Performers With Disabilities Watchdog Report by Anita Hollander
“2017-2020 saw a tripling of employment of PWDs in the industry.”
RESEARCH PROJECT: The PWD Watchdog Report
COVERAGE: 2009-2020
RESEARCH PARTNERS: Anita Hollander, National Chair, SAG-AFTRA Performers With Disabilities Committee
The PWD Watchdog Report, initiated by the National PWD Committee of SAG-AFTRA, collects data on the appearance of disability in TV, Film, Live Theatre and all other Media, including radio broadcasting, music recording, advertising, and internet entertainment. The aim is to chart the representation of disability by Performers, Writers, Directors and Producers With Disabilities, as well as record the absence of authentic performers with disabilities in disabled roles. Employment of people with disabilities in the arts & entertainment industry has been so low as to not be virtually invisible, but in the past few years there has been incremental improvement, which we hope will continue to improve with the help of this data. Since 2010 the data in this report has been utilized by GLAAD, AMPTP, Variety, Hollywood Reporter, LA Times, Media Access Awards, Ruderman Foundation, USC Annenberg Inclusion Initiative, and the Dr. Olivia Raynor’s National Arts & Disability Center.
The PWD Watchdog Report, initiated by the National PWD Committee of SAG-AFTRA, collects data on the appearance of disability in TV, Film, Live Theatre and all other Media, including radio broadcasting, music recording, advertising, and internet entertainment. The aim is to chart the representation of disability by Performers, Writers, Directors and Producers With Disabilities, as well as record the absence of authentic performers with disabilities in disabled roles. Employment of people with disabilities in the arts & entertainment industry has been so low as to not be virtually invisible, but in the past few years there has been incremental improvement, which we hope will continue to improve with the help of this data. Since 2010 the data in this report has been utilized by GLAAD, AMPTP, Variety, Hollywood Reporter, LA Times, Media Access Awards, Ruderman Foundation, USC Annenberg Inclusion Initiative, and the Dr. Olivia Raynor’s National Arts & Disability Center.
ADDITIONAL LINKS:
https://annenberg.usc.edu/research/annenberg-inclusion-initiative/research/disability