Everyday Superheroes - Meet 3 Extraordinary Actors who Perform with Disabilities

Lisa is thrilled to be joined by three wonderful actors who you need to know about! Carey Cox recurs on “The Handmaid’s Tale” as Rose Blaine, Joseph Kibler has acted on shows like “Criminal Minds” “Good Trouble” “Chicago Med” and Leah Rachel is model, dancer, actress  performing all over London on both stage and screen. What do these three artists have in common? In addition to being talented, they are all performers with disabilities and advocates in their own unique capacities. Carey, Joseph and Leah have so much to share with us, not just about their career challenges but also about their wins and their view of the  changing landscape of visibility, accessibility and inclusion for performers. 

Joseph’s YouTube channel

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_wSQDC60FRxjUxdrjGRHVA

Joseph’s Insta 

https://www.instagram.com/josephakibler/

TikTok - Josephakible

Joseph Kibler’s blog - www.fancywalker.blog

Carey’s Insta

https://www.instagram.com/careyleighcox/?hl=en

Leah’s Insta

https://www.instagram.com/leahrachel99/

Leah’s other Socials

@LeahRachel99

Website:

https://www.leahrachelcaplan.com

Leah Rachel is an Access Coordinator, Disabled Actress, and a Medical Ethics Researcher currently based in the UK

Carey Cox is a New York based actor.  Originally from El Paso, TX, Carey has a BFA in Musical Theater from Santa Fe University of Art and Design, and an MFA in Acting from UNC Chapel Hill. Carey has performed on Broadway, Off-Broadway, and in regional theater.  She was a writer and performer for the 2022 Viacom/CBS Diversity Showcase, and she plays Rose Blaine on The Handmaids Tale.  She also stars in the upcoming Indie feature Where Did the Adults Go?.  Other passions include visual art, playwrighting, stand-up, singing, guitar, and volunteering.  Carey has Ehlers Danlos Syndrome and advocates for disability inclusion.  She has three cats and one dog with her husband Joe.

Joseph Kibler is a born disabled and HIV positive actor/writer/content creator living in New York, NY. Joseph has appeared on shows such as Chicago Med, Good Trouble, Criminal Minds and CSI Cyber along with several National commercials from brands like Wells Fargo, Toyota, National Association of Realtors & United Healthcare.  He was a long time member of Upright Citizen Brigade as an improviser & sketch comedy writer and was on the MessHall Team Fetch. Joseph has also produced and was the subject of an Award Winning Documentary called Walk On. Walk On follows Joseph's journey training to walk 6 miles in the LA AIDS Walk.  It was produced by Alfred Molina, Emma Thompson, Hugh Jackman, Steve & Nancy Carell and won best documentary at Burbank International Film Festival & Timecode: NOLA. Alongside his HIV & Disability activism and writing his own spec films/tv shows, he enjoys his days with his spouse, Carey Cox and their four senior pets. 

Here is the rundown:

01:29 The Reality of Being a Disabled Actor

02:29 The Importance of Authentic Representation

07:23 The Struggle for Equal Opportunities

09:52 The Isolation of Disabled Actors

12:57 The Role of an Access Coordinator

15:35 The Challenges of Accessibility on Set

27:48 Carey's Character in The Handmaid's Tale

29:58 Character Research and Backstory

30:27 Wheelchair Barbie

31:47 Impact of Representation on Younger Generations

32:28 The Struggle for Representation in Children's Media

35:49 Overcoming Challenges and Embracing Disability in Performance

37:04 The Importance of Representation and Accessibility in Media

40:49 The Need for Disabled Creatives in the Industry

55:00 Future Projects and Hopes for Increased Representation