Lights, Camera, Access!

A Talk With Actress and Disability Advocate Leesa Levinson

Dec 15, 2008 Andrew Leibs

Toronto-based Lights, Camera, Access! promotes the presence of the disabled in entertainment and media and recognizes organizations for non-traditional casting.

Few entities influence public perception as powerfully as the entertainment industry, including television and film. Portrayals of races, ethnicities, religions, and age groups, reflect and reinforce ingrained attitudes, regardless of stereotypes and inaccuracies.

This is especially true for persons with disabilities, who, when cast at all in television and film roles, are often used to evoke sympathy, ridicule, or revulsion rather than represent human beings.

Leesa Levinson, founder of Lights, Camera, Access! (LCA) is an ambassador for the talents of the disabled who advocates for their inclusion in media and entertainment. Levinson has Multiple Sclerosis, a condition that hasn’t hindered her acting, which includes voice work, commercials, a theatre showcase, and principle roles on the pilot series Runaway and Jeff Ltd.

Lights, Camera, Access! Enlarges Role of Disabled in Canadian Entertainment

What inspired Lights, Camera, Access?

Lights, Camera, Access! was inspired when my work opportunities as an actor sharply decreased or were non existent. I was an able bodied actor for many years, working and auditioning frequently until Multiple Sclerosis forced me to use different mobility aides.

What’s your main objective?

To advance the presence, portrayal, and participation of persons with disabilities in the Canadian Entertainment and New Media Industry.

What’s your assessment of disability in entertainment?

You very rarely see the culture included in programs in film, TV, digital, and New Media.

What aren’t you seeing that you would like to see?

I would love to see persons with a disabilities reflected in our media. LCA!s mission is to employ talented and qualified people with disabilities in the industry. Having this talented community involved, given equal opportunities to audition and apply for the positions and roles that tell their stories is what LCA! fights for. I DO NOT like seeing roles for persons with disabilities filled with able-bodied actors. Having this talented community involved, given equal opportunities to audition/apply for the position/roles is what LCA! strives to achieve.

How do you go about advocating for inclusion?

I network at film festivals, conferences, events, and speak to industry professionals. I talk to people in NGOs, societies and most importantly, engage people with disabilities and promote the endless possibilities and benefits of inclusion and creativity.

What sorts of disabilities do you serve? Do you help people in the US as well?

LCA! represents a cross section of disabilities. Currently we do not reach the US. I was actually influenced to start LCA! by the Media Access Office (MAO) in Hollywood, California. I learned about the MAO when I saw them on Sally Jessie Raphael show. I was motivated to research and discover what was available to talent with disabilities in Canada.

How effective has your approach been? Is there a recent success you can talk about?

The LCA! team have secured the support of CTVglobemedia, Heritage Canada, private donations and as of a few weeks ago, we are recipients of the Entertainment and Creative Cluster Partnership Fund from the Ontario Ministry of Culture and administered by the Ontario Media Development Corporation.

I am surrounded by amazing people, especially the LCA! volunteer board and advisory council. I stand on the shoulders and learn from those champions and trailblazers who are my mentors, colleagues and friends. I am also grateful to have an incredibly supportive family and partner.

The copyright of the article Lights, Camera, Access! in Accessible Recreation is owned by Andrew Leibs. Permission to republish Lights, Camera, Access! in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.

Dearth of Disabled Roles Fuels Levinson’s Advocacy