Empowering Performers with Disabilities on Set

In the last few years, there have been increased industry-wide efforts to create more work opportunities for performers with disabilities and recognize their influence in entertainment, media and society at large. It is important that members of the community know what resources are available to them and feel empowered to use them in instances of workplace discrimination. 

The SAG-AFTRA President’s Task Force on Education, Outreach and Engagement hosted the Performers with Disabilities: Know Your Rights on Set livestream on Oct. 4. Joining Executive Vice President Ben Whitehair was SAG-AFTRA National Performers with Disabilities Committee Chair Anita Hollander, who gave an opening keynote and introduced the guest speaker, SAG-AFTRA Equity & Inclusion Department Executive Director Franklin Sablan. 

In his presentation, Sablan provided insight about employer responsibilities and other contract provisions that protect performers with disabilities. It was noted that much of the language found in the union’s TV/Theatrical and Commercials Contracts stems from the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, a civil rights law that prohibits discrimination against those with disabilities in all areas of public life, including employment. 

“It is not what you are, it’s what you can play. Whether written on a breakdown, at an audition or on the job, the criteria should always be what your professional qualifications are and not what your personal identification might be,” said Sablan.

At the presentation’s conclusion, Sablan encouraged members to complete the union’s demographic survey. The survey provides SAG-AFTRA with the information to understand the makeup of its membership and helps inform its diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives and services. The member survey can be found here. 

A Q&A followed the presentation.

For more information about available resources and service, please call (323) 549-6644 in Los Angeles or (212) 827-1542 in New York, or email diversity@sagaftra.org. To watch a replay of our 2020 performers with disabilities panel, Performers with Disabilities: Inclusion, Authenticity & Allyship, click here. 

Other PTEOE panels can be found at sagaftra.org/videos.