Session: How the creator economy is democratising employment for Disabled people
“They call us the “chronically online,” those who “need to touch grass,” the people who need to “log off,” but for Disabled people, online spaces have been a lifeline in a world that seeks to erase and eradicate us. Even prior to the pandemic, platforms like Twitter helped us to feel less alone and gaslit by our experiences and allowed us to contextualize our experiences in a way that gave us peace.” - Imani Barbarin
Disabled people have long faced barriers to employment, with a double unemployment rate compared to non-disabled people. The rise of the creator economy offers new opportunities for disabled talent and has created a democratizing effect to employment, community and advocacy.
However, accessibility and inclusiveness remain major challenges in the creator economy. Many social media platforms are not designed with disabled individuals in mind, and brands often fail to consider the unique needs and perspectives of disabled creators.
This talk will explore the importance and benefit of building a more accessible and inclusive creator economy, providing actionable takeaways and food-for-thought on the untapped opportunities.
Bio
Keely Cat-Wells is a Disability Rights Activist and the Founder of C Talent at Whalar. Keely founded her first company at a young age during her time in hospital, which developed into C Talent, an award-winning talent management and consulting company that represents high-profile Deaf and Disabled talent. C Talent was acquired by global leading creator company, Whalar. This acquisition marks one of the largest investments ever made in Disabled talent within the creator industry. Keely has been appointed as an Advisory Board Member to Lady Gaga’s Born This Way Foundation, is a Forbes 30 Under 30 honouree and Diana Award Winner. Keely has participated as a subject matter expert in discussions with the President of the United States, Joe Biden and the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle. Keely is currently developing her new venture, Zetta Communities, a social learning platform that aims to democratize accessible education for Disabled creatives.