A new era of inclusion: The story of Kello Inclusive and their mission for fair representation
Photographer: Tilly Nelson
As a disability and accessibility consultant with cerebral palsy who uses a power wheelchair, I am beyond grateful for the work being done by the team at Kello Inclusive. As the first fully inclusive, nationally incorporated, not-for-profit talent agency in Canada that represents, promotes, and advocates for disabled, neurodiverse, and visibly-different talent, they are truly making a difference in the media and marketing industry.
When I was first introduced to the founders of Kello, Katie MacMillan and Austin Allanach, I knew instantly that I wanted to be a part of what they were doing. They have a daughter named Kelty with cerebral palsy, and their personal experiences and passion for representation in the industry are evident in everything they do. It's their personal experience and drive that makes their work so impactful and authentic.
Katie and Austin are not only great people with warm smiles and down-to-earth personalities, but make no mistake, they are not to be messed with. They are fierce advocates for the disabled community and will stop at nothing to ensure that representation is fair and equal in the media and marketing industry.
Case in point would be Natasha Urkow - actress, writer and model - who was just featured in an international ad campaign for Lancôme and L'Oreal’s latest accessible cosmetic technology. And Bean Gill - model, spokesperson and co-founder of ReYu Paralysis Recovery Centre - just participated in a collaborative shoot with Lululemon at Vancouver’s inclusive center for neurodiversity - This World Is Ours. These two amazing individuals were able to get these opportunities thanks to the hard work of the team at Kello Inclusive.
Photographer: Michal Urbanek
I am particularly impressed with Kello's focus on six critical initiatives, including addressing the specific needs and barriers to entry for persons with disabilities in Canada's media and marketing industry, creating equal opportunities for persons with disabilities to access training by mentors, instructors, and industry experts, and supporting initiatives that are inclusive and collaborative in nature and address the intersection of disability with other underrepresented communities in Canada.
It's f*cking amazing to see a company that truly cares about doing the advocacy and educational work needed to break down the deeply ingrained systemic barriers to entry that currently exist for persons with disabilities in Canada's media and marketing industry. I am honored to be a part of the Kello team and to help make a positive impact on the lives of all disabled Canadians by creating equal opportunities for access and increasing awareness and advocacy for true inclusion in the industry.
As Katie, one of the co-founders of Kello Inclusive, said, "Because of all of the fabulous people we’ve signed who are up for helping us do this, the world my daughter grows up is going to be way, way better and we couldn’t be more grateful." It's not just about representation but also about creating a better world for the next generation, and Kello Inclusive is doing just that.
