Netflix and RespectAbility have announced the 15 kids TV writers, animators and execs with disabilities who have been selected to take part in their first-ever Children’s Content Lab.

The Lab, which began on October 17 and runs until November 17, features networking and learning sessions designed to give up-and-coming talent the opportunity to get more industry experience.

Each creator is paired with a mentor from a participating company (including Netflix, 9 Story Media Group, DreamWorks Animation, GBH Kids, Nickelodeon, Silvergate Media, Warner Bros. Discovery and WNET) who reviews their script ideas for preschool, kids and youth content. During the first week, participants learned about pitching and creating their own brands, and they also completed table readings. At the end of the program, they will have access to monthly professional development training sessions with industry experts.

The program’s inaugural participants are: Adam Hurd, Asha Chai-Chang, Charlie Frazier, Deirdre Morales, Kimberly Manky, Mars Gorman, Matt Opatrny, Miranda Hoyt, Myles Hunt, Ty Freedman, Tyler Hoog, Cassie Palmisano, Maddy Mermelstein, Nina Fiore and Shannon Ryan.

These creative types have a diverse range of industry experience, from writers like Matt Opatrny, who has authored eight episodes of DreamWorks Animation’s preschool series Not Quite Narwhal (premiering soon on Netflix); to Ty Freedman, who created his own show Ty the Pie Guy on YouTube, and has contributed to several Strawberry Shortcake scripts.

Maddy Mermelstein is currently a research and exec assistant on Dora the Explorer at Nick Jr., where fellow participant Deirdre Morales has written for The Wonder Pets. Kimberly Manky worked on ABCmouse’s animated children’s series Everybody’s Garden; Myles Hunt interned for two summers at The Jim Henson Company and as a puppeteer at the Walt Disney Company; and Nina Fiore helped create and launch linear channel Noggin while collaborating on content for MTV, Comedy Central, PBS and Nickelodeon.

In 2019, RespectAbility launched RespectAbility Entertainment, an initiative to support people with disabilities who create content. Graduates from that program have gone on to work at studios such as Disney, DreamWorks and Nickelodeon.

Photo courtesy RespectAbility.