My Story
Before I took a screenwriting class during my undergraduate days, I had not thought of screenwriting as a viable career path. Attending a public school for kindergarten through high school that mostly pushed students to graduate and did little to prepare students for college or the workforce coupled with the reality that I was born with a visible disability, I set my sights on practical career paths like becoming a librarian or a journalist. Those are both respectable careers, but they did not fit me. I was born a creative. This is why I chose to focus on employment in the entertainment industry for disabled people. There was no guide I could find–no compilation of resources or advice for disabled people trying to make a career in the entertainment industry, so I made my own.
In 2022, I became an Entertainment & News Media fellow (at the time, I was called an apprentice) at RespectAbility. During my four-month fellowship, I participated in career readiness workshops, assisted with tasks for the nonprofit’s Entertainment Lab, wrote blog posts for the websites, captioned videos for the YouTube channel, update their database, and used my lived experience and academic training in disability studies to consult on multiple productions including Disney’s feature film Wish.
After I finished my fellowship with RespectAbility, I continued working with Disney until the premiere of Wish in November 2023 and interned with an independent production company in New York City. During the internship, I wrote scripts, learned how to line produce, and assisted on the set of a commercial. These are all valuable skills that I can use wherever I decide to go next.
Despite my experience, I could not so much as land an interview with a major production company for an internship (I have applied to over 100 at this point). This led me to searching for opportunities for disabled screenwriters specifically since the traditional route seemed inaccessible. Unfortunately, like many others who graduated college in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, I could not gain enough experience to be considered a mid-career writer. Many programs for disabled writers are for those who are further in their career. I have compiled an (incomplete) list of programs, fellowships, and other opportunities for disabled screenwriters, producers, and other creatives since I could not find such a list when I searched.
I also tried working with my local vocational rehabilitation center and other programs that aim to help disabled people find employment, but I was met with frustration. Unfortunately, I have found that many of these programs have set career paths that they put people on. This meant I had to figure out my career path on my own. It may still be worth a shot to reach out to your local vocational rehabilitation center to see if they have any leads or can assist you, but keep in mind that there resources in creative fields tend to be limited.
Although the entertainment industry can feel impossible to break into, we must persist because representation matters and our stories need to be told.
Resources:
Below is an annotated list of resources including employment opportunities and career development programs for disabled people in the entertainment industry. Please note many of these programs are competitive, meaning you may need to apply multiple times before you land a spot or even make it to the interview stage.
Level 1 (for beginners and those looking to gain some experience)
| Program | Duration | Paid? | Website | Notes |
| RespectAbility Entertainment & News Media Fellowship | Four months | Yes, they currently pay $17.50 an hour | https://www.respectability.org/fellowship/ | |
| Lights! Camera! Access! | Six months | No | https://www.lights-camera-access.com/ | |
| 1 in 4 Coalition Mentorship Program (as a mentee) | Unknown | No | https://www.1in4coalition.org/mentorship/ | |
| Easterseals Disability Film Challenge | One week | No | https://disabilityfilmchallenge.com/ | An opportunity to create a short film with other disabled creatives |
| Inevitable Foundation Visionary Fellowship | One year | Yes, $55,000 total with funds earmarked for specific expenses | https://www.inevitable.foundation/visionary | Filmmakers get to produce their short film and work with more experienced professionals |
| Reelabilities Crip Script Pitch Program | Two days | Unknown | https://reelabilities.org/resource/cspp/ | An opportunity to pitch your project in front of executives |
Level 2 (for those who have some experience, 1-3 years, and are looking for more)
| Program | Duration | Paid? | Website | Notes |
| RespectAbility Entertainment Lab (virtual) | Six months | No | https://www.respectability.org/lab/ | |
| RespectAbility Entertainment Lab (in-person) | 1-3 days | No | https://www.respectability.org/lab/ | Programs for childrens’ content, animation, and more |
| FWD-Doc | Ongoing membership | No | https://www.fwd-doc.org/join-fwddoc | Membership for documentary filmmakers |
| Blacklist Disability List | N/A | No | 2024 Disability List | The Black List (blcklst.com) | Opportunity to highlight outstanding unproduced scripts |
Level 3 (for those mid-career and more experienced)
| Program | Duration | Paid? | Website | Notes |
| 1 in 4 Coalition Mentorship Program (as a mentor) | Unknown | Unknown | https://www.1in4coalition.org/mentorship/ | |
| Inevitable Foundation Accelerate Fellowship | One year | Yes, $40,000 | https://www.inevitable.foundation/disabled-writers | For mid-level disabled writers |
| Inevitable Foundation Elevate Collective | Unknown | $5,000 grants are available | https://www.inevitable.foundation/disabled-writers | Opportunities for mentorship and career development for mid and upper-level writers |
Outside of the programs listed, it is important to prepare yourself to work in the industry as much as possible. Here is a list of actions you should take before and during your job/opportunity search.
Checklist
Polish Your Resume. Make sure you have a resume with relevant experience (whether that be an internship, a short film you worked on, or a class you took).
Prepare Writing Samples and Other Work Samples. Many applications ask for a 10-page writing sample (for screenwriters) or a short reel (for directors, producers, cinematographers, et al). You will want to have a few different samples on hand depending on the application. If you are a writer, you should also have at least two full-length scripts. If you want to be a TV writer, this can be a 30-minute or an hour long pilot. If you want to write for film, it should be feature-length.
Network. Connect with others in the industry. Typically you will want to look for people who have jobs and experience related to what you want to do. For instance, if you are an aspiring TV writer who writes mostly sci-fi, search for writers staffed on sci-fi TV series. You can do this by watching the credits of your favorite sci-fi show or searching on the internet. Once you’ve identified people you want to connect with, email them introducing yourself and ask if they’d be willing to meet with you over Zoom to talk about their career path and advice they may have. Another way to make connections is by looking at the website of fellowships and other programs that interest you. Many programs share participants from past years. You can look up participants’ contact information and reach out. The worst that can happen is they don’t respond or say no!
Apply…apply…apply! It can be difficult to get an internship or into a program you want. Sometimes you may have to reapply before getting anything. It is also important to remember that new programs pop up frequently, so check periodically to see what internships, fellowships, labs, and other programs are available.