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ReelAbilities International, the trailblazing parent organization of the global ReelAbilities Film Festival, is proud to announce that Lawrence Carter-Long, acclaimed disabled creative, curator, and commentator, is joining the organization as Director of Engagement. 

This milestone coincides with ReelAbilities’ exciting evolution into an independent nonprofit, reaffirming its ongoing commitment to community, creativity, and credibility as they continue to showcase well-told, authentic, and innovative stories about disability while advancing opportunities for those who tell them well, especially disabled creatives. As ReelAbilities transitions to an independent nonprofit, this marks a pivotal moment to expand its mission of promoting disability inclusion through media. Carter-Long’s addition to the team strengthens the organization’s capacity and influence, helping it reach new heights in championing innovative storytelling and positively disruptive representation.

Carter-Long, a longtime friend and advisor to ReelAbilities, is a respected thought leader in Disability Culture who brings decades of lived and professional expertise spanning advocacy, media, and the arts to the new position created specifically to leverage his skills and interests. In his new role, he will advance exhibition and programming partnerships that ”put the past in perspective, spotlight the present, and create a more inclusive future” for disability in film. 

Previously the communications lead for the National Council on Disability—the independent federal agency that played a central role in creating the Americans with Disabilities Act—Carter-Long has crafted a career that facilitates positive change at the intersection of public policy, popular culture, and personality by spearheading innovative programs, conducting awareness, accessibility, and sensitivity trainings, and through consultation, curation, and in collaboration with respected leaders like SAG AFTRA, the National Endowment for the Arts, the Sundance Institute, the American Film Institute, NPR, ITVS, and the BBC, to name a few. In addition, he has curated and co-hosted several popular showcases exploring the history and evolution of disability in film in partnership with the popular network Turner Classic Movies, including “The Projected Image: A History of Disability in Film” in 2012 and “Disability Reclaimed” in 2023. 

As an author, Lawrence has written for a broad range of publications, including academic journals like Film Quarterly, respected analysis for PBS and The Atlantic, and mainstream publications like USA Today. A popular public speaker and educator, Lawrence has lectured on disability history and media representation at the Library of Congress, the Television Academy, the Academy of Motion Pictures Museum, and the United Nations.

His insights are featured in the award-winning 2020 feature-length documentary, «Code of the Freaks,» a radical reframing of disabled characters in film. As an actor, he appears in the 2021 NY Times Critic’s Pick, «Best Summer Ever” as Officer Gorinsky. More recently, in July 2024, Lawrence wrote the liner notes for the Film Masters 2K release of the kung fu cult classic “The Crippled Masters” on BluRay and DVD, illustrating the depth and breadth of his knowledge on this wide-ranging subject from arthouse innovations to cult classics and mainstream favorites, past and present.

“With the right support, a good film can help change society, cultivate community, and showcase creativity,” said Carter-Long. “The history, steady growth, and evolving success of RealAbilities is a powerful testimony to the power and necessity of all three. I’m thrilled to join the team and help expand our mission and our work in exciting, new ways.”

In his inaugural event, Carter-Long will moderate an exclusive Q&A session following a special preview screening of “Out of My Mind» (before it premieres on Disney+) featuring director Amber Seely, breakout star Phoebe-Rae Taylor (who, like her character in the film, has cerebral palsy), and producer Peter Saraf. Carter-Long was also a consultant on the film. Even before release, this highly anticipated adaptation of Sharon M. Draper’s beloved young adult bestseller has been celebrated for its refreshing portrayal of disability on-screen, receiving two standing ovations at its Sundance premiere and being honored with an audience award at the MIll Valley Film Festival. 

The November 19 screening of “Out of My Mind” highlights and affirms ReelAbilities’ ongoing commitment to spotlighting impactful films that challenge societal perception with authentic narratives that resonate with audiences worldwide.

MEDIA OPPORTUNITIES:

• Interviews with Lawrence Carter-Long: Insights on his new role and ReelAbilities’ work to elevate and illuminate the hidden past, exciting present, and a more inclusive future of disability in film—in front of and behind the camera.