Disney is set to release a movie centering on the experience of a sixth grader with cerebral palsy who’s nonverbal, uses a wheelchair and is pursuing an inclusive education.

The film, “Out of My Mind,” is an adaptation of the bestselling novel by Sharon M. Draper of the same name.

Phoebe-Rae Taylor, who has cerebral palsy herself, stars as Melody Brooks, a girl who isn’t given the same opportunities at school because of her disabilities. But, when a young educator takes note of Melody’s potential, she starts participating in mainstream classes and rises to the occasion.

The movie, set in 2002, features Melody using various augmentative and alternative communication systems, including a picture-based communication board and then a fictional device called the Medi-Talker 6000.

Taylor is from Essex, England and is making her acting debut. She landed the role after submitting a homemade audition tape.

Jennifer Aniston was brought on to portray Melody’s inner voice in the movie after the film’s director, Amber Sealey, learned of Taylor’s love for the show “Friends.”

In addition to Taylor, the cast includes actors with a variety of disabilities including hearing impairment, visual impairment, autism, Down syndrome and more. They were supported by a team of disability consultants who worked to ensure accessibility on set and authentic representation on screen, those behind the film said.

“It was really important to me to fill the cast with actors of all abilities and neurodiversities,” Sealey, the director, said. “We were going to explore in real time what it was like to make the first mainstream movie about a kid with a disability played by a kid with that same disability.”

Taylor said she hopes the film will lead to more acceptance.

“You really can do anything and everything you put your mind to. I didn’t expect to do this, and it shows you can do anything. And please, don’t let anyone knock you down,” she said. “One of the hardest things for me is people talk to my mom, not me. So, I want people to speak to people with disabilities and try to understand and talk to them. All we want is someone to just talk to us and treat us normally for who we are.”

“Out of My Mind” will be available on Disney+ starting Nov. 22.

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