Media Access Awards at the Beverly Hills Hilton

Held Nov 1 at the Beverly Hills Hotel, the Media Access Awards Presented by Easterseals pay tribute to entertainment industry professionals who tirelessly advance public awareness, inclusion and accessibility for people with disabilities, as well as call out for positive and accurate depictions of characters with disabilities in film and television. One-in-four Americans (25%) live with a disability, making it today’s largest minority population. But just 1.7% of TV and 2.7% of film roles feature a character with a disability and over 95% of those roles go to actors without a disability.

Photo Credit: Reggie Ige

Jamie Brewer, who plays “Addie” on American Horror Story, the first model with Down Syndrome to walk the runway at New York Fashion Week and winner of “Best Actor” for Whitney’s Wedding in the 2017 Easterseals Disability Film Challenge. 

Dave Annable (666 Park Avenue, Brothers & Sisters), a presenter.

Gavin McHugh (9-1-1)

L-R:  Mark Whitley, CEO of Easterseals Southern California (ESSC); Nancy Weintraub, Director of Development, ESSC: Millicent Simmonds (A Quiet Place, Wonderstruck); and Marlee Matlin (This Close, Quantico, The Magicians).

L-R:  Joshua Feldman & Shoshanna Stern, co-creators/co-stars on This Close, who were honored with the 2018 Producers Guild of America are pictured with Media Access Awards co-chair, writer/producer Deborah Calla.

The awards broaden the definition of inclusion and this year’s event marks the beginning of a new era for the annual ceremony, which pays tribute to entertainment industry professionals who tirelessly advance public awareness, inclusion and accessibility for people with disabilities, as well as call out for positive and accurate depictions of characters with disabilities in film and television. This year also marks the launch of a long-term alliance and partnership with Easterseals Southern California (ESSC). For nearly 100 years, Easterseals has been an indispensable resource for individuals with developmental disabilities or other special needs and their families.

This year also marks the launch of a long-term alliance and partnership with Easterseals Southern California (ESSC). For nearly 100 years, Easterseals has been an indispensable resource for individuals with developmental disabilities or other special needs and their families. Co-hosting the awards are comedian Drew Lynch, who first gained national attention on America’s Got Talent when he received the coveted “Golden Buzzer” from Howie Mandell, advancing him directly to the live finals, taking second place; and Logan Browning, currently starring in the groundbreaking and thought-provoking Netflix series Dear White People. 2018 PRESENTERS: Producer Jonathan Murray and the cast of Born This Way, Academy Award-winner Marlee Matlin (Quantico, The Magicians), Robert David Hall (CSI, The Practice), Millicent Simmonds (A Quiet Place, Wonderstruck), Dave Annable (666 Park Avenue, Brothers & Sisters) Odette Annable (Supergirl, The Astronaut Wives Club, The Double), Gavin McHugh (9-1-1) and Nic Novicki (Loudermilk, Boardwalk Empire, Gotham Comedy Live), with a special introduction from late-night superstar Jimmy Kimmel