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Oscars diversity debate must include learning disability

Letters
Rev Al Sharpton speaks at a rally last year to protest against the lack of diversity in Oscar awards.
Rev Al Sharpton speaks at a rally last year to protest against the lack of diversity in the Oscar awards. Photograph: Zuma Wire/Rex/Shutterstock
Rev Al Sharpton speaks at a rally last year to protest against the lack of diversity in the Oscar awards. Photograph: Zuma Wire/Rex/Shutterstock

Last modified on Thu 22 Feb 2018 15.49 EST

Diversity has long been an issue at the Oscars, which are due to be awarded on Sunday. Last year’s #OscarsSoWhite campaign highlighted the lack of racial diversity. But disability has been overlooked in this debate, with even less of a voice for people with a learning disability. The pool of talent among actors with a learning disability grows every year, with some receiving critical acclaim. But, for the few roles that do show disability on screen, actors with disabilities are still overlooked. Statistics show 16% of Oscars are awarded to non-disabled actors playing a disabled character. Just 12% of the public say they have seen someone with a learning disability in a film.

This is a group of people who remain misunderstood, at the corners of society. Hollywood has the power to shape attitudes and challenge our perceptions. It’s time for the diversity debate to embrace diversity itself, and begin a new era for the overlooked pool of growing talent among actors with a learning disability.
Jan Tregelles

Chief executive of Mencap

Ben Higgins
Chief executive of Bild
Neil Heslop
Chief executive of Leonard Cheshire Disability
Sarah Gordy
Actor with Down’s syndrome
Steven Brandon
Actor with Down’s syndrome
Jodie Whittaker
Actor
Ty Glaser
Actor
Kellie Shirley
Actor
James Rumsey
Producer of My Feral Heart
Jane Gull
Director of My Feral Heart
Duncan Paveling
Writer of My Feral Heart
Mark Nutkins
Cinematographer
Carl Mackenzie
Producer
Pixie Le Knot
The Girl in My Feral Heart and the UK’s leading contortionist
Tim Bentinck
Actor
Nick Llewellyn
Access All Areas theatre company
Patrick Collier
Executive producer, Access All Areas theatre company
Law Ballard
Actor and artistic director at Actors Temple
Gill Broderick
Actor
Mark Wakeling
Actor, producer and founder of Artistic Temple
Susie Tullet
Film publicist

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