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in most situations, the producers are looking for a I acknowledge that I can’t necessarily advise
name actor to fill the part. The challenge, therefore, people on how to create their own stories as each
is in cultivating performers with disabilities who can person’s situation is unique. I’m also mindful of the
eventually become name actors themselves. fact that not everyone chooses to share their story.
There are plenty of examples of this such as Peter The best advice I can offer is that the story will tell
Dinklage, Marlee Matlin, Linda Hunt, and Troy itself when it’s ready. I’ve seen this many times when
Kotsur, to name but a few. But in order for this to I’ve watched speakers both old and new take the
happen, authenticity in casting must take priority, podium and reveal parts of themselves, I would
because authenticity always matters. never have guessed at. Yes, it’s possible some of them
As public speakers, we have an enormous might embellish the truth, and especially in Table
advantage compared to our thespian brothers and Topics, you have the opportunity to outright lie if
sisters. We can create our own speeches and thus you want to. But being able to hear someone else’s
tell our own stories. And we do so with our own story is what inspires us to tell our own. Authenticity
voices, hearts, and minds. We aren’t at the whim of matters not only in what we say and how we say it. It
casting agents or producers. We don’t need to worry matters because it allows others into our space in a
about television or movie ratings or the politics of way that affirms them. It matters because it inspires
Hollywood. And we have the option to be honest people to discover or own parts of themselves, they
about who we are. The key to remember is that we may have neglected or thought others would shame
don’t have to ask anyone’s permission to tell our them for. And finally, authenticity helps affirm the
stories. Authenticity always matters. And no one has worth of what you bring to the table. Maybe you
the right to tell your story but you. When you take won’t be the right person for every part, but as a
the time to be true to yourself, then your personal public speaker, you can decide how to best use your
role can become much clearer. gifts and experience to your advantage.
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