Let me be clear: You don’t need to crawl up the Capitol steps on your hands and knees to make history—though some folks did exactly that, and, well, it worked. (Personal note: Thanks!) You don’t need to channel your inner Martin Luther King, Jr. with a groundbreaking speech, or write some fancy policy paper full of $10 words your Uncle Joe wouldn’t understand, or be an Instagram influencer. You don’t need to be the loudest voice in the room. But you do need to show up.
That’s not just some public relations platitude. That’s history talking.
From 2011 to 2017, I had the honor of serving as Public Affairs lead for the National Council on Disability—that’s the independent federal agency that wrote “Toward Independence,” the blueprint for the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Spoiler alert: It wasn’t an overnight success. Years of persistent pushing, prodding, and protesting were required. Talking to those who were there reveals that the ADA is about more than laws and policies. The largely untold story illustrates what happens when policy wonks, politicians, and everyday people fed up with waiting dare to demand something different.
James LeBrecht, the disabled filmmaker who co-directed the Oscar-nominated “Crip Camp” with Nicole Newnham, just dropped a new truth bomb called “Change, Not Charity.” It’s currently airing on PBS stations across the nation on “The American Experience.” Full disclosure: I’m in it, and fifteen-year-old me is still pinching myself about that, but what makes this film essential viewing is how it lays bare the fight for every single inch of progress. Charity props up the status quo. Keeps things as they are. Change requires people, policies, and practices to…well, you know.
No politician woke up one morning feeling generous enough to gift-wrap disability civil rights. We, the people, built coalitions. Traveled and organized state by state. Made noise. And when they ignored us, we got louder. “Change, Not Charity” showcases what every disabled person knows deep in our bones: Rights aren’t handed out like Halloween candy, despite what some pundits and partisan politicians may claim—they’re fought for, inch by inch. And keeping those rights? That’s a whole other battle we’re still fighting. Every. Single. Day.
I also encourage NYers to show up for the 17th Annual ReelAbilities Film Festival: New York which is taking place April 3–9 all across the Big Apple. Why? Because if “Change, Not Charity” is our rearview mirror ReelAbilities is our headlight—illuminating where we’re headed. Spotlighting our stories, our lived experiences, and imagined futures in every genre imaginable by carving out space for disability in art, culture, and by hosting conversations that can jump start that better tomorrow.
I’m imagining some of you going: “Come on, Lawrence, it’s a film festival. Some cool movies, clever Q&As, maybe a lil’ popcorn—what’s that got to do with fighting for accessibility, equity, and justice?”
Everything, my friends. Everything.
Gathering at ReelAbilities, where you settle into a seat, immerse yourself in stories reflecting our messy, beautiful realities, and share belly laughs and ugly cries with strangers-turned-comrades, is more than just a few hours of entertainment. You’re declaring that our stories matter. Disability is a fundamental, vital, and undeniable part of the human experience, not some inspirational sidebar or problem to be fixed.
Nothing achieved was inevitable. The ADA? Advocates showed up. ReelAbilities? Audiences show up. That future we’re all creating—where accessibility is baked in, inclusion is the norm, and justice isn’t just an afternoon TV show your Grandma watches.
That only happens, and keeps happening, when we show up.
Here’s another beautiful thing: Showing up doesn’t always mean staging protests or giving speeches (though I have done those things and have nothing but respect for those who do). For most folks, it means staying informed, staying engaged, keeping the conversation alive. That’s where staying informed comes in.
So consider this your personal invitation and a call to action direct from me to you. Watch “Change, Not Charity” and witness how far we’ve come and take a few notes about how we got here. Hit up ReelAbilities for a sneak preview of where we’re going next. Keep reading Able News to stay informed, engaged, and prepared to take action when necessary—because in today’s turbulent cultural and political environment, moments when we need to show up are evolving minute by minute, day by day, with ever-increasing speed and intensity.
Whether we’re talking about movies that matter, movements that made history, or news you can use, showing up remains crucial.
No matter where you are or how you do it, let’s keep walking, rolling, hobbling, sashaying, and marching together, forever forward.
Opinions expressed are solely those of the writer(s) and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Able News at The Viscardi Center and/or The Viscardi Center.