Media plays a huge role in shaping public perceptions of disability. This is especially so when a lot of the time people's only experience of a disabled person or disability culture is through consuming media. How do we change media perceptions of disability so that public perception is more accepting of disabled people? Join us in conversation with Dominick, Kristen, and AJ as we explore how to make these changes.

We will provide ASL interpretation and CART captioning for this event, which participants will be able to join by video or phone.

Speakers

Dominick Evans is a trans queer crip director/writer, consultant, Twitch streamer, and dad. They have a BFA in Film. Dominick’s work delves into inclusion in media, sex education for Disabled/LGBTQIA youth, marriage equality, institutional bias, and reproductive rights. In 2014, he founded #FilmDis, a Twitter chat about Disability in media. Dominick has spoken around the world. He recently directed the music video "Spaces" from his home in Michigan and works in Hollywood, consulting studios, to make the industry more inclusive. Dominick spends a lot of time streaming on Twitch – exploring accessibility and access. With their partner, Ashtyn, they release an annual study into disability on television.

Kristen Lopez is currently the TV Editor of IndieWire. She has been writing on popular culture, with an emphasis on disability representation, for 15 years now with her work published at Variety, MTV, Roger Ebert, and Forbes. In her free time she enjoys classic film and podcasting with her friends over at Ticklish Business.

AJ Link (he/him) is openly autistic. He received his JD from The George Washington University Law School. AJ is currently pursuing an LL.M in Space Law at the University of Mississippi School of Law, while also serving as the inaugural director of The Center for Air and Space Law Task Force on Inclusion, Diversity, and Equity in Aerospace. He works as a research director for the Jus Ad Astra project and serves as president and executive director of the National Disabled Law Students Association, which he co-founded. AJ was awarded the Michael Dillon Cooley Memorial Award by his graduating class for his compassion and humanity in serving his fellow students and was inducted into the Susan M. Daniels Disability Mentoring Hall of Fame.

Moderator: Lydia X. Z. Brown, AWN Director of Policy, Advocacy, and External Affairs

Please note that after registering on EventBrite, you will also receive instructions for receiving a Zoom link. AWN will host this event on Zoom as well as livestream to Facebook.

[Image: Event banner shows a colorful keyboard. There are three people. First is Dominick, a masculine appearing person wearing gold wire rim glasses and a blue, black, and gray Argyle long-sleeve shirt. He sits in his wheelchair. Second is Kristen, a white woman with brown hair in a red, checked jacket. Third is AJ, a black male wearing a backwards black hat and red sweater. He is sitting down next to other folks and speaking with expressive hand gestures. Text says, Changing Media Perceptions of Disability, 16 Mar 2022 at 7pm Eastern / 4pm Pacific. The corner shows the AWN logo - a large "a" with a dragonfly on it, and the words awnnetwork.org.]

Changing Media Perceptions of Disability

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