Written By: Lisa Kort, Easterseals Marketing and Communications Project Manager

As a mother of a son who is on the autism spectrum, the movie Champions captured my heart. I saw many aspects of my son’s personality in several of the movie’s characters. These young adults are depicted as leading fulfilling lives, sometimes less than tactful, but at the same time very honest, loving, and wonderfully unique. It also reflects Easterseals’ commitment to changing the way people see disability, with an authentic cast of actors who have various disabilities.

Champions: A Movie that Celebrates Uniqueness

Starring Woody Harrelson and directed by Bobby Farrelly, the movie is set in Iowa and tells the story of a basketball coach, Marcus, played by Harrelson. At the beginning of the movie, Marcus is egotistical and a less than stand-up guy who has trouble listening, collaborating, and connecting to colleagues, players, and friends.

Marcus is fired from his coaching job and then goes to a bar where he has too many drinks. After leaving the bar, Marcus is arrested and receives a DUI. The judge on his case issues him a fine and community service to manage a team of players with intellectual disabilities.

When Marcus first meets his team, “The Friends,” he doubts that he can have any impact as a coach and help them become winners. However, as he spends time with the players, he learns more about them as individuals and their lives off the court.

For instance, team member Johnny volunteers at an animal shelter and rescues any animal that may be put down. Benny works at a restaurant and is unable to play games because he works for a boss who will not adjust his schedule. Darius, who had a promising career as a basketball player, suffered a brain injury in a car accident while in high school.  These are just a few of the team members, each of whom has a backstory about their individual lives.

The movie does a great job conveying that champions come in many forms and winning can be seen and captured through a variety of enduring ways.

Is there a movie about people with disabilities that resonated with you? Let us know in the comments below!

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It seems disability representation in TV and film is finally having its “moment,” and we think it is here to stay. While the 80s and 90s featured a few groundbreaking shows starring characters played by people with disabilities – think “Diff’rent Strokes” with Gary Coleman and “Life Goes on” with Chris Burke—TV and film’s depiction of people with disabilities has come a long way. In the last decade, we’ve seen more characters with disabilities authentically represented on screen in productions like “Glee,” “Speechless,” “The Peanut Butter Falcon,” “Cha Cha Real Smooth,” and so much more.  

As part of Easterseals SoCal’s “Disability in Pop Culture” blog series, we are taking a look at just a few of the many voices who are making waves for disability representation and authentic storytelling in entertainment and beyond. From a documentarian with cerebral palsy to a teenage actor with down syndrome, these are just a few rising stars to watch for in 2023.  

Lauren ‘Lolo’ Spencer: Entrepreneur, Actor, Model, Influencer, Advocate  

Before diving into the world of acting and modeling, Lauren ‘Lolo’ Spencer was (and still is) known as a disability lifestyle influencer, thanks to her Youtube channel “Sitting Pretty.” On her channel, she creates vlogs on everything from fashion and romance to accessibility and how she doesn’t let ALS get in the way of living life to the fullest.  

Lolo’s popularity and influence as a Youtuber eventually led to modeling and acting gigs, including her first acting role in “Give Me Liberty,” an indie film featured at the 2019 Sundance and Cannes film festivals. Currently, she is starring in her biggest role yet as Jocelyn in the HBO hit series “Sex Lives of College Girls,” which was just renewed for season three!  

But Lolo doesn’t just live life in front of the camera. In 2022, Lolo founded “Live Solo,” a lifestyle brand with the mission of creating a new narrative for people with disabilities. This platform serves as an online resource to empower people with disabilities to live a more independent lifestyle.  

Lolo Spencer has accomplished so much already, but this is just the beginning. We can tell you right now: we’re all going to be seeing a lot more of Lolo in the future.  

Reid Davenport: Director, Filmmaker, Documentarian  

As a filmmaker and documentarian, Reid Davenport often spends his days exploring the stories of others, but his most recent project, “I didn’t See You There,” is a feature film shot entirely from the perspective of his own wheelchair. The film, which received the Directing Award for U.S. Documentary at the 2022 Sundance Film Festival, takes the viewer on a visual journey through Reid’s experience living in Oakland, navigating public transportation, and doing every-day tasks.  

Through his unique lens, Reid makes it his mission to expose people—often those without disabilities—to both the struggles and the beauty of life in a wheelchair.  

Several of Reid’s other documentaries on disability include “A Cerebral Game,” “Wheelchair Diaries,” and “Ramped Up.” Each provide the viewer greater insight into the realities of being disabled in a world that is not built for them.  

Reid was named to DOC NYC’s 2020 “40 Filmmakers Under 40” list in 2020. He was also a 2021 Creative Capital recipient, a 2017 TED Talk Fellow, and has been featured by outlets like NPR, PBS, The Washington Post, MSNBC, and The New York Times.   

Sofia Sanchez: Actor, Model, Influencer, Author, Advocate  

If you haven’t heard her name yet, you’re going to start hearing it more! Sofia Sanchez is a 14-year-old actor, model, and influencer with down syndrome whose career is starting to really take off.    

Best known for her acting debut in “Switched at Birth” (2015), Sofia is about to be recognized for her upcoming role as a “tribute” named Wovey in the new “Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes” film”, scheduled for release in theatres November 2023.  

Sofia also uses her platform to share messages of inclusion and belonging. As a disability advocate, she published two Scholastic books about inclusion called “You are Loved” and “You are Enough.” These books are being turned into a cartoon called Rocket Park, featuring themes of inclusivity.  

Sofia was the 2022 recipient of the Christopher Reeve Acting Scholarship at the Media Access Awards, an awards show dedicated to celebrating the achievements of people with disabilities both behind and in-front-of the camera.  

We can’t wait to see more from Sofia as she continues to break barriers in the entertainment and advocacy world!  

Danny Gomez: Actor, Model, Disability Advocate  

You may know Danny Gomez from his appearance in several Easterseals PSA’s, including our Spanish PSA campaign, but Danny is known more broadly as an actor and model who just so happens to use a wheelchair. 

Since 2018, Danny has been active as a model for Target, Facebook and Zappos, while acting in several short films, commercials and television shows, including NBC’s hit series “New Amsterdam” and recently CBS’s “NCIS: Hawaii.” 

Danny often uses his platform to advocate for disability inclusion, especially when it comes to authentic representation in film and television. Every year, Danny participates in the Easterseals Disability Film Challenge, which helps raise awareness for better representation for disabled actors in Hollywood. He also works with various non-profits to advocate for and help people with disabilities, including the Triumph Foundation, ARC Abilities Recovery Center, Angel City Sports, and Easterseals Southern California.  

Over the years, Danny has received multiple awards and acknowledgments, including being named the “Person with Determination” winner during ModelHunt’s 2019 international model search. He was also the recipient of the 2020 Christopher Reeve Acting Scholarship at the 2020 Media Access Awards.  

As disability inclusion becomes a more prominent theme in TV and film, Easterseals SoCal looks forward to seeing more from these influencers and artists as they continue to advocate for themselves and for the disability community.  

Stay tuned for more from our “Disability in Pop Culture” blog series, where we explore the latest in disability inclusion and representation in entertainment!  

Written by Rhonda Washington, Easterseals Regional Director of Human Resources and member of our RISE (Respect, Inclusion, Self-aware, Access) team.  

Black History Month is a time to reflect on the progress Black people have made throughout our history and provides an opportunity to narrate our story as part of the American experience. It is a time to reexamine our trials and tribulations and celebrate our successes. Taking a pause to learn more about Black history is learning about how we got to this moment, the sacrifices that were made, and the achievements that created the America we live in today. 

All the issues we are facing today didn’t just land here, they came from our shared history. If we don’t understand our history, we are left with making assumptions, and that’s a dangerous path. As Maya Angelou said, “You have to know where you have been, to know where you are going.” 

As a child, my experiences of being exposed to Black history were very limited, as it was not the focus in my history classes. When we did talk about Black history, I was only exposed to three people: Martin Luther King, Jr., Malcolm X and Rosa Parks. While these individuals accomplished amazing things, this did not even scratch the surface.  

As I continued my education, there was even less of a focus on Black history by the time I started college. My knowledge of Black history came from doing my own research. That’s when I discovered that African Americans had a huge footprint weaved into America.  

The impact it had on me is two-fold: First, I wanted my daughter to have more knowledge about her history and a sense of belong than I did. As a result, she opted to attend a Historically Black College (Tuskegee University) for her undergraduate studies to fulfill that void. Secondly, I became extremely curious and sought out how influential African Americans have been and the contributions they made in many fields throughout our country’s history. No matter what circumstances and struggles we encountered, we still have overcome.  As General Colin Powell one said, “No one can change your yesterdays, but all of us can change our tomorrows.” 

Now, are you ready for some Black history that maybe you didn’t know about? Here are some prominent African Americans and what they achieved. 

Katherine Johnson
Known as the mathematician who was instrumental in the return of the Apollo astronauts from the Moon to Earth, Johnson was one of a group of black women who were celebrated in the 2016 movie “Hidden Figures.”  

Learn more about Katherine Johnson.

Ursula Burns
Burns was first African American woman to serve as CEO of a Fortune 500 company, leading Xerox from 2009 to 2017. She’s also been on the board of directors for Uber, American Express, and ExxonMobil. 

Learn more about Ursula Burns.

Alonzo Pettie
Creator of a Black Rodeo in Colorado since he was barred from the white rodeos, Pettie was the longest living cowboy and died at 93. 

Learn more about Alonzo Pettie.

Marie Van Brittan Brown  

Brown designed the first home security system and modern surveillance system. Her invention is the foundation for current systems using video monitoring, remote-controlled door locks, push-button alarm triggers, instant messaging to security providers and police, as well as two-way voice communication. 

Learn more about Marie Van Brittan Brown.

Patricia Bath  

A pioneer in Ophthalmology, Bath became the first African American female doctor to hold a patent for a medical device in Ophthalmology. She invented the Laserphaco Probe for cataract treatment in 1986. 

Learn more about Patricia Bath.

In 2022, Easterseals Southern California (ESSC) had the privilege of contributing to a Bellwether study examining the disparities children of color with disabilities face in education, with a particular focus on Black children. The in-depth study uses research, data, and anecdotal experiences to better understand the discrimination that children of color with disabilities and their families experience in educational settings and make recommendations.  

 We sat down with Michele Dew M.S., CCC-SLP, the Director of Therapy Services at Easterseals-South, to get her thoughts on the findings of the report from both a personal and professional lens.  

Q. Please tell us why you think it’s important for people to understand the experiences and outcomes for Black children with disabilities during Black History Month? 

A. It’s important for everyone to understand these experiences and outcomes specifically during Black History Month because this is not only a time of celebration of accomplishments, but a time to reflect and determine if what we are doing is enough. Though the education system has come a long way from segregation, there is still a lot to be done to support Black children (and other ethnicities) with disabilities in the school system. This is a great month to highlight Black children, but also emphasize this is not the only month we need to pay attention.

Q. What was Easterseals SoCal’s role in this study?

A. Easterseals SoCal provided input through interviews and discussions with one of the study’s authors. We also connected a current participant’s mother with an author, and she participated in an interview.

Q. Who is this study for and how do you feel it should be used? 

A. Honestly, I feel this study is for everyone. It may be geared toward those who are educators, families of children and supporting team members, but everyone can benefit from this type of information. Studies like this should be used to update those in the education system and inform those who are not. When the government is deciding on funding for schools, this study should be part of the conversation.

 Q. Is there anything in the key findings that stood out to you?

A. There were so many points in the key findings that stood out to me. It was so relatable as a Black student and as a Black woman who worked in the education system or collaborated with the education system for almost 10 years.

• Parents of color are more likely to report major difficulties in accessing services. As someone who has worked in schools and seen it with my own eyes, often the family members have been treated so unfairly or with disrespect that they either come in ready for a fight or give up on the whole process.  
• Educators less frequently recommend students of color for services under Section 504, depriving these students of the academic supports these services provide. A section 504 plan could be VERY beneficial for many students. This type of plan would allow for accommodations such as more test time, a quiet area to take tests, using a “fidget” in class, and more.    
• Students of color with disabilities are disproportionately recommended for self-contained special education classes, depriving them of the opportunity for socialization and the higher academic expectations more common in integrated settings. This point really hit home for me. I went to a high school outside of Seattle with about 1,500 students and less than 100 students were Black. My senior year of high school, I realized I only had one class with two of the other Black students. In college, I learned this statistic and realized, most of them were in special education classes or what were called the “remedial classes.” Since I was in general education, I only saw them at lunch or in sports. 
• Families of children with disabilities whose primary language is not English face acute challenges and obstacles in accessing special education services. This is very prevalent in every state I’ve lived and worked in or with schools, D.C., Hawaii, Washington, and California. Though people are provided interpreters or translators, the communication is not as thorough and people who are learning English (or are deaf) are often addressed as if they are not as intelligent.  
• When families of color advocate for their children, they are often ignored or met with hostility — by contrast, white families are often listened to, and their interests accommodated. My mother would send my father to school for any conversations related to our educational path because he’s half white, has lighter skin with green eyes, and people reacted to him differently speaking his mind than they did with my mom’s heavy New York accent and confident spirit. He is known in our community, and she realized early he had to be the “face” of the family, especially when it came to school visits. I’ve also seen this in the school settings where Black women are deemed “crazy” or “demanding” when they are asking the same thing as white mothers. 

Q. What are additional examples of some of the disparities impacting Black children with disabilities in education? 

A. Some examples are:

• You’ll see in the article that white toddlers were five times more likely to receive early intervention support than Black toddlers. 
• 9% of Black students and fewer than 8% of Hispanic students with disabilities were identified for special education services in kindergarten, while nearly 12% of white students with disabilities were identified in this early grade. 
• White students receive services under Section 504 at higher rates than students of color.  
• Nearly 68% of all white students with disabilities spent at least 80% of their time in inclusive general education classes. Only about 63% of Hispanic students, 60% of Black students, and 57% of Asian students with disabilities spent that much time in inclusive classes. 
• During the 2017-2018 school year, Black students made up roughly 15% of the United States’ total student population, but 38% of students suspended and 39% of students expelled. White students, by contrast, made up roughly 47% of total students, yet just 33% of students suspended or expelled.  

Q. How do you feel this study may change the way Black children with disabilities are treated in the education system?

A. I hope this study opens the eyes of those who make decisions for students. I feel this study will inform those who are unaware of the injustices Black children with disabilities suffer from and support those who are trying to change the system.

Q. Can you share some of the things Easterseals Southern California is working on to address these concerns?

A. In addition to taking part in this study, ESSC is working with a variety of professionals and companies on providing implicit bias training, courses on multi-culturalism and a variety of education options for underserved and at-risk populations.

As a member of the “Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Accessibly (IDEA)” team within ESSC, I have first-hand knowledge and experience of the action items ESSC is taking. We are hoping to train all levels of staff on cultural sensitivity and other related topics. Though ESSC is not a school system, we have a Child Developmental Services line with classroom settings and we work with school districts, private schools, students, and parents in multiple ways. Our staff being equipped with this knowledge will better help us serve our participants across the lifespan.  

Whenever we’re faced with a new diagnosis or want to learn more about a topic, most of us head straight to Google for answers. While the internet is a great source of information, making sure your source is reliable can be tricky. That’s why our team at Easterseals collected a list of the most ‘Googled’ questions about autism and brought in our experts to provide the answers!  

With the help of Easterseals’ qualified autism therapy professionals and research specialists, you can be better informed about the topics that matter most to you and your family. Easterseals has provided Autism Therapy Services in Southern California for more than ten years, and we pride ourselves on combining the best researched methods and treatments to increase quality of life and build new skills.   

In our latest “Ask Me” video,  Easterseals Vice President of Behavioral Services, Dr. Jacqueline Ganley, answers your most Googled questions about Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).  

Watch the “Ask Me” video or read below to learn more about autism.    

Here are the Most Googled Questions about Autism:  

 1. What is Autism?  

Autism, also known as Autism Spectrum Disorder or ASD for short, is a neurological development disorder that currently affects one in 44 children in the United States. Autism Spectrum Disorder affects each individual very differently.  

2. What are some potential signs of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)?  

 Most of the time, caregivers notice that their child has not met one or more 9 developmental milestone. Some potential signs of autism spectrum disorder  may fall in these three categories. First, is social communication. For example, not using or understanding gestures such as pointing or waving or having delayed speech. Second, is social interactions such as avoiding eye contact, not responding to their name or showing a lack of interest in other children. And third, is repetitive or restrictive behaviors such as rocking back and forth, fixations with patterns and routines and possibly having a sensitivity to things they see, hear, taste, smell or touch. It’s important to note some individuals will have noticeable signs and others may not.  

 3. What causes Autism Spectrum Disorder?  

 It is generally accepted that ASD is caused by differences in the brain, but what causes those differences is still unknown. The most current research indicates that there is no single cause and autism likely develops from a combination of genetic and environmental factors. 

 4. What should I do if I see signs of autism? 

 If you see signs of autism, first speak with your child’s pediatrician about your concerns. They may refer you to someone that specializes in diagnosing and treating autism spectrum disorder. An autism specialist will collect information, administer tests, and determine if your child qualifies for a diagnosis of ASD. Treatment is more likely to be more successful the sooner a child can access services.  

 5. What should I do if I still have concerns?  

 Remember, you know your child best. So, if you’re not getting the answers you need or aren’t being referred to an autism specialist,  be persistent, stand up for your child, consult with other professionals, and advocates and possibly seek out a second opinion.  

About Easterseals’ “Ask Me” Youtube Series  

Easterseals “Ask Me” video series features members of our dedicated team of service professionals answering frequently googled questions about topics that matter the most to you and your family. Our series was designed to provide information and educational support for people in the communities we serve and help them better understand Easterseals’ service lines, programs, and resources.   

 Future episodes will feature experts from our different service lines such as Living Options, Senior Day Services, and WorkFirst Employment Services, who will answer some of the top searched questions in their subject area. 

 About Easterseals Autism Therapy Services  

Easterseals’ Autism Therapy Services focus is on therapies that are proven to be effective in increasing skills of individuals with autism spectrum disorders and similar disabilities. Easterseals offers services throughout Southern California based on the science of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) for individuals diagnosed on the autism spectrum as well as Speech, Occupational and Physical therapy services. We are recognized for our extensive experience, and we are leading the way to 100% equity, inclusion, and access for people with disabilities, their families and communities.