Disability Awareness

By Jennifer Allen

Taylor was in the second year of her master’s program in film and television production when everything changed. She began losing her vision due to pseudotumor cerebri intracranial hypertension. “I couldn’t imagine letting all that hard work go for nothing,” she said. “I’m a really stubborn person… I could use the education I have to make it happen in some way, shape, or form.” And she did.

Now, PBS is broadcasting her story. 

After Taylor lost her sight, she moved to the Colorado Center for the Blind to relearn everything—from cooking and cleaning to doing makeup and using technology. Living what she once considered her worst fear, Taylor learned to trust her other senses. That shift changed not only her life but also the way she approaches filmmaking. As a casting director, for example, she doesn’t rely on facial expressions—she feels the energy of the actors. Her approach, she says, “transcends trying to see.”

Taylor became the first blind intern at the American Pavilion at the Cannes Film Festival. This was where she connected with Jake and was asked to be TravelAbility’s first Fellow. She was pushing for better accessibility in film, advocating for audio descriptions, and creating projects like The Blind Movement, a reality show and podcast focused on blindness representation.

Her efforts gained attention and she was able to pre-produce a PBS special put together with her college professor.

With this PBS special, Taylor is putting herself, her production company, and her colleagues in the spotlight. “There are no internships for people like me. People won’t take a chance on me. I need to get my work out there to show it,” she explained. “I can’t play the game like I did before. I’m still the same person I was. I’m betting on myself and my friends.”

That bet is already paying off. Her editors, cast, and crew share how they’ve learned to do their work better by approaching filmmaking in new ways. 

The special follows Taylor’s journey through film school, losing her sight, re-learning how to get through each day, returning to the film industry, and starting a family. Her work is not only proving to herself what she’s capable of, it’s showing the world the raw talent and ability that comes through working harder to find new ways to do things with a disability. It’s also showing her own blind community all that is possible. 

“The easy things have become challenges – so now I’m a survivor.” She admits that she’s standing on the shoulders of giants – “following all of the disabled who have gotten us this far – allowing us to have platforms as regular people.” But now she’s becoming one of those giants, paving the way for all who will follow. 

Taylor knows that disabled creators are an untapped resource. “When you look at disabled influencers and celebrities, the numbers are evidence that the readiness to learn is there. The industry ought to take risks on us because there’s a lot to tap into. You need to think out of the box and be pushed out of your own comfort zone – you’re missing the opportunity and you’re not creating resources for the people who will need it.” 

She believes that representation is essential for future generations, and talks about the difference awareness could have made in her own life. “I never spoke about my vision loss at 13 because I never knew anyone else like me. I was afraid if I said something, no one would let me try, I would limit my own opportunities. If I had known about the blind community then, the transition would’ve been so much easier. Awareness matters for everyone.” This is part of what she hopes to change as a film producer.

Taylor doesn’t want to be remembered as a blind producer, she wants to be remembered as a good producer. She doesn’t need to be seen as an inspiration, but she doesn’t mind being the motivation behind change.

Watch the PBS special here.