Disability Belongs

RESPECTABILITY'S MISSION IS TO FIGHT STIGMA AND ADVANCE OPPORTUNITIES SO PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES CAN FULLY PARTICIPATE IN ALL ASPECTS OF THE COMMUNITY.

FIGHTING STIGMAS BY PROMOTING DIVERSE, AUTHENTIC, AND ACCURATE PORTRAYALS OF PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES IN NEWS MEDIA, TV, FILM, AND STREAMING SERVICES. WE TRAIN MAJOR HOLLYWOOD STUDIOS ON DISBAILITY INCLUSION AND HAVE CONSULTED ON PROJECTS WITH THE A&E, AMAZON STUDIOS, NBCUNIVERSAL, NETFLIX, THE WALT DISNEY COMPANY AND OTHERS TO IMPROVE THE NUMBER AND QUALITY OF AUTHENTIC AND DIVERSE REPRESENTATIONS OF PEOPLE WITH DIASBILITIES ON TV AND FILM. OUR GROUNDBREAKING WORK HAS BEEN FEATURED IN VARIETY, THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER, NPR, THE NEW YORK TIMES AND PBS NEWSHOUR. WE CREATED AND DISSEMINATED THE FIRST HOLLYWOOD DISABILITY INCLUSION TOOLKIT.

OTHER PROGRAM SERVICES

ADVANCING OPPORTUNITIES BY IDENTIFYING AND PROMOTING BEST PRACTICES IN EDUCATION, EMPLOYMENT, CIVIC ENGAGEMENT AND ACCESSIBILITY SO PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES CAN SUCCEED, JUST LIKE ANYONE ELSE. WE HAVE MET ONE-ON-ONE WITH 48 GOVERNORS; PROVIDED TESTIMONY IN EVERY STATE; AND PUBLISHED TOOLKITS, WEBINARS AND ARTICLES ON BEST PRACTICES ON EDUCATION, TRANSITION, INCLUSION, ACCESS AND EMPLOYMENT. WE HAVE PUBLISHED RESEARCH AND PROFESSIONAL SURVEYS AND POLLS ON DISABILITY EMPLOYMENT, MEDIA REPRESENTATION OF DISABILITITES, CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFORM AND DISABILITY INCLUSION IN THE PHILANTHROPIC SECTOR. WE PUBLISH NONPARTISAN VOTING GUIDES FOR STATE AND FEDERAL ELECTIONS AND CONDUCT SURVEYS OF POLITICAL CANDIDATES ON THEIR POSITIONS FOR ADVANCING DISABILITY INCLUSION AND EMPLOYMENT. WE CO-CHAIR A TASK FORCE OF MORE THAN 110 NATIONAL DISABILITY ORGANIZATIONS; PARTICIPATE IN A FEDERAL TASK FORCE WITH 11 GOVERNMENT AGENCIES ON EMPLOYMENT; AND PARTNER WITH UNITE-LA AND THE CITY OF LOS ANGELES DEPARTMENT ON DISABILITY TO CREATE BETTER EMPLOYMENT OUTCOMES FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES.

TRAINING LEADERS AND CREATING A TALENT PIPELINE OF PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES. OUR NATIONAL LEADERSHIP PROGRAM IS A 9-WEEK OR 16-WEEK INTERNSHIP THAT TRAINS YOUNG LEADERS WITH DISABILITIES IN ADVOCACY, PUBLIC POLICY, COMMUNICATIONS, NONPROFIT MANAGEMENT AND EFFECTIVE WRITING FOR SUCCESSFUL CAREERS. WE HAVE GRADUATED 200 LEADERS WITH DISABILITIES AND ALLIES WITH AN 85 PERCENT SUCCESS RATE IN EMPLOYMENT OR FURTHER EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES. OUR INCLUSIVE PHILANTHROPY AND NONPROFIT INITIATIVE ENABLES THE NONPROFIT SECTOR TO LEARN HOW TO ENSURE THEIR WORK IS ACCESSIBLE AND EQUITABLE FOR ALL. OUR WOMEN'S DISABILITY LEADERSHIP PROGRAM IS TRAINING AND CREATING A SPEAKERS BUREAU OF WOMEN WITH DISABILITIES. OUR LOS ANGELES HOLLYWOOD LAB TRAINS ENTERTAINMENT PROFESSIONALS WITH DISABILITIES WORKING BEHIND THE CAMERA AND HELPS PLACE THEM IN JOBS AT MAJOR STUDIOS, NETWORKS AND PRODUCTION COMPANIES.