HOW DO YOU PERFORM WITH YOUR DISABILITY?
You’re wondering how this is going to work, right? Don’t worry - I’m used to it. The fact is, I’m just another actor.
I use a power wheelchair to navigate stages and sets, and I use an iPad and AAC (think Stephen Hawking) to say my lines. This means that I’m an excellent multitasker - I can drink a glass of water, cross the stage, and say my lines at the same time! Not to mention, I never forget my lines. Talk about a triple threat!
AAC (Augmentative and Alternative Communication) isn’t just random letters – it’s a communication tool that helps people like me share our voices with the world. AAC encompasses a wide range of communication methods, like speaking sign language or using speech-generating devices, which is what I use.
You might be surprised to find out that everyone uses AAC every day. Even if you mostly communicate through speech, if you make facial expressions, hand gestures, or otherwise use your body to communicate (crossing your arms, tapping your foot, etc.), congratulations – you’re in the AAC club!
WHAT IS AAC?
HOW DID YOU GET INTO THEATRE & ACTING?
Theatre lets me escape from reality for a while. My world is hard to navigate and sometimes I need a breather, just like everyone else. When I was 6, I saw the Broadway show Hairspray!. Since then I’ve seen over 50 shows. My favorite show is Fun Home. (I’ve seen it six times.)
For years, Broadway was at the center of my life, but I never used to think I could be on stage myself. In 2013, my dad suggested I try acting. Me? An actor? But how? Where? Who would take a chance on me?
One day I learned about a theater company in Manhattan called Creative Arts Team, which fully embraced diversity. Next thing I knew, I had entered my first acting class. Since then, I’ve been in several plays, and even landed a role in the show Speechless.
My journey into acting has helped me become a braver person. My life is difficult because of my disability. Acting allows me to share my voice in different ways, as many different characters. For me, acting is freedom. And freedom is something different than escape. In fact, the stage is the only place where people stare at me for the right reasons.