Entertainment

Actions

NBCUniversal vows auditions for actors with disabilities

TV-Disability Inclusion
Posted
and last updated

LOS ANGELES (AP) — An effort to bring people with disabilities into clearer focus on TV and movie screens is getting a boost from a major media company.

NBCUniversal says that actors with disabilities will be included in auditions for each new production.

The agreement was sought by the Ruderman Family Foundation, a disability rights advocate.

This is the second pledge made to the foundation to boost auditions for people with disabilities.

The first came from CBS Entertainment in 2019, and the foundation hopes other Hollywood studios follow suit.

Jay Ruderman heads the Boston-based foundation and says what people see on screen can change their perception of those with disabilities.

Ruderman told The Associated Press that the more people with disabilities are seen in roles, “it will have ramifications throughout society."

In 2018, only about 22% of characters with disabilities were “authentically portrayed by actors with disabilities" on a network and streaming shows, The AP reported.

,

Weather

Daily Forecast

View Hourly Forecast

Day

Conditions

HI / LO

Precip

Wednesday

11/26/2025

Foggy

-° / 45°

8%

Thursday

11/27/2025

Fog Late

61° / 45°

10%

Friday

11/28/2025

Partly Cloudy

60° / 44°

12%

Saturday

11/29/2025

Partly Cloudy

62° / 44°

7%

Sunday

11/30/2025

Partly Cloudy

61° / 44°

6%

Monday

12/01/2025

Mostly Clear

62° / 44°

4%

Tuesday

12/02/2025

Mostly Clear

63° / 45°

4%

Wednesday

12/03/2025

Mostly Clear

60° / 44°

8%