Ensuring People with Disabilities to Have Equality

A New Era For Our Organization

After a thorough and inclusive process, a year in the making, RespectAbility is now known as Disability Belongs™!

To be clear, our mission, focus, and priorities remain unchanged. By incorporating “disability” into our name, we emphasize that being disabled is part of the human experience. We will continue to push for systemic change for people with disabilities and their intersecting identities. We are proud of RespectAbility’s past work and accomplishments, and we are invigorated by the opportunities yet to come as Disability Belongs™!

With all the exciting changes on our rebranding journey, we also continue our exciting work! As the new brand continues to gain traction, your efforts and support are invaluable. Your contributions in the past have propelled us to the position we are in today – thank you! Please read on for my updates on our exciting changes and what we've been up to this summer.

Our organization is currently engaged in a full-scale effort to pass legislation that will:

• Ensure emerging technologies meet accessibility standards
• Improve access to the ballot box for eligible voters
• Raise asset caps on Supplemental Security Income (SSI) to eliminate barriers to work
• Help ensure real jobs for real pay for disabled individuals  

As a nonpartisan organization, we recognize the importance of garnering support from across the political spectrum. This year alone, we’ve pushed for our policy priorities through dozens of meetings on Capitol Hill, actively advocating to support the disability community at large. Our commitment to addressing the obstacles faced by disabled constituents remains unwavering. Our goal is to drive positive and impactful change.

Lab Program Shines the Focus on Pitching

Since 2019, our award-winning Entertainment Lab elevates disabled creatives, focusing on building community, networking, and career advancement. We help develop the talent pipeline of disabled writers, directors, and others behind-the-camera, while introducing them to executives who advise Lab Fellows on various aspects of the industry and their craft, and in turn, enabling studios and production companies to learn about the talents and benefits of hiring disabled people.

Throughout the month of August, Entertainment Lab Fellows are honing their pitching skills for their projects through a combination of seminars and practice sessions, both internally and with external mentors. In addition, 10 Fellows have chosen to workshop their scripts this month, which includes an informal table read and feedback from peers and Disability Belongs™ team members.

Disability Belongs™ Announces Exciting Changes to Board of Directors

Disability Belongs™ is proud to announce that Khadija Bari (she/her) has been elected as the sixth Chair of the organization’s Board of Directors. “I am thrilled to lead the Board of Disability Belongs™, as we begin this new chapter in the organization’s bright future,” said Bari. “It is a much-welcomed change as we continue and grow in our work of redefining narratives, developing leaders, and driving opportunity for the disability community across the nation. I am humbled to follow in the footsteps of Disability Belongs’ past Chairs that have made their mark and continue to pave the way in strengthening the rights of people with disabilities around the world. The expertise of the Board of Directors and Advisors is invaluable to me, and I look forward to supporting President and CEO Ariel Simms as we turn the page and usher in a new era for Disability Belongs.

Bianca Casanova Anderson (she/her), a Director of Disability Belongs™, is now the organization’s Treasurer, and Karen Horne (she/her), another Director, has joined the Board’s Executive Committee at large. Former Advisory Council members Tamala Scott (she/her) and Toby G. Wong (she/her) were elected to the Board of Directors.