Cerebral palsy and disability in the entertainment industry – with Abbie Hills

Cerebral palsy and disability in the entertainment industry – with Abbie Hills

Author: Carolyn Kiel June 23, 2025 Duration: 31:22

Abbie Hills is a UK-based talent agent, producer, writer, and passionate disability advocate with cerebral palsy. Abbie founded The Dazey Hills Company in 2019 to promote diversity and inclusion in the entertainment industry, representing talent across the UK and Europe. Her writing has gained recognition with recent placements in film festivals, including the British Independent Film Festival, Lit Laughs, and the Palm Springs Diversity Screenplay Contest. 

In addition to her writing, Abbie works as an Access Coordinator, supporting D/deaf, disabled, and neurodivergent talent in film and television productions. She also mentors aspiring talent, advocating for greater accessibility and representation in the entertainment industry.

During this episode, you will hear Abbie talk about:

  • Her experience growing up with cerebral palsy, which for her is an "invisible" disability
  • How an MRI scan of her brain changed the way she viewed her disability
  • How people have judged her because of her disability
  • How cerebral palsy affects her day-to-day life
  • What inspired her to become an actress, and how her disability affected her experience in the entertainment industry
  • The need for community among adults with disabilities
  • Her journey from being an actor who hid her disability to founding her own talent agency and working as an Access Coordinator

To find out more about Abbie and her work, visit her personal website AbbieHills.uk and production company website TheDazeyHillsCompany.co.uk and follow her on Instagram @itsabbiehills.

Watch the video of this interview on YouTube.

Read the episode transcript.

Follow the Beyond 6 Seconds podcast in your favorite podcast player.

Subscribe to the FREE Beyond 6 Seconds newsletter for early access to new episodes.

Support or sponsor this podcast at BuyMeACoffee.com/Beyond6Seconds!

*Disclaimer: The views, guidance, opinions, and thoughts expressed in Beyond 6 Seconds episodes are solely mine and/or those of my guests, and do not necessarily represent those of my employer or other organizations. These episodes are for informational purposes only and do not substitute for professional medical advice. Consult a medical professional or healthcare provider if you are seeking medical advice, diagnoses, or treatment.*


Hosted by Carolyn Kiel, Beyond 6 Seconds: Neurodiversity stories from neurodivergent people moves past the snap judgments that so often define how neurodivergent people are perceived. Each conversation here is an invitation to listen deeply, exploring the nuanced realities of entrepreneurs, artists, advocates, and other neurodivergent individuals as they share their own experiences in their own words. You’ll hear personal accounts that challenge stereotypes, not through abstract arguments, but through the vivid details of lived experience-the unique pathways to creativity, the challenges navigated in work and relationships, and the personal definitions of success and well-being. This podcast creates a space where identity is explored with authenticity, highlighting the strengths and perspectives that arise from thinking differently. Tuning in means connecting with stories that are as diverse and dynamic as the neurodivergent community itself, offering genuine insight into mental health, societal norms, and the richness of human cognition. Carolyn guides these discussions with a focus on depth and connection, ensuring every episode goes far beneath the surface to celebrate the vibrance of neurodiversity.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

Beyond 6 Seconds: Neurodiversity stories from neurodivergent people
Podcast Episodes
Autistic burnout and career change – with Shayonee Dasgupta [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 50:40
Content note: This episode mentions thoughts about suicide and self harm. Shayonee Dasgupta is a Mumbai-based freelance writer and editor who initially pursued a career in law, working with corporate law firms in India.…
Art, neurodivergence and self-discovery – with Nick Heaney [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 22:42
Nick Heaney is a resident artist and co-founder of Artnova Gallery in Chatham, Massachusetts. Nick has always found art to be his most authentic way of connecting with the world around him. He was diagnosed with dyslexia…
Down syndrome, leadership & advocacy – with David Egan [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 15:00
David Egan is a leader and advocate who promotes the causes of people with disabilities. He is the first person with Down Syndrome to serve as a Joseph P. Kennedy Jr. Public Policy fellow on Capitol Hill and with the Nat…
Neurodiversity affirming community – with Katie York [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 35:49
Katie York (aka The Distracted Autistic) is a late-diagnosed Autistic who also has ADHD. They are currently program coordinator at the Community College of Baltimore County in Baltimore, Maryland. Katie is also an advoca…
Supporting the Hispanic Tourette's community - with Claudia Scott [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 31:36
Born and raised in Costa Rica, Claudia Scott was diagnosed with Tourette syndrome in her early teens. Now she lives in the U.S., where she is the Capital Access Manager for Kiva Northwest Arkansas (NWA) at Startup Junkie…
Swarit Gopalan – Nonspeaking autistic writer and poet [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 12:57
Swarit Gopalan is a 12-year old autistic nonspeaker who uses a letterboard to spell and a keyboard to type to communicate. He lives with his family in Florida and goes to Invictus Academy for school. Swarit is a talented…
Celebrating 200 episodes and looking ahead to 2024 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 15:20
In this year-end episode for 2023, host Carolyn Kiel reflects on the big milestones that Beyond 6 Seconds achieved in 2023 and some of her goals for the show in 2024. Below are links to the resources mentioned in this ep…