Emily Mitchell, Luke Kirby, Phoebe-Rae Taylor and Rosemarie Dewitt in “Out of My Mind,” premiering on Disney+ in November. (Michael Gibson/Disney)
Disney is set to release a film centered on the experience of a sixth-grade boy with cerebral palsy who does not speak, uses a wheelchair and seeks inclusive education.
The film “Out of My Mind” is an adaptation of Sharon M. Draper’s best-selling novel of the same name.
Phoebe-Rae Taylor, who also has cerebral palsy, plays Melody Brooks, a girl who is not given the same opportunities at school due to her disabilities. But, when a young educator realizes Melody’s potential, she begins participating in regular classes and rises to the occasion.
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The film, set in 2002, features Melody using various augmentative and alternative communication systems, including a picture-based communication board and later a fictional device called the Medi-Talker 6000.
Taylor is from Essex, England and is making her acting debut. He landed the role after submitting a homemade audition tape.
Jennifer Aniston was hired to play Melody’s inner voice in the film after the film’s director, Amber Sealey, learned of Taylor’s love of the show “Friends.”
In addition to Taylor, the cast includes actors with a variety of disabilities including hearing impairment, visual impairment, autism, Down syndrome and more. They were supported by a team of disability consultants who worked to ensure accessibility on set and authentic representation on screen, those behind the film said.
“It was really important to me to fill the cast with actors of all abilities and neurodiversities,” said Sealey, the director. “We were going to explore in real time what it was like to make the first mainstream movie about a child with a disability played by a child with the same disability.”
Taylor said he hopes the film generates greater acceptance.
“You really can do anything and everything you set your mind to. I didn’t expect to do this and it shows that you can do anything. And please don’t let anyone bring you down,” he said. “One of the hardest things for me is that people talk to my mom, not me. That’s why I want people to talk to people with disabilities and try to understand them and talk to them. All we want is for someone to talk to us and treat us normally just the way we are.”
“Out of My Mind” will be available on Disney+ starting November 22.
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