Elevating Disability Pride | Meet Rachel
Throughout July, Disney is celebrating Disability Pride Month by elevating the disability and neurodivergent communities with meaningful storytelling.
Meet Rachel, a Content Associate on ESPN’s Digital Livestream team with producing content that goes on our live-streamed shows that appear on ESPN's YouTube and Facebook channels. With her current role, Rachel gets to create fun segments for ESPN’s digital side. Her colleagues feel like her second family in Bristol, Connecticut.
Eight years ago, Rachel started her career at The Walt Disney Company with the Disney College Program back in 2016. Afterwards, Rachel’s second home was Disney Water Park, runDisney, and ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex at the Walt Disney World Resort. There, she was an Operations Assistant creating meaningful events to recognize cast members.
Being a cast member herself, she took full advantage of Disney’s incredible resources through Disney’s Aspire program. Rachel was able to expand her education and receive her master’s degree in mass communications from the University of Florida. Go gators! For more information on the Disney Aspire program, visit aspire.disney.com.
During her free time, she’s involved with Business Employee Resource Group ESPN’s Enabled as a Communications Chair. She volunteers with content curation and dissemination for Disability Pride Month within Enabled ESPN. ESPN’s Enabled is a community of individuals with disabilities, individuals whose lives are touched by those with disabilities, and allies to the disability community. Their goal is to provide support for and education about people with disabilities for the Walt Disney Company, particularly here at ESPN.
Rachel’s important passions for advocacy is eating disorder recovery and OCD awareness. Being in recovery from anorexia nervosa for five years is something she takes immense pride in while actively challenging her severe OCD every day. “Each day is not perfect, but recovery isn’t linear,” she explains. “That is why I am extremely happy to be part of Enabled ESPN to share my story, empathize with colleagues, and grow my knowledge on how to be a better advocate for others in our community.” She loves the work she does with ESPN Enabled because it gives a voice to disabilities. “There has always been a stigma around physical and mental disabilities that our team is fighting every day to normalize. We try to ‘Enable Everyone’ to be proud of their disabilities and the strengths that they bring to society!”
Learn more about Rachel's story below.
In July, we’re celebrating Disability Pride Month. What does this month mean to you?
To me, Disability Pride Month is about owning our uniqueness and spotlighting our life stories. People are often afraid to disclose their disabilities for fear of disapproval or unfair treatment. My hope is that with the more we open up, the more comfortable and included the neurodivergent and disabled communities will feel in their everyday lives.
All too often, people are quick to judge someone if they ‘don’t look disabled enough’ or ‘seem fine on the outside.’ While in reality, everyone is just trying to get through life the best they can, and for some, this means with accommodations, and that is more than okay!
Do you have a favorite Disney film?
While I love just about every Disney film, my most recent favorite is Encanto. It is a wonderful film that focuses on the desire to be included, and the importance of love and companionship. Plus, I feel very connected to Bruno and his use of OCD-like rituals when Mirabel finds him in his hidden living space.
Is there a Disney character that you resonate with? If so, who and why?
I feel like I resonate with Belle because I love to read and try to treat people with kindness as best I can. Plus, she loves horses like me. However, Eeyore has ALWAYS been my favorite because he’s just always sad, and that makes me sad. So, whenever I get to meet Eeyore at one of the Disney Parks, I turn into a complete kid again, just trying to make him feel happy and included!
What do you do outside of work?
I’m a former Division 2 volleyball player, so I try to be out on a court, grass, sand as much as possible. I also find joyful movement in paddleboarding, Pilates, and runDisney races. Going back to my similarity to Belle, I love taking care of and riding horses whenever I get the chance.
