RENEGADES is a digital series of 10-minute documentary shorts showcasing the lives of diverse, little-known Americans with disabilities: renegades, rebels and revolutionaries from the 18th century through today, and their impact on and contributions to U.S. society. 1 in 4 adults live with disabilities in the United States today, but disability history remains a marginalized topic that is both underrepresented and misrepresented. This series of biographies of disabled figures in arts and culture, politics, civil rights, and other arenas aims to honor the uniqueness of disability, and is designed to encourage cross-cultural understanding between non-disabled
people and those with disabilities. It will be hosted and narrated by the popular musician and disability rights activist Lachi, who is blind, and will premiere on PBS’s flagship biography series American Masters website, YouTube channel, and social media platforms with Open Captioning, Audio Description, American Sign Language, and a Descriptive Transcript. Infused with the spirit of the disability movement’s mantra, “Nothing About Us Without Us,” the RENEGADES team are majority D/deaf and disabled, with an emphasis on authentic storytelling, representation behind the camera, and nurturing and mentoring emerging talent such as directors, producers, writers, cinematographers and editors with disabilities.
Watch below the RENEGADES pilot episode about deaf daredevil stunt woman and race car driver Kitty O’Neil (1946-2018), known as “the fastest woman in the world.”
