Alycia Anderson welcomes Lawrence Carter-Long, Director of Engagement at ReelAbilities International, onto Pushing Forward with Alycia to discuss how disability narratives in media shape public understanding, possibility, and policy. Lawrence shares his background growing up with cerebral palsy, being a 1970s “poster child,” and how that early exposure taught him the power of media and communication. He explains ReelAbilities as a disability-forward film festival and year-round platform where “film is the front door” to community, conversation, and cultural change, emphasizing accessibility through open captions and audio description. They discuss moving beyond “tragic or heroic” tropes by elevating authentic stories and changing who writes, produces, directs, and greenlights projects, citing work like Best Summer Ever and Out of My Mind. Lawrence also describes the festival dates, sample programs, affiliate festivals, and his mantra: “go through the doors that open.”

Rewriting the Narrative: Core Themes from Episode 136

 🎬 Storytelling shapes perception and possibility

 ⚠️ Disability in media is still widely misrepresented

 🌍 Culture drives change more powerfully than policy alone

 🎥 ReelAbilities is influencing the film industry and expanding authentic representation

 🧠 Lived experience (cerebral palsy) informs expertise and advocacy

 🔄 Shifting from “tragic or heroic” to real, nuanced human stories

 👀 Visibility creates belief—you can’t be what you don’t see

 🤝 Community, conversation, and belonging fuel lasting impact

 🎭 Who tells the story matters as much as the story itself

 🚪 Leaning into identity can unlock purpose, passion, and unexpected opportunity

Quotes from Lawrence

“Stories shape public understanding. What we see becomes what we believe is possible.” ~ Lawrence Carter-Long

“Disability in media has been framed as either tragic or heroic, but most people live in the messy middle.” ~ Lawrence Carter-Long

“It’s not just who you see on screen, it’s who’s writing, directing, and deciding which stories get told.” ~ Lawrence Carter-Long

Lights, Camera, Inclusion:

00:00 Podcast Welcome

00:25 Meet Lawrence Carter-Long

02:06 Poster Child Origins

04:34 ReelAbilities Mission

08:20 Beyond Tragic or Heroic

11:57 Best Summer Ever Story

13:42 Audience Impact and Access

17:17 Who Gets to Tell Stories

20:37 Stories Shape Policy

25:42 How Policymakers See Disability

30:41 Festival Highlights and Tickets

35:40 Go Through Open Doors

Connect with Lawrence Carter-Long
ReelAbilities International | Lawrence on LinkedIn | ReelAbilities Instagram | ReelAbilities YouTube Channel | ReelAbilities on TikTok | ReelAbilities X | ReelAbilities on Facebook

Follow Up with Alycia

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