The Coronation of a New Networking Initiative

Stars from famous British soap Coronation Street, have set up a new networking initiative aimed at improving representation of disabled artists in the entertainment industry.  Cherylee Houston and Melissa Johns, who play Izzy Armstrong and Imogen Pascoe on the ITV soap respectively, have set up the Disabled Artists Network Community (DANC).

Aims of DANC

DANC is designed to open a dialogue within the industry and encourage change.  They hope that the more people who are involved, the more change they can make.  Cherylee told the BBC:

“It’s about that responsibility of giving back to the community for the people of the future, so they don’t have to keep facing the blocks that we faced.”

“It’s about that responsibility of putting back into your career for the people of the future for their careers, so people don’t have to keep facing the blocks we faced.”

The pair express a desire to help disabled people get noticed and make a name for themselves.  They’re aware of the challenges disabled people face in the entertainment industry and want to help eradicate these.

Activities

DANC aims to bring non-disabled and disabled people together in the one setting, to encourage conversation and networking.  Melissa explained:

“You grow up not seeing people with disabilities on screen or on stages, and when you do say to someone, ‘I want to be an actor’ or ‘I want to be a dancer’ or something in this industry, you do get funny looks”

The lack of representation and mixing of disabled artists with non-disabled artists, makes it seems abnormal.  The aim of DANC is to change this and make it the norm to see disabilities on screen.

Bigger Picture

Both Cherylee and Melissa want to see a change to the ‘them and us’ attitude, stating that there needs to be an understanding that everyone is responsible for change.  The more people that are involved, the easier it will be to keep the campaign strong and eventually change attitudes and opinions within the industry.  The influence the entertainment industry has on society is immense and it’s hoped that DANC can first change the industry and secondly, change how disabled people are treated in society in day-to-day life.