Disabled actors in the UK

During the COVID19 pandemic Margot of Crip Video Productions has had the honor of meeting people internationally via video call like Inclusion in Higher Education Advocacy Group which advocates for students with intellectual disabilities to be integrated into higher education in the UK. During a meeting in June 2021 there was an interesting discussion of disability terms and accessibility in the UK. One term that came up was “social-relational model” which was similar to the concept of social model of disability in the U.S but it acknowledges more of the biological aspects of disability in addition to society access barriers. One of the members in the meeting who had a disability himself mentioned in discussing approaching public figures and actors for their support for the IHE, revealed that actors who are disabled in the UK face many of the same challenges as disabled actors in the USA do, but the ableism is more blatant and casting notices can have sections in them saying particular roles are not open to a disabled performer or not suitable for a disabled performer. At Crip Video Productions we are honored to make our work as widely available as possible online so ableist attitudes and perceptions of what disabled actors can do can be changed so actors can access opportunity. Special thanks to Inclusion in Higher Education Advocacy Group IHE UK. This blog is posted with permission of Inclusion in Higher Education Advocacy Group.