Ep 160: Jenna Bainbridge: Breaking Barriers in Broadway and Accessibility Advocacy

This IDD Health Matters podcast features Jenna Bainbridge, a Broadway actor, disability rights advocate, and founder of the nonprofit Consultability. Bainbridge discusses her experience as an ambulatory wheelchair user following a childhood spinal cord injury, explaining how disability shaped her life, career, and advocacy work. She describes overcoming internalized ableism, finding representation and community through theater, and becoming the first wheelchair user to play Nessa Rose in Broadway's Wicked. The conversation explores the importance of authentic disability representation in media, the impact of ableism and inaccessible environments, and the need for inclusive design and cultural change. Bainbridge also highlights the work of Consultability, which helps arts organizations improve accessibility through physical and cultural audits, training, and consultation. She concludes by emphasizing three key principles for improving the lives of people with disabilities: removing physical barriers, encouraging open communication about access needs, and increasing representation, all of which help create a more inclusive society.