We Begin Building Relationships With the Screenwriting and Disability Communities
Around this time, the foundation begins building relationships with core individuals and institutions at the intersection of entertainment and disability. Virtual panels and podcasts begin with allies and collaborators like the Writers Guild of America West’s Disabled Writers Committee, The Black List, Easterseals Disability Film Challenge, Disability Philanthropy Forum, and disability leaders, like Judy Heumann and her Heumann Perspective Podcast, alongside a growing list of showrunners and executive producers.
Inevitable Connects With Industry Members Around Disability Advocacy and Education
As a burgeoning industry leader in disability, Inevitable begins developing new relationships and directly engaging studios and networks through virtual panels, such as the Closing the Disability Representation Gap in Kids’ & Family Television panel with Nickelodeon, service days at Paramount and Searchlight Pictures, and company briefings at Participant Media, Rideback, and Disney.
Inevitable Foundation Calls on Hollywood to Invest in Disabled Creatives at THR’s Raising Our Voices Event
President Richie Seigel took the stage at The Hollywood Reporter's inaugural luncheon alongside fellow industry members Troy Kotsur, Geena Davis, and Wilmer Valderrama, in a speech that emphasized the need for Hollywood to finally invest in disability representation as part of its push for authentic and diverse storytelling and hiring. Designed to bring together those dedicated to celebrating diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility, the event helped situate Inevitable Foundation as an important leader in Hollywood’s inclusion efforts and marked the first of the nonprofit’s major industry appearances, including Starz’s #TaketheLead Summit in May 2022.
The Disability Is Diversity Campaign Hits Billboards Across the Country
Inevitable creates the first known billboard campaign to be produced by an all-disabled team, who came together from five different countries. Appearing across print, digital, audio and billboard placements in 16 cities, including Los Angeles, San Francisco, Chicago and Atlanta, the Disability is Diversity campaign secured upwards of $4 million in pro bono ad space in its first 18 months from companies like JCDecaux, Lamar, Clear Channel, Tiffany & Co., Caruso, Simon Property Group, Becker Boards, Capitol Outdoor, Intersection, Variety, The Hollywood Reporter and Kevani. It has since earned the praise of industry leaders, including Geena Davis Institute and Titling the Lens.
Inevitable Hosts Its First Panel at San Diego Comic-Con
Inevitable Foundation brings the discussion around the state of disability representation on- and off screen to the most influential entertainment convention in the U.S., the International Comic Con in San Diego. Featuring Jillian Mercado, Josh Feldman, and Lauren Ridloff, along with Inevitable Foundation Accelerate Fellows Greg Machlin and Aoife Baker, the panel marks the first time the organization — focused predominantly on supporting disabled writers — engages with the general public and wider disability community on a major live platform.
Our Hire Disabled Writers Advocacy Initiative Kicks Off
Precluded by a industry-shifting call to move away from the “consultant trap” in a Hollywood Reporter guest column, Inevitable Foundation initiated this multi-pronged advocacy initiative, which included the "Hire Disabled Writers, Not Just A Disability Consultant" billboard campaign across digital and print media in industry centers like Los Angeles and New York, and an open letter signed by nearly 40 entertainment industry leaders such as Marlee Matlin, Ramy Youssef, Lauren Ridloff, Paul Feig, Ryan O’Connell, and Ali Stroker.
Inevitable Supports Accessible Picketing and Cooling Stations
On May 8 in Culver City, Inevitable supports an intentionally accessible picket line for WGA and pre-WGA writers to promote more inclusive strike policies and provide snacks, shaded seating, and accessible bathrooms to those striking. Throughout the WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes, Inevitable returned to the picket lines multiple times with cooling stations featuring mist fans and free cooling towels, sporting the slogan "The Future of Disabled Creatives is Non-Negotiable," and offered to picketers in the California heat.
Foundation Staff Build an Advocacy Campaign to Address Ableist Language
Created with support from collaborator LaVant Consulting, the social media campaign used memes and graphics to publicly highlight the necessity for alternatives to ableist language within media and reporting about disability. The ableist language campaign was also used to brief leaders at agencies, studios, and other entertainment workplaces, where the campaign earned praise from the industry’s DEAI leaders.
Greenlight Disability Initiative Takes Over Billboards and Hollywood
This data-driven billboard campaign launched in Los Angeles and New York alongside an open letter to Hollywood signed by Rachel Bloom, Sian Heder, Samara Weaving, Jillian Mercado, Rob Delaney, Jorge Gutierrez, and more encouraging TV and film executives to stop underestimating the power of authentic disability representation.