Disabled talent often face limited opportunities for education and job opportunities, leading to underrepresentation. This not only limits the prospects of disabled individuals but also has a negative impact on the broader economy.
The path to a career in the creative industries typically involves completing university but due to the combination of physical, social, and financial barriers it is challenging for disabled individuals to enroll in higher education. The other path is participating in internships or entry-level roles such as production assistants or runners. Many of these entry level roles often require physical tasks such as carrying heavy equipment, standing for long hours, and driving. While stamina is important in certain positions, it should not be the sole criterion for hiring and should not be the narrow route into such a vast industry. This exclusion from entry-level jobs limits the opportunities for disabled individuals to gain industry experience.
To address this issue, companies must invest in the future of work for disabled creatives and participate in their education. By providing the necessary resources and support for disabled people to pursue careers in the creative industries, we can help to close the employment gap between disabled and non-disabled individuals and create a more level playing field. Benefiting the disabled community and have positive economic and societal impacts.
Many of the traditional educational institutes focus on theoretical knowledge and academic research, which often does not align with the practical skills required in the job market. Graduates can often find themselves struggling to secure a job that matches their qualifications or in a role that they feel unprepared for.
There have been many in-front of the camera breakthroughs for disability representation in recent years such as Mattel’s 2023 Fashionistas collection that introduced a doll with Down syndrome, Troy Kotsur's win for Best Supporting Actor making him the first Deaf man to be recognized with an Oscar, Keivonn Woodard in HBO’s “The Last of Us” making him the first Black Deaf young actor featured in a series from a major studio, and the May 2023 British Vogue issue that had all Disabled cover stars including Selma Blair, Justine Miles, Aaron Philips, Sinead Burke and Ellie Goldstein.
"The Last Of Us", Keivonn Woodard is Sam
To continue the progress for behind the camera roles, the creative industries must evolve past the obsolete recruitment practices that prioritize physical endurance over other essential skills for entry-level positions. It is time to revolutionize the way we think about “breaking into” in the industry.
