disabled writers make up less than 1% of the Writers Guild. When it comes to representation on-screen, only 3% of characters are portrayed as disabled, and of those roles, only 1-2% are played by performers who actually disabled.

Jamey Perry, a TV writer and actor who uses a wheelchair, and who serves as the vice chair of the WGA’s Disabled Writers Committee, pointed out that, “Hollywood tells our stories all the time. They love to tell our stories in a way that makes them feel good about themselves. [Our community] has a phrase for that — ‘inspiration porn.’”

But, about this approach, she says, “what do you call it when a society erects impossible barriers and then cheers for us when we somehow make it over? [That’s] not inspiring, it’s sadistic.”

Perry went on to ask the crowd, ‘Why does [this] matter? Particularly if you’re not disabled, why should you care.’

“Well, first of all, we’re humans. Just like the non-disabled world around us, we have the same thoughts and feelings. We deserve to be a part of this cultural conversation,” said Perry.

She also pointed out that, “You might not be disabled today, but you might be in an hour, and age comes for us all. If you live long enough, you will become disabled.”

Nicole Cyrille, who has a neuromuscular disability and has appeared on Grey’s Anatomy and Station 19, spoke about the trend of able-bodied actors portraying disabled characters, remarked, “There’s a saying our in community — play a disabled person, get an Oscar.”

What needs to happen, says Cyrille, is for disabled actors to get these roles they need to, at the very least, have access. “We can play anything, but guess what? We can’t get in the room. We’re not given auditions. We need to be let in the room.”

Actor Bret Green (Jane the Virgin, The Inspectors) spoke about his experience playing a disabled person on-screen, in a speech which, a bit surprisingly, featured Green calling himself out for having done so. “I am one of those able-bodied actors who played a character with a disability. I didn’t realize the harm that that might have to a certain community, and so I booked this role I thought could be a career-changing. I brought my shame and my guilt with me today. So, I’m just here standing in solidarity with these performers with disabilities. I think that they should have a chance to get in the room and continue to show off their amazing abilities.”

Other speakers included Konstantine Anthony, the mayor of Burbank, CA, who is the first diagnosed autistic mayor in the country, and Eileen Grubba, an actor (The Watchmen, New Amsterdam) and long-time disability advocate.

Cyrille, after speaking about the common occurrence of able-bodied people being patronizing and condescending to the those with visible disabilities, concluded that because of this, the disabled community needs to be seen on-screen because, “when we’re shown as our authentic selves, then the world knows how to treat us, and you know how that is? Just like everybody else.”

The WGA has been on strike since May 2, 2023. SAG-AFTRA begin their strike on July 13, 2023.