As part of our celebration of National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM) this October, ReelAbilities is spotlighting voices from our community who are reshaping what inclusion at work looks like.

One of those voices is Melanie Waldman, a storyteller and advocate many of you may remember from our flagship festival last April, where she conducted red carpet interviews with filmmakers, artists, and guests. Melanie brings both the sparkle of the spotlight and the hard-won wisdom of navigating the workplace while balancing the complexities of public assistance programs to our conversation in which she reflects on assumptions, realities, and opportunities—and shares her vision of what true inclusion could be.

 

ReelAbilities: Melanie, welcome back! Members of the ReelAbilities community are likely to remember you from last April, when you were on the red carpet interviewing filmmakers, guests, and artists at our flagship festival and the social media interviews you shared during that time. What was that experience like for you—being right there at the heart of the celebration, capturing those conversations?

 

ReelAbilities: When people ask you about your work and your passions, how do you like to introduce yourself?

 

Melanie: I feel like introducing myself as a freelancer pretty much covers the sum of opportunities I get myself into. I work in media and entertainment, yes.  However, as a speaker and wellness promoter as an online virtual adaptive yoga teacher,  I get to se my skills & presence on-camera in order to accomplish feats I don’t think anyone could have ever predicted coming my way.  To  me, that’s the power(s) of using self-actualization in relation to my own professional endeavors–whatever those hopes and dreams may lead.  Beyond that, my titles include career professional performer with SAG-AFTRA, BA Journalist & Theatre Artist (Rutgers University), Registered Yoga Teacher, Coach, Consultant and more!

 

ReelAbilities: What draws you to storytelling and being part of conversations like those red carpet interviews—and now, this one?

 

Melanie: As an actor, I’ve been the person being interviewed.  Yet, I was only sensing that those interviews were being led either by non-disabled or organizations as resources for disabled people–sans talent behind-the-pen.  This lit my inner journalist’s heart aflame.  Not only that but having the ability to recognize my own strengths, as an artist with a multitude of personal connections, helped me realize “I could be THAT disabled interviewer I know that I’ve been missing, on the other side of that “velvet rope/camera/pen"

 

ReelAbilities: Shifting gears a bit, since we’re celebrating NDEAM this month, can you share an example of a workplace experience that felt truly inclusive and supportive? And how does that compare with a not-so-great experience you’ve had?

 

Melanie: This is a really difficult question that I tend to default to, anytime I consider taking on another freelance gig or role.  Through programs like “Ticket to work” and through my own personal Vocational Rehabilitation process,  it’s been extremely beneficial entrusting my counselors to help guide me with the boundaries and balances that I need to maintain, in order to not throw off my SSDI or Medicare governance(s). 

 

ReelAbilities: You’ve created opportunities for yourself along the way. What have been the toughest parts of that process, and what have been the most rewarding? What did you expect and in what ways have you been surprised? 

 

Melanie: As I’m sure many may be able to relate–rejection is easily a constant enemy.  However, using my own tools–whether that be reflecting within myself, or the people I look up to and can professionally entrust upon. I’ve found that when I doubt myself the most is when I feel like I should more likely than not at least put myself out there for certain opportunities.  Knowing and recognizing my own capabilities are something that I can reflect upon in pitching myself for the jobs/gigs/ positions that my heart truly knows I can thrive within. 

 

ReelAbilities: When you’re talking with potential employers, what strategies have you found work best to help them understand accessibility and inclusion? How do you shift the conversation from “accommodation as a cost” to “inclusion as an investment”?

 

Melanie: One of the strengths I’ve found during interviewing for new roles is that even though I know I’m the one under the spotlight that I should come prepared with insightful questions that show I’ve 1) Done my homework on the opportunities and/or organizations the positions are for 2) Prepared insightful questions that are beyond yes or no answers 3) Every conversation is an opportunity to listen with intention and shouldn’t be used as a form of intimidation but rather as an invitation to allow people to see how motivated and hardworking I can and aim to be.

 

ReelAbilities: Finally, when you picture a truly inclusive workplace—not just checking a box, but genuinely equitable—what does that look and feel like to you?

 

Melanie: As much as I enjoy working for/ with myself– placing myself in collaborative employment opportunities allows me the opportunities to ask for help–which is something that in my own personal life, I have struggled with in the past.  However,  although a company may call themselves inclusive, does not make them so.  In the past I’ve worked for some of the top tier entertainment media corporations–who have either only recently implemented a DEI(A) program or have unfortunately done away with it completely.  I feel like being transparent about my physical restraints is helpful to me–though I can respect that perhaps not all my believe in the necessity of disclosure–self-advocacy is a muscle that we can all stand to both flex and strengthen.  From there, all that’s left is a response from employers or clients–depending on the response is how I can gage “Did I feel physically, mentally or emotionally supported in this role? If not/if so will determine my decisions: whether or not I want to continue this professional relationship any further, beyond any given opportunity.  

 

I think my biggest struggle in relating to this is trying not to be hard on myself if my reason for leaving is in relation to my health. It’s something that I’m even currently working through, as we speak! That little voice, in my own head that denies fact.  That I’m “just faking it”or that I’m making it up just because I don’t enjoy the company of my colleagues*.  *Thankfully in this case, it was all truly due to the state of my health BUT ALSO in the presence of more media opportunities presenting themselves in the near future!

 

In choosing to celebrate myself for having the strength in deciding upon leaving some jobs behind–often time after time– that’s truly the majority of the nature in our work.  Although this artform is often fleeting, it's the connections made along the way that have truly made an everlasting imprint on both my life and professional career!