Jenna Bainbridge On Casting Broadway Through A Disabled Lens

Always Looking Up

03/27/23

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81m

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In this week’s episode I welcomed back Jenna Bainbridge. Jenna is an actor, singer, disability rights advocate and ambulatory wheelchair user. She is the co-founder of ConsultAbility, a consulting firm that provides advice and expertise on accessibility in theatre, focusing on creating a safe and inclusive environment for disabled actors and technicians. We discuss the word “cripple” and how it is being reclaimed by the disabled community, the structural barriers preventing authentic disability representation on Broadway, and what roles we believe would be enhanced if they were portrayed by disabled actors. And yes, SPOILER ALERT as we may or may not reveal some plot points of some of these Broadway shows.

Follow Jenna: Instagram: @bainbridgejenna TikTok @bainbridgejenna Website: https://www.jennabainbridge.com/home

Follow ConsultAbility: Instagram: @consultability Facebook: ConsultAbility Website: https://www.consultability.org

Follow Me: Instagram: @jill_ilana , @alwayslookingup.podcast Twitter: @jillx3456 Website: https://www.jillianilana.com Email: alwayslookingup227@gmail.com

This episode was edited and produced by Ben Curwin

Previous Episode

Milette Millington On The Current State Of Ableism In The Workplace

March 20, 2023

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67m

In this week’s episode I sat down with Milette Millington. Milette is a disability advocate and reporter at Caribbean Life News where she covers disability, as well as local and world news, politics, sports, and entertainment from a Caribbean American perspective. We discuss her research on the impact of COVID on the disabled community in regards to employment, questions we would like to ask employers about the hiring process, the success rate of ableism, and how it cannot just be on the disabled community to fight disability discrimination.

Read Milette's Capstone: Working in New York City With a Disability: Nowhere Near Easy

Read Milette's articticles published in Caribbean Life HERE

Follow Milette On Social Media HERE

Follow Me: Instagram: @jill_ilana , @alwayslookingup.podcast Twitter: @jillx3456 Website: https://www.jillianilana.com Email: alwayslookingup227@gmail.com

This episode was edited and produced by Ben Curwin

Next Episode

Celebrating Judy Heumann

April 3, 2023

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45m

This week there is no new episode. Last month we lost Judy Heumann. Judy was a lifelong disability rights activist, international leader in the disability community, and someone I always have and always will look up to. It’s not often that you get the opportunity to speak with your hero, but almost exactly a year ago, to celebrate the 45th anniversary of the 504 Sit Ins, I was able to do just that. I would not be the advocate I am today, nor the person I am today, if it wasn’t for Judy and having the opportunity to speak with her, learn from her, is something I will be forever grateful for. She changed the world for the better. I am re-releasing that conversation because her story is one that should be told, celebrated, and remembered. I am re-releasing our conversation to serve as a reminder that it is up to us, not just the disabled community, but all of us and future generations to carry on her legacy. May her memory be a blessing.

Follow Judy: Instagram: @theheumannperspective Twitter: @judithheumann Website: https://judithheumann.com

Listen to The Heumann Perspective: Apple Podcasts , Spotify , YouTube

Buy her memoir: Being Heumann

Follow Crip Camp: Instagram: @cripcampfilm Website: https://cripcamp.com

Follow Me: Instagram: @jill_ilana , @alwayslookingup.podcast Website: https://www.jillianilana.com Email: alwayslookingup227@gmail.com

This episode was edited and produced by Ben Curwin.