Media Access Awards
Media Access Awards is the world’s top awards ceremony honoring people in the film and television
As the largest minority group in the world, and one many of us may join at some point in our lives, the disability community is a diverse, interesting and integral part of our global fabric. Through an annual red-carpet event and gala, The Media Access Awards celebrates, highlights and promotes disability and its accurate, inclusive and multi-faceted depictions in film, television, and new media.
01/08/2024
Easterseals SoCal campaign “Disability Pride is not a Dirty Word”. Let’s join the movement http://essocal.com/DisabilityPride1
ID A black man in a wheelchair wearing jeans and a navy blue top looks forward
25/07/2024
The 2023 Media Access Awards with Easterseals has just received an Imagen Award nomination for best Reality or Variety show! Adelante!!!!
ID purple background with colorful lettering spelling 39th Annual Imagen Awards Nominees!
11/07/2024
The is putting on a whole day of workshops, screenings, performances and conversations centered around bringing awareness to Disability, Representation, and Accessibility in Film. If you want to go tickets are still available. Please use code DRF13 for a discount. We are going!!! See you there!!!
17/02/2024
This month’s issue of the Produced By Magazine (Producers Guild of America Magazine) tells the story how the Media Access Producers Guild George Sunga Award came to be. George Sunga was a pioneer in diversity inclusion and Deborah Calla’s Media Access’ Executive Director mentor. You can read the whole article athttps://producersguild.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Footsteps-PGA-George-Sunga-Award.pdf On the article is a picture of 2023 award recipient of the award.
ID a magazine article with a picture of Davis Guggenheim, Caucasian wearing a black top, holding a trophy.
07/12/2023
One of our favorites! In Norman Lear’s office talking about our favorite subject the Media Access Awards! So thankful for the time we spent together!
06/12/2023
Norman Lear who together with Fern Field created the Media Access Awards has left us at age 101. Forever young forever engaged you will be missed!
ID photo of Norman Lear wearing a white floppy hat with Fern Field, dark hair, wearing a black jacket
Photo of Norman Lear and Fern Field, same clothing, with actor Michael Keaton wearing a dark suit
05/12/2023
YOU can amplify the voices that spark global change Join me in celebrating the impact of this Anthem Awards finalist.
04/12/2023
We made history!!!! The Media Access Awards with Easterseals is the first ever disability centric show to be broadcast on television featuring two Academy Award deaf hosts and . This great article on the by .abbey talks about what it takes to produce a fully accessible show! We see it as creating content for all. It’s thrilling. Link to the article on bio.
ID a photo of the 2023 Media Access Awards stage. In the background LED screens with the MAA logo. On the foreground water glasses with ice on neon tables,
02/12/2023
Boom!!! 2023 Media Access Awards with Easterseals on KCET December 3rd at 9pm. With amazing Academy Awards winners and hosting! With special performances by and
ID digital image of tv guide highlighting 2023 Media Access Awards!
01/12/2023
30/11/2023
The most fun show ever!! December 3rd at 9pm PT on KCET and on PBS app streaming!!! So many great performances and speeches. Don’t miss it!! Support disability celebration!
ID a stage with very colorful led screens. In big letters Nic Novicki’s name is spelled out in graffiti letters. Nic, a little person stands on stage!
28/11/2023
Lauren Lolo Spencer is the recipient of the inaugural Easterseals Impact Award at the 2023 Media Access Awards with Easterseals. Watch her receive her award on December 3rd at 9pm PT on KCET or December 15th at 8pm PT on PBS SoCal . But you can always watch the show starting on December 3rd on the PBS app or the PBS web page www.pbssocal.org/shows/2023-media-access-awards-with-easyerseals. Show hosted by the amazing Academy Award winners Marlee Matlin and Troy Kotsur
AD: the interior of a theatre. We see tables set up in front of a stage. On stage Lolo a wheelchair user in a red outfit receives an award. In the background a large LED screen shows the a colorful picture of Lolo.
27/11/2023
Marlee Matlin, Troy Kotsur host first-ever broadcast Media Access Awards Marlee Matlin and Troy Kotsur will host the first-ever broadcast Media Access Awards, showcasing the advancement of disability inclusion in Hollywood.
27/11/2023
We are thrilled to announce the premiere of the 2023 Media Access Awards with Easterseals on December 3rd at 9pm PST on KCET and on December 15th on PBS SoCal as well as their streaming services. We are making history! First time ever that a disability centric show is on network television with two Oscar winning deaf hosts: Marlee Matlin and Troy Kotsur
Marlee Matlin, Troy Kotsur host first-ever broadcast Media Access Awards Marlee Matlin and Troy Kotsur will host the first-ever broadcast Media Access Awards, showcasing the advancement of disability inclusion in Hollywood.
27/11/2023
We are thrilled to announce the 2023 Media Access Awards witb Easterseals will premier on December 3rd at 9pm PST on KCET and on their streaming services! Marlee Matlin Troykotsur Easterseals SoCal
Marlee Matlin, Troy Kotsur host first-ever broadcast Media Access Awards Marlee Matlin and Troy Kotsur will host the first-ever broadcast Media Access Awards, showcasing the advancement of disability inclusion in Hollywood.
19/10/2023
The Media Access Awards has moved up in the world! This year we’re going to be the first show with a focus on disability celebration to be on broadcast television. December 3rd at 9pm PST on PBS SoCal/KCET and PBS streaming with the magnificent hosts and
ID - Troy Kotsur earring a black beanie and black jacket has his left hand raised next to Marlee Matlin wearing a black top and neck less. The background is an award show!
12/10/2023
Watch and listen. If you care about our future, do something now!
TikTok · The Free Press 56.7K likes, 3336 comments. “Our founder, Bari Weiss, on Morning Joe, sets the record straight on the Israel massacre: “This is the biggest massacre of the Jewish people since the Holocaust. But unlike the Holocaust, in which the Germans tried to hide their war crimes. . . Here we have people st...
If you haven’t seen Daruma it’s a must! Fill out their form and bring this gem of a movie to your town!
11/08/2023
We are so excited to share that we have a broadcast partner for the 2023 Media Access Awards!
But, we do need your help to make the show we envision. If you can, please go to our GoFundMe page to help us celebrate disability inclusion in film and TV.
Help us celebrate disability in film and TV, organized by Deborah Calla There are 61 million Americans who identify as disabled -- one out of four … Deborah Calla needs your support for Help us celebrate disability in film and TV
31/07/2023
releases a new song celebrating the late disability activist . Lachi who is partially blind is a force of nature. She has sung at Lincoln Center and the White House. She’s also the founder of RAMP a global network of recording artists and music professionals with disabilities. Check out the video/song at Lachi’s YouTube channel
ID a picture of Lachi who’s African American and is wearing a shining purple dress sitting in front a grey background.
31/07/2023
And the beat goes on and goes on strong! People like the late sowed the seeds of pride and power in the disabled community and others like singer now carries the torch. Lachi who’s partially blind penned a new song to honor Judy entitled Lift me Up. Check out the new video at Lachi’s YouTube channel
Legally Blind Singer Lachi Releases “Lift Me Up” to Raise Disability Awareness The song pays tribute to Judy Heumann, special advisor for disability rights under Obama, and illustrates a music career that embraces her partial blindness as a superpower: "Hiding my disability is not how I’m going to be bold."
26/07/2023
Super talented singer Sinead O’Connor who battled mental health her entire life has died. Cause of death is unknown. We are sad at her passing and of all the difficulties she endured! RIP
ID a close up of Sinead O’Connor - bald and smiling - wearing a blue top
24/07/2023
Saturday July 29th from 9am to 1pm the will be showing Finding Nemo + gallery access and family workshop. This is a sensory friendly event! You can email [email protected] for additional information.
21/07/2023
Well, we are late to the party but we just watched Creed III and learned that Adoni’s daughter is authentically cast with deaf actor .davis.kent! Bravo to for the casting.
ID photo of African American actor Michael B.Jordan
20/07/2023
Reading this article by Robert A. Slayton on the one can understand the brutality the disabled community has suffered. From ordinances from the 1800s that forbade people with “unsightly or disfiguring” disabilities to appear in public to Donald Trump and Fox’s mockery. Society instead of embracing real human beings, decided on celebrating all the retouched and unattainable perfection and now we all suffer for it. Bravo to John Fetterman for putting a face on the disease.
ID a photo of Senator John Fetterman. A tall bald and bearded white man.
19/07/2023
Did you ever wondered how the wheelchair came about? National Geographic in celebration of disability pride month tells the past and the future of the wheelchair. AI in this case can prove to be greatly beneficial in navigation and modality.
ID a picture of a wooden wheelchair. The photo has strong hues of orange
17/07/2023
festival has just launched a fully accessible streaming platform. Wow wow wow! The library has more than 50 films making it the largest hub for disability themed films!
14/07/2023
The Media Access Awards stand together with our partners WGA and SAG-AFTRA for fair wages and the rights of all to participate and be respected in the entertainment industry. Fairness is the WORD.
ID a picture on a picked line. A sign reads Unions Stand Together
Our Story
As the largest minority group in the world, and one many of us may join at some point in our lives, the disability community is a diverse, interesting and integral part of our global fabric.
Through an annual red-carpet event and gala, The Media Access Awards celebrates, highlights and promotes disability and its accurate, inclusive and multi-faceted depictions in film, television, and new media.
Our awards ceremony honors entertainment industry professionals who have advanced disability-related narrative and employment in fields of writing, producing, casting, performance, and directing.
This annual event is co-produced with Easterseals Disability Services, a leading nonprofit committed to changing the way the world defines and views disability. Through an ongoing partnership, the two organizations work year-round for full inclusion of disabled characters in all media and increased employment of disabled actors, writers, and all behind-the-scenes talent.
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