Disability ReFramed: Celebrating Our Childhood on TV
When:
Thursday, Jun 25, 2026 5:30p -
8:00p
Thursday, Jun 25, 2026 5:30p -
8:00p
Where:
GBH Studios
One Guest Street
Brighton, Massachusetts 02135
Admission:
FREE
Hosted by:
Categories:
Lectures & Conferences, Virtual
Event website:
https://www.wgbh.org/events/disability-reframed-celebrating-our-childhood-on-tv
Please join us for this year’s Disability ReFramed panel discussion, Celebrating Our Childhood on TV, during which we’ll spotlight the recently launched AAPB Special Collection: Representing Children with Disabilities on Public Television, which illustrates how public media has consistently led the way in improving accessibility, representation, and inclusive storytelling. Our panelists, disability rights activist and author Emily Ladau and violinist Adrian Anantawan, will share how their lives were impacted by seeing themselves represented onscreen during their formative years. The conversation will be moderated by Claire Houston of the National Center for Accessible Media (NCAM) at GBH, whose research into disability-focused public programs led to the creation of the AAPB Special Collection.
Public media has always told the stories that speak to all viewers in the most accessible way. The GBH show “ZOOM” was the first open-captioned children’s television show and — funded by the Department of Education — featured disabled “ZOOMguests” to support the transition of disabled students into mainstream schools. Other shows like “Feeling Free” created a place just for disabled children, while still others — including “Sesame Street,” “Mister Rogers Neighborhood,” and “Arthur” — featured disabled actors, guests, or characters. For an entire generation, these were memorable television firsts.
Plus, view behind-the-scenes items from the Special Collection . . .
Before the discussion, join us in the GBH Atrium for a light reception and view select items from the new special collection, highlighting public media’s long‑standing work to amplify the experiences of children with disabilities — many in shows produced right here at GBH! A joint project of the AAPB, MLA, NCAM, and the Media Access Group, this collection reflects a shared commitment to accessibility across GBH.
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