Highlighting Latino Entertainers with Disabilities in Honor of Hispanic Heritage Month
– Lauren Appelbaum, RespectAbility Communications Director |
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| The country just finished celebrating National Hispanic Heritage Month, which began on Sept. 15, 2017 and ended Oct. 15, 2017. National Hispanic Heritage Month recognizes Hispanic and Latino American heritage and culture. This includes 4,869,400 Latinos living with a disability in the U.S. While studies show many people within the Latino and other communities hide their invisible disability due to negative stigmas, some Hollywood celebrities are using their voice to share their stories, educating people about both visible and invisible disabilities. Only 37 percent of working-age Latinos with disabilities are employed in the U.S., compared to 73.9 percent of working-age Latinos without disabilities. Our nation’s economy is strongest when it is inclusive of the value that diverse talent brings to the workplace. These celebrities are making a difference in how audiences, both Latino and non-Latino, perceive disability. |
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Steve Wynn: Legally Blind, with Vision in Business, Gaming & Philanthropy |
Salma Hayek, Actress and Producer with Dyslexia
– By Katie Townes, RespectAbility Communications Fellow |
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| Hayek embraced dyslexia as a child, later adapting how to learn scripts. “Some people read really fast, but you’ll ask them questions about the script and they’ll forget. I take a long time to read a script, but I read it only once.” |
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Steve Wynn: Legally Blind, with Vision in Business, Gaming & Philanthropy |
Demi Lovato, Pop Star and Actress with Bipolar Disorder
– By Julia Wood, RespectAbility Communications Fellow |
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| “It’s important to speak up about the things you believe in, because your voice will be heard no matter what position you’re in,” she shared. “I just happen to be in a position where more people would hear my voice.” |
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Michelle Rodriguez, Actress and Aspiring Writer/Director with ADD
– By Zein Al Maha Oweis, RespectAbility Communications Fellow |
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| Known for her sexy and confident roles in Lost and Fast and Furious, Rodriguez now has set her eyes on writing and directing movies. “I want to write and direct, but it’s not easy with ADD. I have a hard time focusing when I’m alone.” |
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