Beyond the Frame: Amplifying Disability Stories 2026

At UC Berkeley on October 28, 2026, we held our latest “Beyond the Frame,” an accessible film event showcasing films amplifying disability-focused stories. This event fosters community and sparks meaningful dialogue. Following the film screening, a panel discusses the films and broader disability issues. 

The panelists at our latest event were:

• Mike Esposito: Mike is a San Francisco-based creative producer, documentary filmmaker, and brand strategist. He produced The Rebound: A Wheelchair Basketball Story (one of the films we're screening) alongside director Shaina Allen, and co-founded Evergrain Studios. The Rebound has screened at 25+ film festivals worldwide, been licensed by Netflix, Delta Airlines and has been used in classrooms and academic research at universities across the country.
• Karen Lohr: Karen has had two spinal cord injuries, is a service dog handler, and works in UC Berkeley Housing approving accommodations for over 2,300 students with disabilities. She played sled hockey on the USA Women's Team and on local teams in Arizona and Connecticut. She's participated in adaptive downhill skiing and adaptive water sports including crew/rowing, adaptive surfing, adaptive swim team, water skiing, wakeboarding, and kayaking. She is a certified adaptive scuba diver, and has played wheelchair rugby since 2016. She played in an international women's wheelchair rugby tournament in Paris on a mixed country team, and also on the USA team. Locally, she participates in adaptive sports through the Berkeley Outreach & Recreation Program (BORP) including rugby, kayaking, handcycling, tennis, and camping, and she participates in adaptive sailing with the Bay Area Association of Disabled Sailors. This year she will play on a women's development wheelchair rugby team across the United States.
• Lee Pugsley: Lee is a visually impaired actor, writer, producer, and director whose work champions authentic disability representation on stage and screen. He is the 2024 Best Film winner of the Easterseals Disability Film Challenge for ‘Audio Description,’ (one of the films we're screening) and his work has screened at festivals including Slamdance, HollyShorts, and Heartland. Lee frequently speaks on inclusive casting and accessibility in the entertainment industry at organizations including Paramount Global, the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures, and film festivals across the country.
• Matt Scott: Matt Scott has carved his name in Paralympic history. A five-time paralympian, Matt’s dedication to excellence has propelled him to the top of his sport. His impressive career with Team USA includes back-to-back Paralympic gold (Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020), and a 12-year professional wheelchair basketball career. 
  Matt’s influence transcends the court. He became the first paralympian in a Nike commercial, and his ability to captivate audiences showcasing his skills has led to endorsements from some of the world’s leading brands. Matt has been a powerful advocate for adaptive sports and was nominated for an ESPY for his contributions, and he is passionate about uplifting the disabled community. 
  In addition to his athletic and professional achievements, Matt made history in 2024 by becoming the first and only paralympian to report on both the Olympics and Paralympics, ultimately earning an Emmy for his work. Matt’s dual reporting highl;ights the need for diverse voices and perspectives in Sports journalism, setting a precedent for future inclusion.

Your support will go towards funding future Beyond the Frame accessible film events to ensure we can continue to make these events free to our audience. Every little bit helps. 

All films shown have open captions and open audio description. 

Your gift will be deposited into the Disability Access & Compliance (DAC) Fund. The fund supports Berkeley Disability Access and Compliance's goal of making UC Berkeley's programs, services, and activities as accessible as possible to as many people as possible.

We are crowdfunding for about $2,500.

• Venue costs are about $1,200
• Film audio description cost about $400 per film, depending on length and complexity
• Gifts for panelists cost about $250
• Other accommodations costs vary depending on requests

All estimates are rough, and actual expenditures may vary. 

Every donation counts, no matter how small. Funds received through this Crowdfunding campaign will be used towards achieving our accessibility goals through events like these and other ventures. If we receive enough donations now or in the future we would hope to expand this event, purchase merchandise that can be sold, pay panelist expenses (not currently possible), move to a larger venue; the sky's the limit! We do want all the films we show to have open captions and open audio description so attendees need to request fewer accommodations, and we will always want to have a panel and audience discussion. 

Thank you for your support!