That’s How I Roll

“She will never amount to anything, “the doctors told my parents. My birth was traumatic. I wasn’t breathing, and none of my organs were functioning. The fight for my life began right away. At six months, the doctors diagnosed me with cerebral palsy. Growing up, people like me weren’t shown in movies or television very often. Consequently, my goal became to change this. Years were spent begging my parents to allow me to participate in acting class. By the time I reached 9 years of age, I was finally in my first acting class. Becoming other characters was liberating. The stage was home. At 13 years old, I became a member of SAG-AFTRA, after guest-starring on Family Law.  Living my dream was thrilling. Sets are where I’m happiest. Around 15 years later, another amazing acting opportunity came along in the form of an AFI student film.  I was awarded Best Actress in the Demetera International Film Festival after starring in Young Adult. The short film was viewed worldwide at festivals, including the Cannes International Cinema Festival and PBS Film School Shorts.

My love of acting transformed into a passion for writing, figuring I could write my parts.  It was a good way for me to process how the world viewed me as different. Writing was a positive way to channel my frustrations about being treated as a second-class citizen.  People make assumptions because I use mobility devices. They are always incorrect and insulting. At 16, I entered the VSA Arts Young Playwrights contest, satirizing the treatment of temporarily able-bodied people towards people with disabilities.  The one-act play called Sideshow was awarded an Honorable Mention with excerpts performed at the Kennedy Center. Hearing actors say my words on stage was empowering. The laughter of the audience let me know they understood the point I was making. I loved this feeling so much that I co-wrote and produced, along with Matt Chorpenning, a stage adaptation of Terry Trueman’s novel Stuck in Neutral. We raised money to produce the show through crowdfunding. This taught me the nuts and bolts of producing. 

Interested in describing the ironies of life, I performed stand-up comedy in venues such as the Improv, the Comedy Store, and the Ice House.  I won second place in the Ha Ha Café’s Fresh Faces Comedy Contest. Performing stand-up was another way of illustrating to people that disability is one aspect of my identity. In a comedy club, I have the audience’s full attention and total control of the narrative. Plus, I just love making people laugh.  My love of comedy led to a summer as a production intern for the Emmy and Peabody-winning The Late Show with Stephen Colbert. 

Lights! Camera! Access! (LCA) was my gateway to The Late Show with Stephen Colbert. Without the guidance of LCA, I would have never received this opportunity. Although I didn’t land the internship on my first try, the production supervisor allowed me to shadow for a day. This gave me a greater understanding of how the show operated. When the internship application re-opened, I applied again and landed the gig. This was the opportunity of a lifetime. I moved from Los Angeles to New York City for the summer. The best part of this experience was the people. Everyone was friendly and welcoming. Due to this amazing environment, my disability was never an issue. It was freeing. I quickly realized I couldn’t go around the building to run errands like the other interns. I brought this up with my mentor, who was a production assistant. It was a bit nerve-racking since I didn’t have a solution to the problem. My mentor listened without judgment. She said she would discuss it with our superiors and get back to me. They came up with the brilliant idea of putting me in the footage department. Everything in this department is done on the computer. Eureka! My adaptive mouse and keyguard allow me to use the computer independently. It was exciting looking through footage for morning pitches. Prior to this, I didn’t know the footage department existed. I gained many skills, including cutting footage. 

The other interns welcomed me with open arms, which wasn’t something familiar. I was one of them. They asked me to show them how to set up my computer without any prompting. When we went out, they made sure the place was accessible. One time I was uncomfortable taking a taxi alone, so a couple of them came to my hotel. People going out of their way to spend time with me has never happened before. I cried tears of joy. 

Lights! Camera! Access! (LCA) has proven time and time again that it is a safe space for people with disabilities. We are often discouraged from following our dreams, especially when it comes to the media. It’s a difficult industry for anyone. LCA teaches us how to use our disabilities as assets. Creativity comes with being disabled. We must do things differently and create our own paths. Through the various career incubator activities, we learn how to use our disabilities to sharpen our competitive edge. The group taught me how to self-advocate and request accommodations in the workplace.  

As a production assistant for LCA, I have realized that I am valued for my abilities. My disability doesn’t matter. When people focus on what you can do, it is more productive. This often requires thinking outside of the box. People with disabilities aren’t awarded as many chances to try, and therefore we ourselves may not know what we are capable of.

I joined the LCA Marketing Team because I believe it’s important for my community to know about this program. Writing for the LCA Marketing Team allows me to share my story. Hopefully, my example encourages others to pursue their goals. The more my community comes together to advocate for us, the more change we will accomplish. We are a powerful group; we only need the opportunity to be heard. 

Contact Information:

Website: www.allisoncamerongray.com
Facebook: Allison Cameron Gray
Twitter: @allisoncgray
Instagram: @allisoncamerongray