On January 19, 2024, New York Times Bestseller novel, Out Of My Mind by Sharon M. Draper, became a Disney Original film adaptation. It premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in Salt Lake City, Utah.  If you are looking for something new to watch, it is expected to be on Disney+ later this year and be exclusive to the streaming service.

Both the novel and movie follow the story of the main character, Melody Brooks, who is a 5th grader with Cerebral Palsy. Melody is wheelchair bound and nonverbal. She is able to speak using a communication device and is extremely intelligent.  Phoebe-Rae Taylor, a recent new coming disabled actress, is playing Melody. Taylor stars among actresses and actors, like Courtney Taylor (Dr. Katherine), Judith Light (Mrs. V),  Gavin MacIver-Wright (Rodney Walsh), Luke Kirby (Chuck), and others. 

What makes this movie unique is that the production crew has many people from the Cerebral Palsy and AAC (augmentative and alternative communication device) community. They have been involved since early stages of development, so they wanted to make sure the portrayals are presented with accuracy and respect. This is a very important step in disability representation in the media. People who are disabled may have similar experiences and differences with one another, but it does not mean their lives are all the same.

Writer BJ Colangelo from SlashFilm interviewed director Amber Sealy about her hopes for the film. Sealy shared in the interview, “ “Out of My Mind” will become an important part of disability awareness and inclusion and will expand the conversation surrounding diversity and disability.”