Shattering Stereotypes: Cole & Charisma – Pioneers in Disability Advocacy and Creativity
Charisma Jamison was once aiming for a future as an Occupational Therapist and her life and business partner, Cole Sydnor, was pursuing a career in real estate, until they embarked on an unexpected path that has led them to become notable influencers. Despite their original career plans, they found their true calling within the realm of content creation, addressing the demand for knowledge and understanding about their unique relationship and how they navigate life with a disability.
Originally from a background of house flipping with a focus on accessibility, Cole had just successfully completed one project when he was introduced to the world of content creation by Charisma. This introduction wasn’t just about sharing their experiences and challenges; it was about providing valuable insights into how to improve accessibility in everyday life. The pair’s content creation journey started as a hobby, spurred on by Charisma’s idea of establishing a YouTube channel.
They wanted to answer the countless questions they received about their relationship, how they made their dynamic work, and the adventures they embarked on. Despite his initial reservations, Cole quickly warmed up to the idea and embraced it as a fantastic opportunity to try new things and challenge the misconception of an inaccessible world.
They intentionally film their experiences navigating seemingly inaccessible places and demonstrate how they make it work, subtly highlighting the need for improved accessibility in these locations. They go beyond just highlighting issues; they actively suggest solutions and engage in discussions with establishments, promoting a more inclusive society. Throughout their journey, Cole and Charisma have grown in confidence and pride.
Cole, has experienced a significant shift in his perspective towards his disability. He had initially struggled with his limitations post-injury but found through their content creation that his life, as a disabled person, could still be full, valuable, and of interest to many people. This newfound sense of purpose was a transformative step in his self-acceptance journey.
Their influence has also reached beyond their own personal growth, providing a valuable resource for people with similar challenges. Through their candid documentation of their lives, they hope to offer guidance and help to others navigating a new reality post-injury. Despite their massive success as influencers, they remain grounded, seeing each other as role models. They push each other to be more confident, to face their insecurities, and they rely on each other’s unwavering support. Their partnership, as they describe it, is much more than a romantic relationship; it’s a source of mutual empowerment.
As content creators and role models, they have high hopes for the future of media representation, especially in the context of disability. Although they acknowledge the progress made on social media platforms, they believe there’s a lot more to be achieved, particularly in film and TV. They aspire to see authentic casting and genuine narratives, hoping for a world where everyone has the opportunity to see themselves represented.
Cole and Charisma have truly become pioneers in disability advocacy and content creation, using their platform to shed light on often overlooked aspects of society.
Elle Potruch: A Rising Star in Entertainment Representation and Advocacy
Elle Potruch was not always on the path to becoming a Talent Manager; rather, her passion for the entertainment industry grew from her early years, watching behind-the-scenes footage from her living room. As a college student, she helped produce student-led productions, nurturing her love for being part of a creative process and bringing joy to audiences.
Following her graduation, Potruch moved back to Los Angeles, starting her career in entertainment as a production assistant at a documentary production company. Her break into talent management came at a small talent agency, where the intimate environment afforded her a close view of the inner workings of the industry. This hands-on experience was invaluable, she says, “I learned everything there because I had the luxury of being in a small office and you could hear everything that goes on.”
A pivotal moment in Potruch’s career came when she joined C Talent in early 2021. This marked not just a change in job but also a new focus on disability representation. Potruch herself identifies as disabled, a fact that she admits she didn’t fully come to grips with until her early twenties. Joining C Talent, she found a unique opportunity to increase disability representation, stating, “You see so much more opportunity and how much more could be done.”
Today, Potruch’s focus is not only on film and TV but also on online content creators, working to increase representation for influencers and creators.
She highlights the importance of understanding disability pride, not just as a personal pride in one’s own condition but as a collective pride in being part of the disability community. Throughout her career, Potrutch has been influenced by key figures in her life. First, her bosses at her initial agency, who took the time to guide her and explain the nuances of the business, were instrumental in her early years. At C Talent, she cites her boss as a major influence. She remarks, “having someone who is young to you, that’s your boss, and seeing what rooms you were being invited into and also kicking down the door to get into was really, really inspiring to me.”
As for her work, Potruch is driven by more than just financial success. She wants to effect consistent, concrete change within the entertainment industry. The people she represents are not just clients but also mentors to her, each sharing their experiences and contributing to her ongoing education in representation and advocacy.
Potruch’s story is one of passion, personal growth, and advocacy. From an eager college student to an influential talent manager, she is an inspiring figure in the industry, constantly pushing boundaries and advocating for better representation. As she aptly puts it, “we still have so much further to go,” but with figures like Potruch leading the way, the journey is well underway.
Most recently Potruch has had a major breakthrough in her career; her client, Keivonn Woodward has been nominated for an Emmy, making history as not only the first Black Deaf young Actor on a major streaming platform but also as the youngest person to ever be nominated for an Emmy in his category.
Tiffany Yu: Community Builder, Disability Advocate, Entrepreneur
Tiffany Yu, a former Goldman Sachs Banker and a Director at Revolt, a company co-founded by P. Diddy, has since found her powerful passion in disability rights advocacy and community building, leading to the creation of Diversability “an award-winning social enterprise to rebrand disability through the power of community”. Today, Diversability has more than 5,700 members, and expanded their digital network to over 70,000.
Born from her experience as a disability advocate in college, she considers herself a community builder first, disability advocate second, and entrepreneur third. Yu’s journey in the corporate world was punctuated by active involvement in disability employee resource groups. It was there that her entrepreneurial spirit was ignited, leading to the rebirth of Diversability.
Revolt, a Black-owned business prioritizing racial and gender diversity, backed Yu, and helped solidify her decision to leave corporate America behind. As she forged her new path, Yu won a full-time scholarship to learn how to code in Amsterdam, an opportunity she seized with gusto, using it to pivot her career. On her return, she moved to San Francisco, the epicenter of the tech community, becoming the first hire at a co-living startup.
Yu, however, never forgot about Diversbility. She ran meetups and continued to work on it, even after losing her job six months into her new role. As she built her life in San Francisco, she continued to advocate for Diversability, and, to her surprise, the opportunities kept pouring in.
Yu’s dedication to advocacy began after a personal accident in 1997, an event that she kept secret for years. In 2009, after finding community in a Taiwanese student club she started during college, she decided to be open about the accident and her disability. This revelation was another driving factor for the creation and direction of Diversability and extend a sense of community to other disabled individuals.
To Yu, disability pride means liberation and being able to be one’s authentic self. Her exploration of this concept has given her a sense of acceptance and has led her to build a supportive community for others navigating their own journeys. Role models like Alice Wong serves as someone Yu looks up to.
Her hope for the future is to move toward a more expansive view of what disability looks like and how opportunities are distributed. Despite the challenges, Yu remains optimistic about the future of representation, drawing hope from the rise of social media as a new medium for visibility and power within the disability community.
Tiffany Yu’s journey from finance to disability advocacy is nothing short of incredible. Her drive, resilience, and unwavering commitment to community building and disability advocacy continue to impact countless lives, as she redefines the narrative around disability and works tirelessly to create a more inclusive world.
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