“The mission and the mandate of I AM PWD is that everyone should be able to see themselves mirrored in media,” said Wyman. “Kids will grow up seeing and hearing themselves in the media and know that they are not alone.”
Although the tri-union campaign has drawn to an end, the unions will continue to push to increase visibility and opportunity for people with disabilities in the entertainment and news industries.
“The I AM PWD campaign leaves us with a roadmap for progress,” said Dr. Olivia Raynor, director of the National Arts and Disabilities Center, Tarjan Center at University of California Los Angeles. “It calls on writers to utilize characters with disabilities to add interesting dimensions to storylines, as well as creating more opportunities for actors with disabilities to audition and be cast. This is what the campaign was all about. And now is the time to make it happen.”
ABOUT I AM PWD
I AM PWD is a global civil rights campaign seeking equal employment opportunities for people with disabilities throughout the entertainment and news media. I AM PWD was founded by members of Actors’ Equity Association, AFTRA and Screen Actors Guild to bring media and public attention to the issues of media access, inclusion and accuracy for people with disabilities. You can visit I AM PWD online at IAMPWD.org.
