INTERVIEW Q&A-DASHIELL MEIER

Dashiell Meier is a multifaceted filmmaker, disability advocate, and public speaker whose dedication to storytelling fuels a dynamic body of work across film scripts, storyboards, comics, and novels. As both a creator of live-action and animated shorts and a collaborator on screenplays, Dashiell champions authentic representation of individuals with Down syndrome and intellectual disabilities in media. Dashiell’s on-screen experience includes roles in film, theater, and commercials. He hosts the YouTube talk show Playing Favorites and is launching That Something Extra, an interview series featuring experts on Trisomy 21/Down syndrome. As a filmmaker, Dashiell wrote, directed, co-wrote, and co-edited the short thriller Day 21, which screened at festivals such as HollyShorts, Heartland, and Voices Rising and earned him the Best Actor award at the 2025 Easterseals Disability Film Challenge. His impactful mini documentary, This Is Me, was honored with Audience Choice Best Documentary Short at the BraveMaker Film Festival and continues to screen at film festivals in the U.S. and abroad. Dashiell’s advocacy work also extends internationally, with speaking engagements at the United Nations, U.S. Department of Education, and Stanford University. Recognized as the 2025 National Down Syndrome Society Ambassador of the Year, he has also written and produced videos for the Center for Youth Voice, Youth Choice on supported decision making. As a Global Ambassador, Athlete Leader, and Health Messenger for Special Olympics, Dashiell is active in their Storytelling Program and does interviews for The Special Report and is featured in the “Do Something Special” campaign. Away from the camera, Dashiell is an accomplished athlete, traveling nationally and internationally as a goalie for the U.S. National Down Syndrome Futsal Team and Special Olympics Unified San José Earthquakes. Currently, Dashiell is developing a feature-length documentary on the history of Down syndrome and working on 3-2-1, an animated short. When not working or advocating for people with intellectual disabilities, Dashiell enjoys movies, drawing, and creating comics.

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What are five things that you can't live without?   
water, food, storytelling, family, my song playlists
   
What's your life's motto or advice that you live by?   
“It’s kind of fun to do the impossible” by Walt Disney.

 

What's your favorite color?   
pink, especially bright, but not too bright, pink

What is your favorite movie?   
Into the Spider-Verse

What is your favorite TV show?   
Gravity Falls

Do you have any pets? If so, what kind and what's their name?   
2 cats, Puffy and Gigi, and a bunny named Tulip
   
What is your favorite place that you've traveled to?   
Rome - I loved seeing the Colosseum and learning the history.
   
What is your favorite food?   
sourdough pancakes
   
If you could have dinner with anyone in the world, who would it be with and why?   
One person I wish I could have met is Ed Roberts. He fought for disability rights. I learned a lot about him when I worked with Yo! Disabled and Proud to collect stories and interviews to celebrate Ed Roberts Day. I feel like he should be more famous because he helped so many people.

You are a multi-hyphenate entertainer. Let’s start with acting. How did you get started acting?
I started acting by performing in the elementary and middle school plays. I especially loved being in Macbeth and A Midsummer Night’s Dream. My high school didn’t offer theater, so I started making my own movies and animations and voicing them. I made most of them myself, especially during the pandemic. 

What is your favorite part about being an actor? 
Just being part of the shows and films. I like working together with people and being a part of something, like being on a team. You can see everyone’s talents blend together and create something amazing.

If you could write the perfect role for yourself, what would it be and why?
A kingpin villain character! I’ve always been interested in villains as characters, especially the ones we love to hate. Plus, I have the most terrifying evil laugh.

You are also a filmmaker. Tell us, how did you get started as a filmmaker?
I’ve always loved storytelling, but I mostly made comics until middle school when I had the opportunity to work with a mentor to make a film for my 8th grade final project. I made a film called Silent Colors about a lonely boy who doesn’t speak, but he communicates through drawing. It was a combination of live action and animation. That’s when I saw that I could do advocacy through making films and telling stories.

What is your favorite genre of movie to make and why?
I love making animated films because I like to draw and use my imagination. There are no limits! But I am getting more into documentary filmmaking because I love learning history, and I can help people understand my disability. People with Trisomy 21/Down syndrome are misunderstood, so it’s interesting to show a different side of our community. 

Additionally, as an athlete, how do you balance your entertainment career and training?
I am on three soccer teams, but luckily, the practices are spread out. I play goalie for my local AYSO Epic team in the fall and the San Jose Sharks Special Olympics Unified team. I’m also the U.S. National Down Syndrome Futsal Team with Down Syndrome Sports of America. We don’t get to practice together very often because the players live all over the country, so I have to train on my own. It’s not as fun as playing with the team, but it’s easier for my schedule.

As a UN Speaker and advocate for disability rights, what is the most powerful truth you wish everyone understood about the lived experiences and potential of people with disabilities?
We all have greatness inside us. Disabled people need to be recognized for what we bring to the world. What matters is that we are all human. If we understand that, we can live in a more peaceful world. When I spoke at the United Nations about health equity for people with Down syndrome and other disabilities, I met advocates from all over the world. It made me see that a lot of people are working to make the world better and more fair. It makes me want to help people even more because I really want world peace. 

In addition to all that you do, what other things are you are passionate about? (charity work, volunteering, etc.) Can you tell us about this work and why do you feel that it is it important?   
I spend a lot of my time writing and drawing because stories have the power to communicate really human things about life.  We can find truth in our own lives. I have made it my personal mission to keep telling stories as a part of my advocacy and to show the world that when communities come together, we can be so much more. Storytelling is so much more than just good advocacy for disabled people. Everyone can learn that we are stronger together because of our differences. 
   
Who is your favorite actor/actress and why?   
Tom Holland because I loved him in Spider-Man!
   
How would you describe your fashion style?   
I have no idea, so I asked my sister who said, “casual but intentional.” That seems about right. 

 

Who are some of your favorite people in the entertainment industry that you have worked with?  
I feel so lucky that some incredible actors with Trisomy 21/Down syndrome were in my thriller/suspense short Day 21, which I made for the Easterseals Disability Film Challenge. Zack Gottsagen starred in The Peanut Butter Falcon, and Sofia Sanchez was in Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes. I’m also grateful to actor/comedian Nic Novicki for his support. He founded the Easterseals Disability Film Challenge to help disabled people get jobs in front of and behind the camera, and I have met so many amazing people through the challenge. I have also gotten a lot of help from Tony Gapastione and the other awesome people involved with his filmmaking nonprofit BraveMaker. 

What advice would you give other kids that want to follow in your footsteps?    
Keep working on your projects and don’t give up! Chase the cosmos as far as possible!
   
What is one thing that nobody knows about you?   
I’m writing my first novel!

What can we expect to see from you in the future? 
I’m really excited to be making my first feature-length project, a documentary about the history of Down syndrome called Worthy. It’s a film about me making a film to find out why people think Trisomy 21/Down syndrome is bad. I think the answers lie in our history, and even though we have a pretty dark past, we can move forward from that. I am proud to have Down syndrome and want to show the world that people shouldn’t feel sorry for us.

 

I’m also working on an animated short called 3-2-1. It’s a superhero story that flips the narrative and shows that the underdog can be a true hero. Besides writing, I’m also excited to do some voice acting!

If you could talk to your future self, what would you tell him?   
Never stop advocating for what you believe in. You only have one life!
 
Is there anything else that you would you like to share with our audience?  
It’s OK to make mistakes. I make a lot of them, and it really is fine. One of the things about having Trisomy 21/Down syndrome is that some things are harder for us to do and learn, but everyone needs help with things and no one does everything well. So just be happy for who you are now and keep trying.