Inclusivity is a major topic in our culture today, and thankfully we have been seeing some major shifts in the film industry to ensure diversity and inclusiveness. There is one marginalized group, however, that it still seems acceptable to dismiss - people with various disabilities (especially mental).
I am neuro-divergent. This means my brain is literally structured different from 'normal' people. I think differently, I process differently, I respond differently - even though most people can't tell. Some things that many people find exceptionally hard, I find easy. Many things people find so easy as to not even take thought - I and others like me find almost impossible. These things are often required to have success in this industry, yet many (if not most) of the producers, agents, managers, etc, I have spoken to, have little to no empathy or willingness to provide accommodations, despite disability accommodations being required under federal law. It is too easy to reject people in the film industry over disability because it is near impossible to prove that's the reason. But we know - from the offhand comments, the shifting uncomfortableness after we mention our needs, the change in the vibe of the room.
As a screenwriter and director, I tell stories about people with trauma. Sometimes these characters do not overcome their trauma. Sometimes the trauma is just an element that informs the character and allows the audience to empathize (and become educated about) people with trauma. When industry people read these stories however, they immediately reject them because they don't fit the mold of "Character defeats their inner demon." These characters still have arcs, but the ableist reader wants the unrealistic catharsis of the person not having a mental disorder anymore. Yeah, sorry, but you missed the point.
Imagine having a mental disability that you are raising awareness about and that you keep being told that raising awareness for it makes people uncomfortable. I've also been told numerous times not to tell people I'm neurodivergent, that I have a disability, or that I have experienced trauma. Those are "downers" that will make me unhireable/unreppable. Maybe they're right... but they're also in the wrong.
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This is definitely a tough thing to share and deal with but I always remember that for the 100 people you may "make uncomfortable" you'll have 100 people that will finally feel seen and that is what I'm here for. I also truly believe that for those ableist producers/managers/etc don't want to work with you, then great, you dodged a bullet. The people you're creating with should allow you to be exactly who you are and if they don't, then you weren't meant to work with them.
Many people seem to not want to see anything except the “inspiring cripple” trope - both on and off screen.