SAG-AFTRA Releases Two New 'Inclusion: Time to Get Real' Videos for National Disability Employment Awareness Month

Today, SAG-AFTRA — the world’s most influential entertainment union — released two new video vignettes for National Disability Employment Awareness Month. The videos are the latest in the union’s new “Inclusion: Time to Get Real” video series, presented by its Performers With Disabilities Committee. Now totalling five videos, the comedic series was created to challenge the common misconceptions and misguided objections regarding the casting of Performers With Disabilities. (View the press conference.)

The videos have been released in English and English with Audio Description, with closed captions available. Spanish and Spanish with Audio Description versions (courtesy of the union’s National Latino Committee) will also be released in the coming days.  

All video vignettes produced by Jason T Gaffney, Angel Giuffria, Thea Touchton, Jack Patterson and Nicole Cyrille. 

Launching today are:

“I’m Pretty Sure I’ve Got This” – Featuring John Ross Bowie, Eileen Grubba, and Nicole Cyrille. Audio  Description by Tristan Snyder. Spanish dubbing by Memo Sauceda, Vanessa Morales and Natalia Castellanos, with Audio Description by Memo Sauceda. 

“I’m a Romantic Lead”– Featuring Reid Scott, Danny Gomez, Eileen Grubba, Diana Elizabeth Jordan, Paige Lauren Billiot, Vittoria Wyatt Gray, Dr. Cynthia Lea Clark, Thea Touchton, Khristina LaMonte, Tobia Forrest, Angel Giuffria, Sarah Ann Masse, Toni Nelli, Sam Lazarus, John W. Lawson, Jason T Gaffney and Nicole Cyrille. Audio Description by Tristan Snyder. Spanish dubbing by Memo Sauceda Vanessa Morales and Natalia Castellanos, with Audio Description by Vanessa Morales. 

In North America and Europe, the total disposable income of persons with disabilities is $2.6 trillion and that figure jumps to $18.3 trillion when you include their friends and family. By including performers with disabilities onscreen, the industry opens up this major untapped financial market.

According to the Centers for Disease Control, one in four adults reportedly have a disability, yet a 2022 Nielsen study found that the total share of screen time for people with disabilities was only 8.8%, and people with visible disabilities made up only 0.4% of screen time across all media channels. 

The committee hopes that the series will inspire performers, casting directors, filmmakers, employers and allies to call for equal opportunities for performers with disabilities. 

The new videos join three previously released vignettes, which are all available in English, English with Audio Description, Spanish and Spanish with Audio Description: 

“True Cringe” — Featuring Michelle Hurd, Jason T Gaffney, Michael Bunin and Khristina LaMonte, with Audio Description by Jack Patterson. Spanish dubbing by Natalia Castellanos, Memo Sauceda and Vanessa Morales, with Spanish Audio Description by Natalia Castellanos. 

“Can’t Do What?” — Featuring Jason George, Angel Giuffria and Brian Dietzen, with Audio Description by Nicole Cyrille. Spanish dubbing by Natalia Castellanos, Memo Sauceda and Vanessa Morales, with Spanish Audio Description by Natalia Castellanos. 

“You Are So Brave” — Featuring Jeri Ryan, Toni Nelli, Sarah Anne Masse and Diana Elizabeth Jordan, with Danny Gomez, Sam Lazarus, Skyler Davenport, Evelyn Stokes, Dr. Cynthia Lea Clark and Nicole Cyrille, with Audio Description by Nicole Cyrille. Spanish dubbing by Natalia Castellanos, with Spanish Audio Description by Natalia Castellanos. 

The Performers With Disabilities Committee is grateful to the National Latino Committee for lending its time and talents to do the dubbing. 

The video vignettes are now available on SAG-AFTRA’s website at sagaftra.org/timetogetreal and will be posted to our social media channels:
 

X: @sagaftra  
Instagram: @sagaftra  
YouTube: /SagAftra
TikTok: @SAGAFTRA  

About SAG-AFTRA

SAG-AFTRA represents approximately 160,000 actors, announcers, broadcast journalists, dancers, DJs, news writers, news editors, program hosts, puppeteers, recording artists, singers, stunt performers, voiceover artists and other entertainment and media professionals. SAG-AFTRA members are the faces and voices that entertain and inform America and the world. A proud affiliate of the AFL-CIO, SAG-AFTRA has national offices in Los Angeles and New York and local offices nationwide representing members working together to secure the strongest protections for entertainment and media artists into the 21st century and beyond. Visit SAG-AFTRA online at SAGAFTRA.org.