Documentary captures Hollywood’s portrayal of people with disabilities in films throughout history

June 2, 2017: The next movie to be featured in the Museum of disABILITY History Film and Speaker Series will be Diffability Hollywood, presented on Saturday, June 17, with two showings at 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. at the Museum of disABILITY History, 3826 Main Street, Buffalo. A reception with refreshments and a question and answer session will be held between screenings at 5 p.m.

Produced by Espocinema and created by Adrian Esposito, Diffability Hollywood is a documentary about Hollywood’s portrayal of people with disabilities in films throughout history. A resident of Rochester, NY, Esposito will be the featured speaker during the event’s reception. Esposito’s main goal in making this film is to portray people with disabilities in a less stereotypical way and to advocate for the inclusion of more writers, directors and actors with disabilities in the movie industry. Esposito, an award-winning filmmaker, has autism and is a spokesperson who seeks to help the world accept people with disabilities as capable, seeing their disabilities as “diffabilities.”

Diffability Hollywood features celebrities who have disabilities, actors and advocates, including: Edward Barbanell, Jamie Brewer, Chris Burke, Johnny Knoxville, Lauren Potter and Danny Woodburn. A portion of the footage was filmed at the Museum of disABILITY History and Curator Doug Platt is included in the film, providing insight on how characters with disabling conditions are portrayed in popular culture.

Event tickets are $5 per person and for sale in advance at the Museum of disABILITY History, online at store.museumofdisability.org or at the Museum on the day of the event; limited space available. To purchase or reserve tickets by phone, call 716-629-3626.

Established in 1998, the Museum of disABILITY History, a project of People Inc., is the only one of its kind in the United States and is dedicated to advancing the understanding, acceptance and independence of people with disabilities. Located in Buffalo, NY, the Museum’s exhibits, collections, publications, archives and educational programs create awareness and a platform for dialogue and discovery.