A Celebration Of Disabled Changemakers And Their Impact: Part 1

Sheridan O’Donnell: Through a Different Lens

In the heart of filmmaking hub Los Angeles, resides the visionary, Sheridan O’Donnell. Born in Texas, raised in New Mexico, and now based in Los Angeles, O’Donnell is a storyteller who thrives on the visceral emotion of the human condition, narrating tales about underrepresented groups and sharing experiences that have not been adequately depicted on the big screen.

Sheridan’s journey to filmmaking has been far from orthodox. Initially studying chemical engineering in college, a nudge from his scientist Father and Grandfather, O’Donnell had an epiphany during a programming class that the numbers he worked with were devoid of purpose. The following day, he changed his major to film, having fond childhood memories of making skits and shorts with his siblings. He yearned for an area of study that would instill joy in his life, a stark contrast from the rigid world of chemical engineering. O’Donnell’s debut short film, Wolf’s Law, a poignant exploration of his personal experiences with bullying, resonated deeply with viewers.

The film opened a dialog about the impacts of bullying, with many sharing their own experiences with him. This intimate connection with his audience fortified O’Donnell’s commitment to producing personal films that had the power to impact lives and trigger conversations. Growing up as a Korean-American in the small town of Las Cruces, New Mexico, O’Donnell endured a difficult childhood. In the isolating struggle of his younger years, cinema was his solace. Movies offered him a space to relate and see himself.

This experience fueled his desire to create films that were human-centric, focusing on characters struggling and persevering against life’s challenges. This guiding principle led to his first feature film, Little Brother, starring J.K Simmons. The film, addressing mental health issues and suicide, was created as a tribute to a late friend and a family member. O’Donnell, who had his struggles with mental health, realized there was a gap in cinematic storytelling around these issues. His film aimed to offer an honest and candid view of mental health, fostering empathy and understanding. O’Donnell’s filmmaking took a significant turn in January 2020 when he was diagnosed with Retinitis Pigmentosa, resulting in legal blindness.

This diagnosis led to a deeply personal mental health journey. Initially perceiving his disability through the lens of fear, shame, and sadness, he eventually found a community and empowerment within his new reality. Will Butler, a prominent figure in the disability community, was instrumental in shifting O’Donnell’s perspective. He affirmed that O’Donnell could continue making films and that his voice as a blind filmmaker would resonate powerfully.

This exchange led O’Donnell to see his disability as a perspective and a culture, rather than merely a medical condition. Now, O’Donnell is working on a project about blindness, bringing his filmmaking full circle. Despite his own initial skepticism, Butler’s prediction has come true, with O’Donnell’s unique perspective as a disabled filmmaker deeply enriching his work. O’Donnell is a testament to the enduring power of human resilience and the capacity for art to transform and heal.

From confronting societal pressures to navigate the complexities of mental health, he has emerged with a new vision – both personal and professional. His filmmaking journey is an inspiring testament to using adversity as a springboard for creativity and advocacy. O’Donnell proudly owns his journey, stating, “the experiences I’ve gone through are part of my life and they’ve informed who I am and what I care about and how passionate I am about things.”

In the realm of cinema, Sheridan O’Donnell is not just a filmmaker, but an advocate and a symbol of pride, illuminating the unseen and underrepresented stories through a different lens.

Nalleli Cobo: The Unwavering Journey of an Unyielding Climate Activist

Born into a world at odds with environmental justice, Nalleli Cobo never thought she would be an activist. In fact, she didn’t even know what the word meant until the age of 11, when a reporter threw it her way during an interview. It was then she realized, “my community is made up of that.” This realization was part of the harsh reality of growing up just 30 feet from an active oil well, in a neighbourhood scarred by environmental racism.

She began her fight for clean air at just nine years old, propelled by a simple thought: “It wasn’t fair.” Little did she know, this early activism would catapult her onto the Time 100 Next List and see her become a Goldman Environmental Prize recipient.

As a child, Nalleli, like most kids, had dreams that morphed with each passing year: a marine veterinarian, a fashion designer, a chef, and a teacher. As she grew older, she set her sights on law. However, her journey took an unexpected turn due to a pressing battle for survival and justice. From her doorstep, the environmental atrocities she witnessed led her down a grueling path of illness.

At just 19, she was diagnosed with stage two reproductive cancer after being misdiagnosed for five years. This diagnosis came with a severe regimen of surgeries, chemotherapy, radiation, and countless procedures. The aftermath left her with chronic fatigue, chronic pain, and lymphedema. Ironically, it was through her intense journey with cancer and her disability that she discovered the strength and resilience within her. She saw her disability not as a curse, but as a superpower—an added layer of grit to her already formidable spirit. Despite the physical and emotional toll, Nalleli remains steadfast in her activism.

She’s fiercely advocating for Senate Bill 1137—a policy seeking a health and safety buffer between oil extraction and sensitive lands, an issue close to her heart given her experiences. The passage of the bill has been hindered by oil industry opposition, and Nalleli is now engaged in a campaign for public education and support. Alongside her environmental work, she’s also emerged as a vocal champion for disability rights. A key part of her advocacy is bringing to light the rarely-discussed intersection of disability, mental health, and environmental issues.

Throughout her journey, Nalleli has found solace and inspiration in various corners. At the center of it all, her mother stands as her strongest pillar of support. She calls her mom, “my best friend and everything,” and aspires to emulate her strength, passion, and drive. Moreover, she’s deeply inspired by the legendary labor leader Dolores Huerta.

Today, as she navigates her path, Nalleli Cobo carries a powerful message about resilience, courage, and unwavering advocacy. A dancer turned lawyer-to-be, who became a formidable climate activist and an empowering voice for the disabled, Nalleli proves that life is full of unexpected turns, and it’s through facing them head-on that we discover our true strengths.

Raven Sutton: A Dancer of Change – Advocating for the Deaf Community One Beat at a Time

Raven Sutton, is a talented American Sign Language (ASL) performer and finalist of Netflix’s popular reality show, The Circle. A Deaf individual herself, Raven is a powerful advocate for the Disability community, using her skills and passion to amplify the voices of underrepresented groups. Born Deaf, Raven’s journey in advocacy was born from necessity rather than desire. As she navigated the world with a disability, she saw the need to fight for accommodations and inclusion for herself and others like her. This spirit of advocacy led her to pursue a master’s degree in social work, a field is a perfect fit with her drive to help others.

“I love to meet people, to learn from different folks that I encounter, and figure out how I can use my social work knowledge to connect that to folks with disabilities,” Raven explains. Before gaining recognition as an ASL performer, she worked at a domestic violence agency in Washington, DC, advocating for survivors who were often overlooked due to their disability. She found this experience invaluable, saying, “I learned so much about legal terms and definitions and how to advocate for survivors.”

Raven’s love for dance, however, would soon intertwine with her advocacy work in unexpected ways. Raised as a dancer, she explored genres like bachata, salsa, hip hop, afrobeats, and jazz. Yet, she saw a language barrier between her community and the world of music, an issue she aimed to address. She started interpreting songs into ASL for her friends, and before she knew it, her ASL covers started gaining traction online, even going viral. Her passion for music and dance and her commitment to the deaf community found an exciting meeting point. “I realized the musical world is not very accessible to people who are Deaf,” she reflects, “So I started doing ASL music covers, interpreting those songs.”

Her goal was to make music enjoyable for those who can’t experience it auditorily, showing that you can still feel the bass, the vibrations, and get the lyrics through dance and sign language. As Raven’s platform grew, she found herself educating and bringing awareness to the deaf community, challenging misunderstandings and misconceptions. She has also become an in-demand interpreter at various festivals and concerts, further extending her influence. Her journey into Netflix’s The Circle stemmed from a desire for normalizing the representation of deaf individuals on mainstream platforms. “Deaf people are normal, we flirt, we have fun, just like hearing people,” she says, “You can’t normalize something if you don’t see it on a regular basis.” Raven’s advocacy journey has also been influenced by the concept of Disability Pride, something she admits she hadn’t heard about growing up. It was during her time at university that she saw more positivity related to the disability community.

For her, Disability Pride means being proud of who you are, including your disability. “Being deaf is who I am, and that’s a part of my journey and a part of my life. And we should be proud of who we are because none of us were made by mistake,” she asserts. Despite the lack of representation in the media, Raven found her role model in her mother, who encouraged her to strive for success despite her disability. She also understands the importance of being a role model herself, becoming a symbol of inspiration for young black deaf individuals who need representation. “Ironically now I am a Black Deaf role model that other people can look up to,” she muses, emphasizing the need for more diverse representation in media. Raven’s hopes for the future of media representation are crystal clear.

She envisions a media landscape where people with disabilities are an integral part of the creative process. Her dream is for society to recognize that diversity includes disability. Raven’s unyielding advocacy, coupled with her unique artistry, is undeniably shaping the narrative for the Deaf community, pushing for inclusion and representation one beat at a time.