Claiming Disability Podcast Erin Kay CEO & Founder of Claiming Disability

Today let's chat with Disability Rights Icon Jennifer Keelan-Chaffins @jkclegacy on the #Anniversary of the Historical Disability Rights Protest the Capitol Crawl of 1990!

Jennifer Keelan-Chaffins has spent her life fighting for her right to live a normal life; in school, on the public transit system, and on the steps of the United States Capital building. At age two, she was diagnosed with a condition called cerebral palsy, that left lesions within the motor cortex of her brain.

From an early age, because of her disability, Jennifer was forced to take separate classes (irregardless of her aptitude and ability). impeded by the sheer lack of accessible buildings and transit, and shunned by her peers. Instead of crushing her, it galvanized her fighting spirit.

When Jennifer witnessed her first disability rights protest in downtown Phoenix, Arizona, it changed her life forever. From then on, Jennifer and her mother, Cynthia, joined the disability rights movement and began organizing. At age seven, she and her mother were arrested for protesting peacefully in Montreal, in a moment that shocked North America. At age eight, through iconic footage and photography taken on the steps of the US Capital, she became an icon for the movement to support passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act.

Support Jennifer by purchasing a copy of "All the Way to the Top," at https://jkclegacy.com

[Image Description: A graphic image of a cement stair case with a blue header with white texts that reads LET'S LEARN ABOUT THE CAPITOL CRAWL OF 1990 with a black bar and yellow texts that reads With Host Erin Noon Kay Claiming Disability with a photo of Jennifer Keelan-Chaffins, a beautiful disabled woman with brown hair smiling next to a black and white photo of Justin Dart Jr., Jennifer Keelan-Chaffins and her mother Cynthia Keelan, Bob Kafka, and Dianne Coleman in a protest line next to a copy of All the Way to the Top with a cartoon Jennifer Keelan-Chaffins with blonde hair and her bandana with a black bar with yellow texts that reads March 12, 2024 @ 1pm cst/2pmest/ 11ampst with a blue footer with white texts that reads only on erin.claiming_disability]

#PrettyDisabledPowerful
#ADA34
#CapitolCrawl
#AccessibilityCreatesRealInclusion
#CerebralPalsyAwarenessMonth
#CerebralPalsy
#InternationalWomensDay
#CapitolCrawl
#ADA
#WomensHistoryMonth

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TW: Includes Discussion of Netflix's Dahmer Series
DAHMER-Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story just joined Stranger Things Season 4 and Squid Games in surpassing the billion-hour mark in viewing time, making it one of the most watched series on Netflix. The first installment of the anthology series from Ryan Murphy and Ian Brennan is only the third title to hit that milestone in just 60 days, and the second-ever English-language series. 

Starring Peters as the notorious serial killer, DAHMER weaves a compelling narrative exploring the institutional failures, systemic racism and pervasive homophobia that enabled Jeffrey Dahmer to murder 17 young men over the course of 13 years. The chilling series also focuses on his many victims, and gives voice to long-overlooked figures in the story such as Glenda Cleveland (Niecy Nash), who repeatedly tried to warn the authorities about her suspicious neighbor. 


You will hear Gabriel Gomez signing and interpreting on behalf of Michael Spady. Please be patience with feedback.

Michael Anthony Spady is best known for his lead role in "Hamill" (a movie that received AFI Fest Audience Award for Best Feature Film) and a supporting role in "Sympathy for Delicious" (starring Mark Ruffalo, Juliette Lewis, Orlando Bloom and Laura Linney). Spady is one of the most notable deaf actors currently on screen.Gabriel Gomez is a CODA (child of deaf adult) , and an American Sign Language interpreter based in Los Angeles. He is honored to serve the deaf community.Gabriel has been an ASL Interpreter in the greater Los Angeles area for over 7 years, interpreting in schools, hospitals, concerts, lectures, conferences, award shows, court and more. His educational interpreting experience includes USC, UCLA, Cal State LA, Cal State Long Beach, Long Beach Community College, El Camino College, LA Trade Tech, LAUSD, and TUSD.He found a passion for interpreting in the entertainment industry early in his career, and has the unique skills suited to rigors of on-set, live, and on-camera interpreting. In 2021 he worked on Netflix's upcoming Jeffery Dahmer (Monster) series supporting the deaf actors and coaches during rehearsals and while filming on set. Gabriel has found that working with Daniel Durant and being part of the CODA team has been the highlight of his career so far and is honored to be able to bring access to deaf actors and crew.




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Paris Barclay is one of television's most successful and honored directors. Throughout his illustrious career in television, Paris has directed over160 episodes of television, including episodes of NYPD BLUE, ER, THE WEST WING, LOST, THE GOOD WIFE, CSI, SONS OF ANARCHY, HOUSE, GLEE, IN TREATMENT, SCANDAL, EMPIRE, PITCH and STATION 19. He won two Emmy Awards for his direction of NYPD BLUE and has received six additional Emmy nominations for producing and directing, including three for directing episodes of GLEE, and one for THE WEST WING.

Paris has also garnered ten Directors Guild nominations (for shows as diverse as IN TREATMENT, WEEDS, HOUSE, as well as GLEE and THE WEST WING), winning once for NYPD BLUE. He also became the first Director in the history of the Guild to receive a comedy and drama nomination in the same year, two years in a row (2008 & 2009). He's received three NAACP Image Awards, for producing, co-creating, and directing CITY OF ANGELS, and for directing COLD CASE and SMASH. In 2014, the NAACP inducted Paris into the NAACP Image Awards Hall of Fame, joining such luminaries as Sidney Poitier, Oprah Winfrey, and Gordon Parks.

He directed the feature film (and cult favorite) DON'T BE A MENACE TO SOUTH CENTRAL WHILE DRINKING YOUR JUICE IN THE HOOD, as well as telefilms for HBO (a western, THE CHEROKEE KID, starring Sinbad, James Coburn and Burt Reynolds) and THE BIG TIME for TNT (a drama with Christina Hendricks, Molly Ringwald, and Christopher Lloyd.)

Further bulging his shelves, Paris has been recognized as a writer as well, receiving a WGA and Humanitas Prize nomination for his telefilm (with Dustin Lance Black) PEDRO, for MTV. He's shared two Humanitas Prizes, four prestigious Peabody Awards. He co-created the series CITY OF ANGELS (which ran for 2 years on CBS), co-wrote and directed the pilot HATE for Showtime, and has rewritten projects for Disney and HBO.

Paris was elected President of the Directors Guild of America in June 2013 and is the first African-American and openly gay President in the history of the Guild. Before being elected President, Paris served four terms as the First Vice President of the DGA. Mr. Barclay first joined the DGA in 1992, and was elected to the Western Directors Council and the National Board in 1997. He and Taylor Hackford shared the 2007 Robert Aldrich Award, given for extraordinary service to the Director's Guild of America. Paris was enthusiastically re-elected in June 2015 to serve a second term as president before stepping down in June 2017.

Paris directed the pilot of and currently works as the executive producer of the Shondaland show, STATION 19, which follows a group of Seattle firefighters that exist in the GREY'S ANATOMY universe and stars Jaina Lee Ortiz, Jason George, and Boris Kodjoe. Additionally, the show is executive produced by Shonda Rhimes, Betsy Beers, and Krista Vernoff. It premiered in March 2018 and is currently producing its fourth season for ABC.

Paris got his start in advertising, working as a creative executive and then segued into directing music videos for some of music's biggest stars, such as: Janet Jackson, Bob Dylan, and LL Cool J.

In addition to his service to the DGA, Paris has been recognized for his service and contributions to many charitable organizations, including Liberty Hill, GLAAD, and Project Angel Food.



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Easterseals Disability Film Challenge. Created in 2013 and launched in 2014, the challenge gives filmmakers – with and without disabilities – the opportunity to collaborate to tell unique stories that showcase disability in its many forms, inviting aspiring storytellers to creatively write, produce, and complete short films. It is a week-long filmmaking contest, open to all, that provides a platform for new voices in the entertainment industry. Nic Novicki is an actor, comedian and producer who has performed on six continents.


His television credits include: Boardwalk Empire, The Sopranos, AXS Gotham Comedy Live, Jack and Triumph, The Neighbors, Austin and Alley, Private Practice and Drop Dead Diva. He has appeared in several movies, such as Life Happens, November Rule, The Last 5 Years, Boston Girls and Breaking Wind and will soon be seen in the upcoming Dead Ant.

Nic has produced several feature films, television pilots and web series for companies including Sony, CBS, Air China, Maxim and Universal and is an active member in the Producers Guild of America’s Diversity Committee. Nic wrote for the CBS Diversity Showcase and has also written and directed several short films including A Little Broke, which was acquired by the TV station Shorts HD.

As a stand up comedian, Nic has toured all over the world, including several tours for the troops overseas through Armed Forces Entertainment. He has performed stand up on AXS Gotham Comedy Live.

He is the founder and Director of the Easterseals Disability Film Challenge.

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The films we will be discussing are:

-This Lonely Life Written and Directed by Zach Mecham from @zachofalltrades.media in partnership with Claiming Disability LLC
-Couples Therapy Produced by
Melanie Rivera Waldman

Associate Producer
Samantha Mannis

Directed by
Melanie Rivera Waldman

Cast: @crutches_and_spice @thesteveway & additional

-Extra Special Written and Directed by Luke Turell starring Andy Arias @andyswheelz

Join us on Facebook live this Monday March 29th @ 1pm cst/2pm est/11 am

Seriously, even through this is a competition that official starts TOMORROW and goes until April 5th, we all WIN when the disabled community is recognized in film 🎥 Do your part and please like, share, and support these films on the @disabilityfilmchallenge page 💥

[Image Description: A purple and white image with the official Claiming Disability branding with the official Easterseals logo on top in blue, yellow, and orange. There's a purple and white banner with all movie titles This Lonely Life, Couples Therapy & Extra Special with cut out photos of Melanie Rivera Waldman, a Hispanic disabled woman with a pretty smile and black v neck blouse with a limb difference. Imani Barbarin a black disabled woman with beautiful hair and a pink jacket exposing cleavage. Zach Mecham a disabled white man with a brown beard and Unicorn blanket swaddled around himself. Sam Mannis, a white disabled woman with brown hair and a fur coat on with makeup. And Andy Arias a disabled Hispanic man with a striped V neck and green leather jacket. There's a white bar with text that reads a collaborative discussion with Easterseals Film Challenge Actors/Directors/Producers/ Writers. ]

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For people with disabilities or those living at higher weights, everyday trips to new places, such as the theater or a dinner with friends, are often preceded by fear of the unknown and hours of online reconnaissance to determine whether or not a place is able to accommodate non-average bodies.
To prevent the awkward or embarrassing situations that arise when a place is “not a good fit,” people want to know before they go if a place is suitable.  But that information is often scarce, subjective, and hard to find.  Friendly Like Me is designed to conquer this problem with objective, fact-based reviews completed by people with first-hand experience.
Because when the preparation needed to enjoy a night out is combined with the uncertainty of whether accommodations can be made, many people avoid participating in activities and situations they would otherwise welcome.
We really want to change that by making accessibility information easier to find, and by teaming up with businesses to create more friendly places.
We find that business owners are very open to hearing how they can cater to our communities.  But we must work together to tell them what we need.
Get started by reviewing places, the single best way to help!  Share your reviews on social media and tag us @friendlylikeme to help get the word out.  Every new user of Friendly Like Me helps build our shared understanding of available accommodations.  Join in and download the app, today!



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