Tal Anderson is an actor and director based in Los Angeles, CA. Big into storytelling from a young age, Anderson started officially acting right before high school. You may recognize her from the Netflix series “Atypical” as ‘Sid,’ a role that was written specifically for her. Anderson describes going into the casting call for a small three-line role in Episode 2 of Season 3, but ending up getting a call for Sid after the show-runner saw her audition. Anderson also has a leading role in the national campaign for Delivering Jobs, which is in partnership with Best Buddies and Special Olympics promoting jobs for disabled people. As an autistic actor, Anderson works with organizations the work to promote inclusivity and disability representation. She is an official ambassador for Awareness Ties, a contributor to Neuroclastic, and a speaker with The Inspire Project. She also enjoys making films for the annual Disability Film Challenge. Read on to learn more about Anderson’s important work towards inclusivity and representation!

Where are you based?
I grew up in SW Florida, but I moved permanently to Los Angeles after I graduated from college.

How did you get interested in acting?
I know it seems there should be a simple answer for this, but for me, it’s always been a tough question, because I’ve been acting my whole life. Not officially or professionally, but I’ve been a storyteller since I was a small child. I video-taped everything I experienced on a little FLIP video camera, or recorded it on a hand-held voice recorder. I would even narrate what was happening around me. I’d play it back later, and often, to relive the experience. Sometimes I would play it and re-record the video off the screen of my computer, but adding a personalized voiceover. It’s my earliest memory of editing together a story.

Officially, I started acting right before high school, when I started taking classes and working with a coach. I had been in a couple school plays, and I was interested, but acting was mainly a way for me to build my confidence and learn through improvisation exercises how to interact with people and make friends. My self-esteem improved, and I discovered in the process that I really loved the challenge of acting. So, I started taking classes at my local repertory theater and began a journey of learning and training that I’m still on.

You are best known for your work in the Netflix series “Atypical” as ‘Sid,’ a role that was specifically developed for you. How did this role come about?
The story of how I got my role as Sid is my favorite story, because it made booking a role on this amazing show even more unbelievable to me.

I originally went in for a small three-line role in Episode 2 of Season 3. I didn’t get the part and I was pretty bummed, because I was already a big fan of the show, but a week or so later I got a call that I had booked the role of “Sid,” and I was so confused because I didn’t audition for it. Then I found out later that the role of Sid was written for me after the show-runner saw my audition, and I was honestly blown away, and it felt amazing.

Did you have any contribution to the character development of Sid?
In Season 3 Sid was introduced as a new character at Sam’s college, and she was there as support for him because he was struggling with asking for help. So, my role was very small in the storyline. But, in Season 4 the writers expanded Sid’s role within Sam’s story so much, and her part in helping him reach his goals at the end of the series was so important. But even with that expanded role, Sid was still a small part of the overall story, and especially since her character was introduced late in the series, I didn’t really have much input into who she turned out to be, though. I wish I could say that Sid was actually just like me, but I can’t, because thanks to the amazing team of writers, Sid is way cooler, more confident, and a lot sassier than me!

You had a lead role in the national campaign for Delivering Jobs, in partnership with Best Buddies and Special Olympics that promoted jobs for disabled people. What was your role in this campaign?
I had a pretty major role in the kickoff of the Delivering Jobs campaign in 2019. In the PSA, I played an art gallery owner, and I also did the voiceover narration. That campaign also included print, and a Times Square blast, so seeing my giant face on the side of a building in New York City was definitely a career highlight for me. In the 2020 campaign I was also part of the PSA with my voiceover. This campaign in general, though, has a special place in my heart, because the goal of the campaign was to bring awareness to the low rate of employment that exists in the disability community. Just as an example, almost 50% of 25-year-olds with autism have never had a paid job, even though they’re trained and educated to be successful. So, I have a personal connection to this campaign, and I’m proud to be a small part of delivering such a necessary message.

Additionally, every year you make a film for the Disability Film Challenge. What are some of the films you have put together?
I’ve made a film for the Disability Film Challenge every year since I’ve moved to Los Angeles. My first film, Klarheit, was a big learning experience, and I got hooked on the event because of how supportive the community of filmmakers was. In 2020, the challenge almost got cancelled because of the pandemic, so instead they created an “At Home” version. For this challenge I wrote, filmed and edited a documentary called Serendipity and Me completely at home with my cat, Winifred. The film discusses the effects isolation and the pandemic had on me as an autistic actor, and in it I use my cat to demonstrate that despite the circumstances, we can all reclaim unexpected joy in our lives if we put in the work and allow ourselves to discover the possibilities.

Are you making a film this year? If so, what is it about?
Actually, I just finished my film for the 2022 Disability Film Challenge. The theme this year was Super Hero, and all of the films premiere and are available to view on the Disability Film Challenge YouTube page as of April 16th. My film this year was a collaboration of three creatives, including an autistic animator, Becca David, who is so talented, myself, and writer/comedian/actor Anthony Purnell. We were able in just five days, to create completely remotely, a live-action film, because we shot all the scenes separately on green screen, and used completely animated sets and props. The film is called Life Trials, and it’s the story of a struggling super hero and how he regains his confidence with the help of a wise and unrelenting super friend.

April was Autism Awareness Month. How can the media and entertainment industry do better in promoting inclusivity and rights for artists with disabilities?
I think that any awareness month for any cause, should at the very least try to make the lives of people affected, better. I think that rule should also apply to the media and entertainment industry and their efforts to promote inclusion and authentic representation of disabled people in front of and behind the camera.

The world is a diverse place to live in, and the differences in all people are what makes us human. But disabled people have been invisible for a very long time, and they’ve existed in the world without a voice. This is why disability representation in Hollywood on screen is so important. To see disabled actors portraying characters of all types and to see someone you can identify with on screen, matters. It makes a difference in how you view yourself in the world, means you’re seen, and it gives you that voice you never had. Being included can change the way you feel about your place in the world.

Do you have any film or TV recommendations with good representation and inclusivity?
There are actually several productions where autistic characters are portrayed authentically by actors who are actually autistic, and in addition, the stories are very good in my opinion. One of my favorites is a film called “Keep the Change,” which stars autistic actor Samantha Elisofon. It was produced originally as a short, and after winning a bunch of awards, it was made into a feature, and I love them both. “All Together Now” is a Netflix original movie starring Auli’i Cravalho and Anthony Jacques, who is an autistic actor. Anthony plays an autistic character who is a big part of the main character’s life. His character is written well, and he brings him to life brilliantly. There is also an Apple+ series called Little Voice and autistic actor Kevin Valdez plays one of the main characters, opposite Brittany O’Grady, and Kevin just lights up the screen, and his character, Louie.

What I’d really like to start see happening more, is where the story may involve a disabled character, but it doesn’t revolve around their disability. I think a really good example of this is The Walking Dead episodes and storylines with Lauren Ridloff, who is deaf, but her character is in the Zombie Apocalypse just like everyone else, and her disability is not really the focus of the story. Another good example is the film, RUN with Kiera Allen who plays the daughter of a mentally ill single mother played by Sarah Paulson. Kiera is a wheelchair user, and the film shows her character’s daily routines without making them the focus of the film because she happens to do them in a wheelchair.

Jejune loves that you are a strong advocate for inclusivity. You are an official ambassador for Awareness Ties, a contributor to Neuroclastic, and a speaker with The Inspire Project. How did you become involved with these organizations? Why are they important to you?
When I first moved to Los Angeles I wanted to find some organizations to volunteer with, and I really wanted them to believe in and support the same causes that I do.

I became an Official Ambassador for Awareness Ties, after they reached out to me online. I had been following them on social media and reposting some of the amazing stories they publish, and we just started to have a conversation. Awareness Ties is a media company that raises awareness by sharing stories told by real people. They support 26 causes and my cause is Disability Awareness. This organization is a perfect fit for me because of what they support, and also because of how they choose to do it. They tell real stories written by real people and the stories teach us all about things we may have never heard about, or perspectives we have never been exposed to.

I became involved with Neuroclastic in 2020, because we were both actively advocating for the release of Matthew Rushin, who is a 20 year-old black autistic college student in Virginia Beach, VA who was sentenced to 50 years in prison for a non-fatal car accident. Neuroclastic is an online collective of autistic contributors, whose goal is to humanize autism by sharing experiences with others. It was started by Terra Vance, an autistic industrial and organizational psychology consultant, and she is very active in social justice and advocating for autistics.

The Inspire Project is an organization that provides opportunities for students globally to connect and work with change-makers to teach them to take an active role in making the world a better place. I became involved with them when I was contacted by the founder and creator of the project, Dr. Todd Brown, because he had been following me on social media and was aware of my work with other organizations. They are important to me because their goal is to reach children while they are young, and teach them to engage with the world, to make it a better place as adults.

How are you supporting them in 2022?
In the new issue of AwareNow Magazine, the published collection of Awareness Ties stories, I have two articles that will be included, and I will be featured in a third article about sustainable fashion. This feature showcases a project that is a partnership between Awareness Ties and London Eco-artist, Laura Zabo. The issue is available as of April 24th, 2022.

In 2022 I plan to continue contributing to the Neuroclastic blog when it is appropriate. The great thing about Neuroclastic is that they do not censor their contributors. If you want to find out real perspectives, experiences, and opinions of actually autistic people from all walks of life, Neuroclastic is the best place to find it. It’s also the organization to support if you’d like to support advocacy for autistic individuals in need of help and social justice.

On May 16, 2022, I will be speaking and taking part in a free Q&A event for The Inspire Project. The event is a casual, dialogue-driven, discussion with an international collection of students. The event allows students to sit down face to face and learn about guest speakers’ lives, careers, failures and successes, without barriers. I’ve never done anything like it and am excited to take part. I’ll also be a character in the fifth issue of an interactive comic book series called “Journey to a Better World,” which is a partnership between The Inspire Project and Louisiana Tech’s Vista Center.

How can readers get involved?
All of these organizations are fully inclusive and provide content that is educational and beneficial to everyone. They also accept contributions to help them continue their work and expand their reach. If readers want to get involved I encourage them to visit their websites and reach out to them there, or through social media to become part of changing the world.

Awareness Ties raises awareness for causes one story at a time. They empower and educate millions of readers with free access to AwareNow Magazine and Podcast, which supports 26 causes. You can get involved by reading the stories published by AwareNow magazine, and learning more about Awareness Ties causes. You can also contribute to keep these services and resources free for all by visiting the link below: https://www.awarenessties.us/donate.html

NeuroClastic is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization led by autistic self-advocates. To get involved and to help with advocacy of autistic individuals in crisis and experiencing injustice, please visit www.neuroclastic.com or support the cause through the link below: https://neuroclastic.com/support-us/

The Inspire Project empowers students to become leaders today through innovative mentorship and action. Visit The Inspire Project online at: https://theinspireproject.us or reach out to them via social media.

You can also support the Journey to a Better World Series or gift a set of books to a school or youth organization by purchasing them through Amazon at the link below: Purchase Journey to a Better World Series

What would you like the public to know more about Autism?
I definitely don’t want to speak for all autistic people. I can only really speak for myself from my own personal perspective, but from my experience, autistic people seem to share a history of trying to get their voices heard. I guess I’d like non-autistic people to know that, it would be awesome if they took the time to listen to us.

Kindness and support go a long way, and it’s free. It doesn’t cost you anything to be nice to someone, or to include them in a conversation, or to ask their opinion on a project. Being included, and validated as existing, are things most people take for granted. I know first-hand that when you’re overlooked, or talked over, or excluded from things, that it makes you feel small, and non-existent. When someone gives you a voice, and a place to contribute, it changes everything about the way you feel about yourself, and it changes your life.

How are you staying positive during the current wave of the pandemic and the war?
I’ve always felt things very strongly, and have always almost obsessively kept up with the news and things going on in the world. The last several years have been hard, and even before the pandemic watching the news was difficult, but 2020 was the worst.

Things got better in 2021, even while we were still in a pandemic, but now with the war and what seems like there is no actual end to the nightmares we’ve been living with, it’s been very hard to stay positive. But, I have a very supportive family, who have been with me throughout the pandemic; so, I continue to feel safe. I also have my cat, Winifred who is like my child, and he just makes me happy on a daily basis. But most of all, I try to keep busy, working and creating, and basically just try to do whatever I can to keep moving forward, even if it is extremely slow.

As long as I keep moving and changing in the right direction, and the people who are important to me are safe and healthy, I can deal with worrying about the terrible things happening to people all over the world, a little better.

What does your new normal look like?
I have no idea, really. I hope the new normal will include me leaving the house and doing things other than work, and I want to be able to relax and comfortably go see a movie in a theater, or go back to New York to see a play. I’m just not there yet, though.

I do know that I’ll probably continue to wear a mask anytime I’m around a lot of people or in small closed indoor spaces, and I’m looking forward to dining inside a restaurant without worrying.

Any future projects that you would like to promote?
Yes. I currently have a recurring costar role in a new NBC/Universal television series for Prime Video called As We See It, which follows three autistic adults, who are trying to navigate the world and become independent — this story is my story. I’m not exactly like any of the three main characters, but I can relate to each of them in some way, and I share that experience with a lot of other autistic adults. The show is emotional and funny, and it showcases some very serious topics that are sometimes uncomfortable to watch, but they are real. My character in the show, Gia, has Tourette’s and is extremely introverted, unsure, and timid. There is a really great dramatic and emotional scene where I got to put Gia out in a place she usually doesn’t get to be, and it was empowering for me to do it. All of Season 1 is now available on Prime Video.

Also, there are other things in the works, but nothing I can talk about at the moment.

What is your motto in life?
I went to a small private middle school and they only had three rules: be safe, be respectful, and be responsible. I remember that I immediately liked those rules. I think it was the rhythm of having to repeat the “Be” rules, and my autistic brain really took to that.

At the time though, I also made up “Be” rules for myself and for my own life, and I remind myself of them all the time, still. Be Kind. Be Persistent, and Be Brave. I knew what I needed back then for encouragement, and those words have just as much meaning for me now.

To see more from Tal Anderson, please follow her on the platforms below:
https://www.thetalanderson.com/
Instagram: @thetalanderson
IMDb: Tal Anderson

Discussing Inclusivity and Disability Representation With Tal Anderson