Everyday Superheroes - Meet 3 Extraordinary Actors who Perform with Disabilities

Lisa is thrilled to be joined by three wonderful actors
who you need to know about! Carey Cox recurs on “The Handmaid’s
Tale” as Rose Blaine, Joseph Kibler has acted on shows like
“Criminal Minds” “Good Trouble” “Chicago Med” and Leah Rachel is
model, dancer, actress  performing all over London on both
stage and screen. What do these three artists have in common? In
addition to being talented, they are all performers with
disabilities and advocates in their own unique capacities. Carey,
Joseph and Leah have so much to share with us, not just about
their career challenges but also about their wins and their view
of the  changing landscape of visibility, accessibility and
inclusion for performers. 


Joseph’s YouTube channel


https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_wSQDC60FRxjUxdrjGRHVA


Joseph’s Insta 


https://www.instagram.com/josephakibler/


TikTok - Josephakible


Joseph Kibler’s blog - www.fancywalker.blog


Carey’s Insta


https://www.instagram.com/careyleighcox/?hl=en


Leah’s Insta


https://www.instagram.com/leahrachel99/


Leah’s other Socials


@LeahRachel99


Website:


https://www.leahrachelcaplan.com


Leah Rachel is an Access Coordinator, Disabled Actress, and a
Medical Ethics Researcher currently based in the UK


Carey Cox is a New York based actor.  Originally from
El Paso, TX, Carey has a BFA in Musical Theater from Santa Fe
University of Art and Design, and an MFA in Acting from UNC
Chapel Hill. Carey has performed on Broadway, Off-Broadway, and
in regional theater.  She was a writer and performer
for the 2022 Viacom/CBS Diversity Showcase, and she plays Rose
Blaine on The Handmaids Tale.  She also stars in the
upcoming Indie feature Where Did the Adults
Go?.  Other passions include visual art, playwrighting,
stand-up, singing, guitar, and volunteering.  Carey has
Ehlers Danlos Syndrome and advocates for disability
inclusion.  She has three cats and one dog with her
husband Joe.


Joseph Kibler is a born disabled and HIV positive
actor/writer/content creator living in New York, NY. Joseph has
appeared on shows such as Chicago Med, Good Trouble, Criminal
Minds and CSI Cyber along with several National commercials from
brands like Wells Fargo, Toyota, National Association of Realtors
& United Healthcare.  He was a long time member of
Upright Citizen Brigade as an improviser & sketch comedy
writer and was on the MessHall Team Fetch. Joseph has also
produced and was the subject of an Award Winning Documentary
called Walk On. Walk On follows Joseph's journey training to walk
6 miles in the LA AIDS Walk.  It was produced by Alfred
Molina, Emma Thompson, Hugh Jackman, Steve & Nancy Carell and
won best documentary at Burbank International Film Festival &
Timecode: NOLA. Alongside his HIV & Disability activism and
writing his own spec films/tv shows, he enjoys his days with his
spouse, Carey Cox and their four senior pets. 


Here is the rundown:


01:29 The Reality of Being a Disabled Actor


02:29 The Importance of Authentic Representation


07:23 The Struggle for Equal Opportunities


09:52 The Isolation of Disabled Actors


12:57 The Role of an Access Coordinator


15:35 The Challenges of Accessibility on Set


27:48 Carey's Character in The Handmaid's Tale


29:58 Character Research and Backstory


30:27 Wheelchair Barbie


31:47 Impact of Representation on Younger Generations


32:28 The Struggle for Representation in Children's Media


35:49 Overcoming Challenges and Embracing Disability in
Performance


37:04 The Importance of Representation and Accessibility in Media


40:49 The Need for Disabled Creatives in the Industry


55:00 Future Projects and Hopes for Increased Representation