Meet Andy Ryan of Santa Clarita, CA

Today we’d like to introduce you to Andy Ryan

Hi Andy, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
I am a passionate storyteller specializing in documentary filmmaking and fine art photography. My work is deeply influenced by music and culture, and I’m fortunate to blend my creative passions with teaching. Throughout my career, I have committed myself to mentoring individuals with disabilities, advocating for innovative solutions that empower them, and creating opportunities for their growth and success. I believe in the power of visual storytelling to capture and convey profound experiences, and I find great fulfillment in sharing my knowledge with others. My journey has allowed me to merge my creative identity with my professional endeavors, driving my commitment to empower and include people with disabilities through innovative media and immersive experiences.

At 15, I was given an incredible opportunity to direct live video production for a music festival, which launched my diverse filmmaking career and set the course for the second half of my life. This music festival was known as the Summer Meltdown Autism Awareness Art & Music Festival, produced by a team of special education students and held in our high school amphitheater. Led by their fearless teacher and leader, Bret Lieberman, the program combined special education students with general education student mentors, who worked together to plan and produce the annual event. As a budding documentary filmmaker, I had found my first film subject! As an aspiring musician, lover of live music concerts, and amateur lighting designer, I was ecstatic to help produce a music festival.

The class, and its associated nonprofit organization, was called Yes I Can Unity Through Music & Education. I spent my entire high school career working with the YIC class, learning how to tell stories, create marketing material for the event, and direct live video for the festivals. By the time I graduated, I was running my own video production company and accepting travel work opportunities for film projects.

The following year, a chance encounter with Joey Travolta’s “famous actor brother” led to a collaboration in leading film workshops for kids and adults with special needs across the United States. During my time with Joey Travolta’s Inclusion Films team, my personal growth continued to fuel my passion for working with and serving individuals with disabilities.

While I was working with Inclusion Films, Yes I Can underwent significant expansion as a nonprofit, leading to my rejoining the YIC team in 2023. With a wealth of experience under my belt, I was ready to help lead the brand’s newest event, where I developed and implemented a curriculum to teach event production, filmmaking, photography, and digital marketing to young adults with disabilities. After eight months of planning and preparation, my students, team, and I produced The Good Karma Music & Arts Festival—a continuation of the Summer Meltdown Festival legacy, which ran from 2004 to 2016. Featuring performances from renowned artists like Bone Thugs-n-Harmony, Xzibit, and Too $hort, the festival offered a unique blend of live music, art, and local culture, all managed by Yes I Can student participants. I personally think that professional hands-on experiences like a music festival or film set is a pretty awesome practical classroom!

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Here’s a fact: in the United States, as of September 2024, the unemployment rate for people with disabilities is double that of the non-disabled population. With only 40.8% of the disabled population participating in the workforce, compared to nearly 78% for non-disabled individuals, I believe this disparity is significant. After spending half my life enriched by this beautiful community, I am committed to doing everything I can to help open doors for people to develop themselves personally and professionally.

In my custom teaching curriculum, my team and I work one-on-one with each student in our program to develop a unique career plan. This includes assistance with resume creation, website/portfolio development, and connecting employers with individual students. We provide ongoing support once our students are hired into a paid internship or full-time position, helping them grow their social, professional, and workplace skills. While this process does not come without challenges—often due to negative perceptions or preconceived notions—we’ve found that when employers, supervisors, and managers witness the quality of work and potential these individuals bring, such perceptions are often dispelled. We are fortunate to have a growing list of companies, employers, and organizations that currently employ our students. We also strive to challenge norms and break barriers, which not only supports our mission but also helps innovate the future for people with physical and mental differences. When an individual develops their independence, it has a cascading positive effect in all areas of their life.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I specialize in storytelling through documentary filmmaking and photography, as well as music and event production. I find great joy in teaching and sharing my knowledge, as it allows me to blend my passions with my profession. I’m best known for my skills behind the camera and my technical expertise in areas like lighting and sound design. In 2019, under the direction of Joey Travolta, I served as the cinematographer for the feature film Carol Of The Bells, which featured a disabled cast and crew—a first for the film industry. This award-winning film premiered across the United States, inspiring diverse audiences with its prominent representation of disability on screen, something I am very proud of.

I also find great joy in traveling to unique locations around the world, where I produce fine art photographs. I love using my photographic tools to immerse others in faraway places, especially through single-exposure night sky photography combined with natural events like volcanic eruptions, eclipses, and the aurora borealis. On a rare occasion, I can be seen “lugging” one of my 4×5 large format film cameras to a destination like a forest in New Zealand, a subway in New York City, or directly under an active eruption on Mauna Loa!

Any big plans?
Curriculum-wise, I consistently strive to be a better educator, mentor, and technical advisor. One of the things I’m most proud of in my career is that, as a teacher, I also learn from my students every single day. I believe in a growth mindset for myself and my team, and I aspire to help people of all abilities achieve their dreams and goals. Currently, I am focused on preparing for our next event in 2025, which will feature a diverse artist lineup, food trucks, and unique art experiences.

To create a platform for disability inclusion, I am also directing my first feature documentary film, which highlights the journey of several individuals with disabilities who are at various stages of their jobs and careers, with a tentative 2027 release. My goal is to help pave the way for a better future for people with disabilities. I am thrilled to continue my passionate, multi-faceted endeavors and can’t wait to see what the future has in store!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://yicunity.org
• Instagram: @goodkarmafest
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/goodkarmafest
• Twitter: https://x.com/goodkarmafest
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCZAsEJYR33CU0BS0d4j1epg
• Other: https://goodkarmafest.com

Image Credits
Andy Ryan – landscape images, Ty Ryan, Yes I Can Unity Through Music & Education, Stephanie Sanchez-Sagucio