About - Disability Reflections

who we are

Who is behind DR

Disability Reflections was founded by Gisela Sanders-Alcántara, a 13-time NY Emmy Award-winning TV producer, educator, and disability advocate. As a neurodivergent mother of an autistic child, Gisela brings a lived understanding of disability that spans generations and encompasses a range of needs within her own family. Her journey toward embracing her own neurodivergence brought a stark awareness of the underrepresentation—and frequent misrepresentation—of disability in media. It became clear that she could leverage her professional experience in documentary filmmaking and TV production -with CUNY TV, to join the growing movement of disabled media makers working to shift the narrative.

Motivated by this realization, Gisela combined her storytelling expertise with academic training in Disability Studies at CUNY SPS to create Disability Reflections. This initiative is more than a media project—it is a movement. At its core, Disability Reflections is rooted in the belief that disability is not a limitation but a powerful expression of human diversity—and that telling our stories is a source of collective transformation.

4.1%

If we see ourselves represented in the media, we feel seen. –26% of the U.S. adult population identify as having a disability, but less than 4.1% of media titles feature disability-related themes. Reference: “Nielsen (December 2022) Seen on screen: The importance of disability representation.”

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1%

It is still common practice for non-disabled actors to portray disabled characters, less than 1% of actors in TV and film are disabled. Reference: “Inevitable Foundation (April, 2022) The “cost” of accommodations report.”

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0.5%

0.5% of disabled writers were hired in the film industry, resulting in portrayals that often lack lived experience and authenticity. Reference: “Writers Guild of America, West. (2021) WGAW screen inclusion report 2021. WGAW”

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Statistics tell the story of a systemic inequity that not only excludes disabled artists but also misrepresents their narratives, placing creative control in the hands of individuals who may not fully understand the disability experience.

Effects on the Community

22.5%

When those stories are incomplete, distorted, or altogether absent, disabled individuals are devalued in both cultural perception and structural opportunity. The employment-population ratio for disabled individuals is 22.5%, compared to 65.8% for non-disabled people.

Reference: Bureau of Labor Statistics (February 25, 2025). Persons with a disability: Labor force characteristics summary.

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Reduced Health Care

Health outcomes speak of neglect by facing more often chronic health issues: 40.5% obese, 20.9% smoke, 10.4% have heart disease, and 16.6% have diabetes.

There is reduced care, since 1 in 4 adults with a disability does not have a usual healthcare provider, and many report unmet healthcare needs due to cost. Life expectancy decreases as the severity of disability increases.

Reference: Center for Disease Control (July 15, 2024). Disability impacts all of us, infographic.

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Effects

Exacerbates the impact of stigma, systemic ableism, and exclusion. -Stigma is an attribute that deeply discredits a person, leading to social isolation, depression, lower self-esteem, reduced opportunities and employment, as well as increased discrimination and barriers to healthcare.

Reference: Bruce, G. & Phelan, J. (Feb. 2014), Stigma power. Social science & medicine Vol 103, pp. 24- 32

This framework has been extensively applied to understand the experiences of people with disabilities in society.

Our mission

The mission of Disability Reflections is to foster self-expression, skill development, and personal agency among disabled individuals through the power of storytelling. By integrating embodied practices, identity exploration, and collaborative learning, the project creates a space for healing, visibility, and connection. Participants are supported not only in developing media literacy but in building narratives that are nuanced, honest, and rooted in disability pride.

Our vision

The vision of Disability Reflections is to help shape a society where disabled people are fully recognized as storytellers, creators, and cultural leaders. The project aims to transform how disability is represented and understood—shifting away from pity or inspiration tropes toward narratives that honor complexity, joy, struggle, and truth. It seeks to build a culture of access and interdependence by supporting a new generation of disabled media makers whose stories reflect the breadth of human experience. In doing so, Disability Reflections invites broader audiences to reimagine disability not as a limitation, but as an essential and powerful part of our collective future.

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What we Do

What We Do: The Effect of Positive Storytelling

At Disability Reflections, we are committed to building an ongoing stream of personal video narratives created by people with a wide range of disabilities. Our goal is to showcase the diversity within the disability community and challenge the notion that disability is a singular or monolithic experience. Through these stories, we aim to foster mutual learning, empathy, and recognition of the infinite ways people live with and understand disability.

We explore what compels someone to tell their personal story—with agency, on their own terms, and through a lens that emphasizes resilience, creativity, and truth.

The impact of positive, self-led storytelling is far-reaching:

Healing:

Personal narratives can serve as a powerful tool for emotional and psychological healing for those who share them.

Empowerment:

They affirm the agency of disabled individuals and invite engagement from others in the community.

Education:

These stories offer insight about the wide range of experiences of disability, and levels of care needs, expanding the understanding.

Cultural Shift:

Increased visibility challenges harmful stereotypes, and helps in the process of healing internalized ableism.

Community Engagement:

Greater awareness can create mobility and participation, with the potential to influence social attitudes or public policy.

By centering disabled voices and their lived experiences, Disability Reflections transforms storytelling into a tool for healing, empowerment, education, and social change.

The benefits for all humans of learning from disabled individuals

Universal Experience:

As disability is a universal human experience that anyone can encounter at any point in their lives, understanding disability culture can prepare society to handle transitions into disability more gracefully. This acceptance can also help in destigmatizing disability and incorporating it as a natural part of human diversity.

Resilience and Innovation:

People with disabilities often develop unique coping strategies, resilience, and innovative solutions to navigate their environment. These skills are valuable not only to individuals with disabilities but can be adapted to broader contexts, offering new perspectives on taming challenges and fostering creativity.

Embracing the Full Spectrum of Human Experience:

Disability culture emphasizes that life’s natural cycles, including illness and aging, are part of the human experience. This perspective encourages a more holistic view of life and can teach society to value all stages of life, not just those that are typically valued for productivity.

Healing Through Storytelling:

The act of sharing and listening to personal stories within disability culture has a healing effect, both for storytellers and listeners. This process can facilitate emotional healing and foster a deeper connection among community members, enhancing mutual understanding and support.

Educational Value:

Disability culture and the narratives within it provide educational opportunities for both disabled and non-disabled individuals. They offer insights into navigating life with a disability, the structural challenges faced, and the rich, diverse experiences of the disabled community.

Policy and Practice Implications:

By understanding disability culture, policymakers, educators, and healthcare providers can better meet the needs of the disabled community. This can lead to more inclusive, effective, and compassionate policies and practices that enhance the quality of life for all citizens.

Institutional Backers

Disability Reflections Logo top (simple version)

Subtitle “there is a thirst to tell disability stories”

Disability Reflections is supported by a growing network of institutions and organizations dedicated to disability justice, media production and distribution, education, and community engagement. This collaborative foundation provides the structural backbone for the project’s success. Partnerships with academic programs, media outlets, and disability-focused organizations ensure that Disability Reflections is rooted in both expertise and lived experience—creating an ecosystem where authentic storytelling, accessibility, and impact can thrive.

We explore what compels someone to tell their personal story—with agency, on their own terms, and through a lens that emphasizes resilience, creativity, and truth.