Disney film stars actress with cerebral palsy

Disney will release a film centered on the experiences of a sixth-grader with cerebral palsy who is nonverbal, uses a wheelchair and seeks an inclusive education.

The film “Out of My Mind” is an adaptation of the bestselling novel of the same name by Sharon M. Draper.

Phoebe-Rae Taylor, who has cerebral palsy herself, plays Melody Brooks, a girl who doesn’t receive equal opportunities at school because of her disability. But when a young teacher recognizes Melody’s potential, she takes part in regular classes and takes on the challenge.

In the film, set in 2002, Melody uses various supplementary and alternative communication systems, including an image-based communication board and then a fictional device called the Medi-Talker 6000.

Taylor is from Essex, England and is making her acting debut. She got the role after submitting a homemade casting tape.

Jennifer Aniston was hired to portray Melody’s inner voice in the film after the film’s director, Amber Sealey, learned of Taylor’s love for the series “Friends.”

In addition to Taylor, the cast includes actors with a variety of disabilities, including hearing impairment, visual impairment, autism, Down syndrome and more. They were supported by a team of disability consultants who worked to ensure accessibility on set and authentic representation on screen, the film’s makers said.

“It was really important to me to fill the cast with actors of all abilities and neurodiversity,” said director Sealey. “We wanted to explore in real time what it was like to make the first mainstream film about a child with a disability, played by a child with the same disability.”

Taylor said she hopes the film will lead to greater acceptance.

“You can really do anything you put your mind to. I didn’t expect that, and it shows that you can do anything. And please, don’t let anyone put you down,” she said. “One of the hardest things for me is that people talk to my mother, not me. That’s why I want people to talk to people with disabilities and try to understand them and talk to them. All we want is for someone to talk to us and treat us normally, just as we are.”

“Out of My Mind” will be available on Disney+ starting November 22nd.

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