Not long ago, I had the opportunity to share the stage with an actor who lives with an intellectual disability. It wasn’t a “different” experience in the condescending sense of the word. It was demanding, eye-opening, and deeply human.
Many in the industry still wonder —often silently— whether it’s “worth it” to include people with intellectual or psychosocial disabilities in professional productions. Concerns about workflow, direction, or “production risks” often come up. But these questions reveal more about our limitations than theirs.
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Juanma Mallen thanks for sharing your experience. Speaking about the value of inclusion without tokenism is powerful—and needed. Hopefully more and more challenging the industry will help it to grow beyond its fears and assumptions. What was most eye-opening about it for you?
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"The most revealing thing was discovering the creative freedom they have, compared to other actors who are more concerned about their image and much more afraid of looking ridiculous."
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Juanma Mallen, This is such a powerful reflection, and I’m so glad you shared it. Inclusion shouldn’t be viewed as a risk. It’s an opportunity to deepen our storytelling and expand the heart of our industry. When we make space for artists of all abilities, we enrich the creative process and challenge ourselves to become better collaborators, communicators, and humans.
There’s so much to learn when we stop assuming what someone can or cannot bring to the table.
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Juanma Mallen that is certainly inspiring to hear and a good reminder to me to care less about how I come across when acting
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Oh, I have a classmate with intelectuall dissablity! I just had a film idea inspired by her!