21st Media Access Awards
Celebrating Disability in the Entertainment Industry

 

Since 1978 the California Governor's Committee on Employment of People with Disabilities has been honoring the entertainment
and media industries with the Media Access Awards

Recipients are honored for their efforts in promoting:

"What the Media Access Office is doing is remarkable. Using actors without disabilities to play characters with disabilities we hope will soon be as unacceptable in Hollywood as suggesting white actors in blackface play African-American characters." John Wells, President, WGAw

Recipients of the Honorary Awards are selected by the entities specified in
each award description below.

Governor's Award of Excellence
Presented by the California Governor's Committee on Employment of People with Disabilities to an individual or organization in the media industry for promoting general awareness and dignity for people with disabilities.

Michael Landon Award
Presented by the California Governor's Committee on Employment of People with Disabilities to an individual who has made a lifetime commitment to the advancement and inclusion of people with disabilities in the media industry.

Screen Actors Guild * Harold Russell Award
Presented by the Screen Actors Guild in honor of Harold Russell, the first actor with a disability to receive an Academy Award. This award recognizes a S.A.G. member with a disability who has made a significant contribution to public awareness and understanding of people with disabilities through the media.

AFTRA Disability Awareness Award
Presented by the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists to a member with a disability, or an organization, who has made a significant contribution in raising the visibility and awareness of disability issues in the broadcast, sound recording and entertainment industries.

Writers Guild of America west * Joan Young Memorial Award
Presented by the Writers Guild of America west to a member who has exhibited extraordinary persistence in meeting the challenge of a disability while successfully pursuing a writing career - and who has demonstrated an active commitment to the goal of increasing opportunities for all writers with disabilities.

Casting Society of America Award
Presented by the Casting Society of America to a member who consistently casts roles based on ability not disability. The honoree is recognized for including appropriate casting of characters with disabilities, and for making an effort to cast actors with disabilities non-traditionally.

Producers Guild
Presented by the Producers Guild to a member who throughout their career has consistently dedicated their time, energy, and professional expertise to eliminate stereotypes and encourage the integration, accurate portrayal and employment of people with disabilities in the entertainment industry.

Media Access Office Award of Merit
Presented by the Media Access Office staff to honor a member of the entertainment or media industry who has given exemplary support and has made a superior effort to assist with the employment of artists with disabilities.

MEDIA PRODUCT AWARDS

Nominations for Media Product Awards are solicited from media industry professionals, as well as the general public.