NEW MEDIA | disabilityinfilm1

FILM

The Scottish film Afterlife stares disabled actress Paula Sage. The film shows the story of a brother whose mother can no longer care for his sister. He must choose between his career or caring for his sister. This film definitely plays on Dolmage’s myth of the ethical test for the brother. But, the film stares a disabled actress. It is good to note that the film was low budget and found difficulty finding the money to pay the other actors (Stewart).

TV

"Twice as many characters with disabilities will appear on broadcast television this year as compared to last, a new report finds, though they still account for just 1 percent of those depicted.

Out of 796 characters appearing regularly on 109 scripted, prime-time shows this year on ABC, CBS, NBC, Fox and The CW, eight have disabilities, up from four last year.

Despite the increase, advocates lamented the fact that actors with disabilities are still rarely cast to play the parts that do exist, particularly on broadcast television.

“When it comes to broadcast television, characters with disabilities are mostly represented by the non-disability community, while casting for disability roles on cable television is certainly more progressive: at least half of all scripted characters on cable with disabilities are portrayed by performers with disabilities,” said Anita Hollander, chair of the actors’ union SAG-AFTRA’s National Performers with Disabilities Committee, in the report which her group helped GLAAD prepare"(Heasley).

Matt Fraser discussing disability in American Horror Story: Freak Show

Rj Mitte discussing disability in Breaking Bad

Janine Martella, Director, Committees and Conferences for the ANA (Association of National Advertisers):

“there’s a very inclusive feeling in all of the finalist ads this year. They don’t just focus on a person or people with disabilities. The ads show that these people are part of family and friends of all abilities and within a larger multicultural community.”

“People’s perception of disabilities has changed and a disability can be defined more broadly, such as visible or invisible. There’s now a comfort level recognizing that people with disabilities are in our everyday lives; It’s not just about the people with the disability, it’s also about the people around them. Some advertisers are inclusive in their DNA, by that I mean we continue to hear more about brands recognizing and supporting people with disabilities, and their families, within their own organizations. Advertisers minds’ have been opened in regards to this category and it shows in their marketing efforts. For advertisers, inclusion of people with disabilities opens up a market segment that people may not have paid attention to” (Loebner).