Lauren Appelbaum is the SVP, Entertainment & News Media, at RespectAbility, a diverse, disability-led nonprofit that works to create systemic change in how society views and values people with disabilities, and advances policies and practices that empower disabled people to have a better future. As an individual with an acquired nonapparent disability – Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy – she works at the intersection of disability, employment, and the entertainment industry. A big part of Appelbaum’s work is to increase hiring initiatives of people with disabilities behind the camera and to enrich the pool of disabled talent in Hollywood by connecting them to those who can assist with their careers, both on the creative and business sides of the industry. She is a founder of RespectAbility’s Entertainment Lab and Children’s Content Lab, with goals of building the disability community within the industry and connecting Lab Fellows to opportunities. A recipient of the 2020 Roddenberry Foundation Impact Award, Appelbaum partners with major studios and serves on a variety of industry councils. This work helps increase diverse and authentic representation of disabled people on screen, effecting systemic change in how society views and values disabled individuals.