Question: Are there enough disabled actors in TV, Film, Theatre and the Arts?

Your feedback: Yes –7% (3 respondents) No – 93% (39 respondents)

Your comments: 

“There needs to be more disabled actors and the only way this can be done is if the writers write the characters with a disability such as Dr House, Walt Jr in Breaking Bad and more recently the deaf daughter in the movie A Quiet Place. To attract more disabled actors these roles need to be like the examples given, of characters that happen to have disabilities, but these are not a weakness and the story does not revolve around the disability.”

“I have been going to ballet/dance performances for many years. The first time I saw Marc Brew perform dance in and out of his wheelchair was a revelation. There needs to be a lot more disabled people performing and involved in the arts community.”

“I really object to non disabled actors jumping into wheelchairs for a role! There are exceptions, such as the recent movie of the life of Stephen Hawking – his condition being a degenerative one – but generally speaking, a disabled actor should always be chosen.”

“As a disabled Composer with Cerebral Palsy – Spastic Diplegia, I find that I am constantly striving to match my able-bodied peers in the Music field. I believe that music and art generally should be respected and discussed regardless of the ability or disability of the creator.”

“On tv disabled people are either inspirational sports people or villains.”

“I have been going to ballet/dance performances for many years. The first time I saw Marc Brew perform dance in and out of his wheelchair was a revelation. There needs to be a lot more disabled people performing and involved in the arts community.”
“While it is great to have diverse casts in the arts, it never works when it is forced upon people. The arts is about talent, not defining those who perform the arts by their identity.”