Owning Our Bodies: Disability & Media Perception

SXSW Interactive Panel, 2016

Submitted by Audrea Diaz, profile journalist and Crip culture activist

Main themes in conversation

• Self-love and acceptance

• Media pressures in relation to body image

• How each panelist is combating ableism in the industry

• Personal/professional challenges due to disability, and how we are overcoming them

Audience Takeaway

• The media largely tags the disabled as inspirational. While this may be true, our conversation aims to help the audience understand that we do not exist solely to make you feel better about yourself. We exist to be dreamers, doers, and forward thinkers.

• This is a statement to humanize our community; and If we are to use our bodies and experiences as agents of change, we must first do so by changing your mind on disability perception.

• Often times this means changing our own perception, as we’re constantly given messages telling us that we’re unworthy of a fulfilling life. We’ll center on how actively working in media helps society to embrace us for our individual talents and a determination to live on our own terms.

Confirmed Panelist Lauren Ruotolo Lauren Ruotolo is the former director of entertainment promotions for the Hearst Corporation, and is the author of “Unstoppable In Stilettos”. Currently, she’s freelancing as an entertainment and social promoter for Johnson & Johnson and Pandora jewelry. She’s been profiled for Marie Claire; appeared on The Wendy Williams Show, and The Nate Berkus Show. Lauren has McCune-Albright syndrome, and lives in NYC. Find her on Twitter and Instagram. .

Confirmed Panelist Jillian Mercado

Jillian Mercado is the founder of Manufactured 1987. As of now, she is creatively working with Diesel’s fashion editor Nicola Formichetti, and is pictured above in a campaign for the brand.

She has been featured on Elle, Paper Mag, and Jezebel amongst others. Check out her interviews on The Today Show, HuffPost Style and StyleLikeU. You can view her full modeling portfolio here. Jillian has spastic muscular dystrophy; she lives in NYC. Find her on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and Tumblr.

Confirmed Moderator Audrea Diaz

After beginning my career reporting on Austin’s fashion scene, I’ve shifted to feature music personalities. Read my piece on Austin’s Musician of the Year here. I’ve been documented by Style Over Stress, and you can check out more of my work on fashionabled.com. I have Cerebral palsy -- I’m from the Rio Grande Valley, and currently live in Austin. Find me on Twitter, Facebook, and Tumblr.

Notable Links

Lauren • Speech at NYU Hospital

• Interview: KXAN Austin News

• Interview: New York News , Good Day Street Talk

• Interviewed by Lifestyle Expert Claudia Chan

• “The Rise Of The Intrapreneur”, Fast Company (May 18, 2015)

Jillian • “Fashion Blogger Jillian Mercado Stars In Edgy Diesel Ads”, HuffPost Style (January 22, 2014)

• “Wheelchair-bound Blogger Warms Fashion Week Hearts”, The Daily Beast (February 7, 2013)

• “Meet the wheelchair-bound star of Diesel's new campaign”, UK’s Daily Mail (January 22, 2014)