In a recent article for The Inquirer Danny Woodburn, most commonly known for playing Mickey Abbott on ‘Seinfeld’, discussed how Ted Lasso, which ended May 30, positively displayed the disabled community. While Woodburn discussed what the show has done in efforts to destigmatize mental health, he made sure to mention that this only scratches the surface of the work needed for actors with disabilities. Let’s dive in!
A recent study of content from one streaming service found that disability remained the biggest representational hole, and fewer films included disabled characters in 2021 than in 2018.
When it comes to access and opportunity, we still often place the burden on the performers (people) with disabilities, and not on the system, access, laws, or the employers. And you can’t expect a disabled actor to break down barriers if they aren’t hired, or if film sets remain inaccessible.
Expanding Hollywood’s representation of disability isn’t just a moral imperative, it’s a business imperative. Roughly one out of four people in the U.S. lives with a disability; there is an immediate, positive response from audiences when we get this right. And negative consequences when we don’t.
In an industry that has kept from displaying disabilities the way to change it is by engaging with people and attempting to eliminate the stigma. That is where Ted Lasso came back in. The show provided a space to host mental health conversations taking away the stigma. But it is bigger than just that, to really end the stigma around disabilities in Hollywood Woodburn introduced ‘The Woodburn Ratio,’ meaning for every actor that takes a role from an actor with a disability three more roles are created for actors with disabilities. Hopefully, more of this comes about and can permanently end the stigma.
