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From
KUTV in Utah:
A special panel at the Sundance Film Festival on Sunday urged equality for disabled people in the entertainment industry.
Several
Hollywood stars, including R.J. Mitte of "Breaking Bad," who has
cerebral palsy, Paralympic athlete Amy Purdy, and TV personality Montel
Williams attended the event.
“What Hollywood should be doing
right now is reflecting society. It’s great that is a good story, but in
bedrooms and houses across the country there are so many people who
don’t see anybody who looks like them,” Williams said.
Speakers
discussed the underrepresentation of people with disabilities in media.
Shriners Hospital for Children sponsored the event and claimed that of
the 800 roles on TV shows, only 11 went to actors with disabilities.
Speakers at the event encouraged anyone with a disability not to be afraid to pursue their dreams.
“Don’t
stop dreaming and believing. Whether you want to become an actor or be
in the entertainment industry, or do anything else in life…just because
of what has happened to you doesn’t mean you can’t accomplish that. You
will do it differently than another person, but you can still do it,”
actor J.R. Martinez said.
