Page 7 - 2020 MAA Program
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Norman Lear met a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a young actress/comic with with Cerebral Palsy Geri Jewell at the the second Media Access Awards and and cast her her as as as the the the the first person with with a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a disability as as as a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a recurring character in in a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a primetime sitcom on on on his series Facts of of Life With the the the the the help of of Loreen Arbus and and other entertain- ment ment industry notables the the the the the the the MAAs thrived as a a a a a a a a a non-televised Hollywood event for for for the the the the the the the next two decades In the the the the the the mid-nineties the the the the the the California Governor’s Committee for for for the the the the the the Employment of People with Disabilities took over over funding and when that support dried up up during the the the the the Great Recession of 2007-08 the show went dark for two years In 2010 producer-writer Deborah Calla and and writer writer Allen Rucker took on on on the the the job of of of reviving this critical event With the the the the the enthusiastic support of of of of of a a a a a a a a a a a a a coalition of of of of of Hollywood guilds and and and unions – the the the the the Producers Guild Guild of of of of of America America America the the the the the the Writers Guild Guild of of of of of America America America West SAG-AFTRA and and and the the the the the the Casting Society of of of of America America America – plus the the the the the Christopher and and Dana Reeve Foundation the the the the the MAAs resumed in in in in in in in a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a tiny meeting room at at at at the the the the the Peninsula Hotel That year honorees included Vince Gilligan creator of of of Breaking Bad noted actor/activist Danny Woodburn and and the the the casting directors of of Glee – and and the the the rest is is history Expanding year year after year year and and and drawing upon the the participation of of noted Hollywood figures like Jimmy Kimmel Shonda Rhimes Peter Farrelly Jane Lynch and and and of of of course the the the the the indefatigable
Norman Lear these awards are now here to stay In the the the the the last two years Easterseals of of Southern California – – also celebrating their 100th year year as as as as as a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a national organization – – has stepped in in in in as as as as as a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a partner to offer major support and expertise Other industry sponsors (see accompanying list)
have also remained committed throughout Without them there would be no Media Access Awards Ask long-time Hollywood disability leaders like agent Gail Williamson and and they will tell you that a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a major uptick in in in in in in the the the industry’s inclusion of actors with disabilities and and and storylines featuring them began about three years ago and and and continues unabated There is is is is still enormous progress to to to to be be made of of of course – statistically the the the the employment of of of actors and and others with with disabilities remains hardly a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a blip on on Hollywood Hollywood call call sheets The Media Access Awards along with with Easterseals the the the the rest of of of of the the the the ever-in- creasing Hollywood Hollywood disability community and hopefully you are proud to to to be part of of this historic march toward full inclusion DEBORAH CALLA and ALLEN RUCKER
































































































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