Check out an inspiring feature about Suzanne Richard, artistic director of Open Circle Theater (OCT), “Washington D.C.’s first professional theater dedicated to producing professional productions that integrate the considerable talents of artists with disabilities.”
Richard has osteogenesis imperfecta, a genetic disorder also known as brittle bone disease, in which a person’s bones break easily, leading to other health and physical challenges. According to the Osteogenesis Imperfecta Foundation (OI), the disorder affects 1 in 40,000 births.
Today, Suzanne Richard, a former employee of the
National Endowment for the Arts, encourages other working actors with special needs to pursue their acting dreams. In the CNN piece, Richard also addresses the on-going challenges and frustration faced by many working individuals with disabilities due to income caps and social security.