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One Woman's Mission to Include Performers with Disabilities in Film and Television
by Pam Vetter Diana Elizabeth Jordan, an actress with cerebral palsy, loves to talk about film, television and theatre and her positive spirit is infectious, offering inspiration to everyone. "If you believe in something, everything is possible. Look at how far performers with disabilities have come. We've come a long way, but we still have a long way to go," said Jordan. "I don't look back. You can choose to sit around and be frustrated, but I choose to focus on where we need to go. That's what motivates me." In fact, Jordan has been motivated to reach her dreams her entire life. Born with cerebral palsy, she had a love of acting since childhood. After earning a bachelor's degree in Theatre and Media Arts from the University of Kansas, she began her acting career in Chicago where theatre offered opportunity. Her love of the theatre grew. “Life is not about regrets. So, I applied to the California State University at Long Beach to further my education," Jordan explains humbly. "I was accepted into the program."
She not only was accepted, but she made history when she became the first actor with a disability to obtain a Master’s of Fine Arts degree at Long Beach. In 1999, she accepted a position at Performing Arts Studio West, which provides professional hands-on training, career management, and on location support for performers with disabilities. "Diana has worked with us for nine years. She was extremely important in the very early stages of what we were creating," said John Paizis, Performing Arts Studio West Founder and Director. "As an acting instructor and on-set coach, she provides a tremendous amount of insight as she understands the challenges and helps performers work through them. She has been instrumental in getting our actors prepared." Jordan has had an especially warm relationship with the critically acclaimed Cornerstone Theater in Los Angeles as she prepares to perform in her fourth show with the company.
"Cornerstone is dedicated to diversity. I performed in my first show with them while I was in graduate school. I'll never forget that call," Jordan remembers. "They worked around my graduation and finals schedule. They were very generous." Jordan is now rehearsing for another Cornerstone show that features characters with disabilities. "Playwright Julie Marie Myatt wrote a part with me in mind for 'Someday.' An ensemble piece, it's about a single woman with cerebral palsy who fights to adopt an abandoned baby, while a middle-class couple struggles to conceive. It's a universal story and Julie understands that. The fact that a playwright thought enough of me to develop something with me in mind is amazing," continued Jordan. "The majority of the stories in the disabled community are also stories that are universal. We get married and divorced; we have hopes and dreams; we have children; we deal with families; and we live life. My disability is a part of who I am, but it doesn't define me." In writing the part of a woman with disabilities, Myatt embraced the character's added dimensions as she conducted research for the play. As a member of the Screen Actors Guild Performers with Disabilities Committee, Jordan envisions an inclusive environment in the entertainment industry. "I want to create opportunities for other performers with disabilities. We need to see diversity. We need to see people who are wheelchair users. We need to see people with cerebral palsy and people with Down syndrome. I want our voices to be heard," emphasized Jordan. "This is about authenticity and equal opportunity. The doors are starting to open and Hollywood is slowly changing. We do have great success stories.” Learn more about Diana Elizabeth Jordan and the prevalence of actors/characters with disabilities in the mainstream media by visiting www.disaboom.com. Since its launch in 2007, Disaboom is dedicated to enabling people with disabilities to live forward.
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Disaboom
Diana Elizabeth Jordan
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This intel was contributed by eskcsg
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May, 2012
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