Though Katherine Beattie ’08 never set out to be a disability advocate, she has fully embraced the role. As a wheelchair user who has spastic quadriplegia cerebral palsy, a disorder that makes walking difficult, Beattie has combined her lived experience with a passion for storytelling to increase disability representation on TV screens across the country for almost 15 years.
After earning a degree in radio, television and digital media from TCU, Beattie rose through the Hollywood ranks from script coordinator to executive producer for award-winning shows like “Californication” and “NCIS: New Orleans.” She has received prominent industry awards, including the Evan Somers Memorial Award from the Writers Guild of America West and a Media Access Award, for her work to advance accurate portrayals of and equal opportunities for people with disabilities.
Amplifying her efforts, Beattie is a member of the Disabled Writers Committee at the Writers Guild of America and the Think Tank for Inclusion & Equity, groups that work to better reflect and honor real world diversity in entertainment.
Beyond her profession, Beattie is a fearless athlete who competes in wheelchair motocross and para surfing. Undeterred by circumstance, Beattie became the first woman to land a backflip using a wheelchair in 2016.
From shining a spotlight on underrepresented groups to riding the ramps and waves in Southern California, Beattie defies stereotypes and demonstrates what it means to Lead On.
“When Katherine went out and pursued [writing], it wasn't just a matter of saying, ‘I'm going to follow my dream.’ She pursued a path.”
Professor Richard Allen, Bob Schieffer College of Communication
Beattie’s path to the entertainment industry started at TCU, where she experienced hands-on learning and connected with faculty mentors. She shares more about her evolution from Horned Frog to Hollywood producer in the fall 2022 issue of TCU Magazine.
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