Hosted by comedian and disability activist Daryl “Chill” Mitchell, the Media Access Awards ceremony honors artists and film and television projects that are inclusive of disabled talent in front of and behind the cameras.
2024 Media Access Awards airs Friday, January 17, 2025 at 9 p.m. on WXXI-TV and streaming live on the WXXI app.
The Media Access Awards ceremony took place on October 29, 2024 in Hollywood, CA. The show marks the first fully accessible awards show in history with heartwarming and empowering moments from stars including Michael J. Fox, Selma Blair, Marlee Matlin, and more.
Founded by the late Norman Lear in 1979, the Media Access Awards pioneered the celebration of on-screen representation for the disability community. Television host and comedian Jimmy Kimmel will present a special tribute to Lear who passed in December 2023.
This program is presented as part of Dialogue on Disability, a partnership between WXXI and Al Sigl Community of Agencies – in conjunction with the Herman and Margaret Schwartz Community Series. Dialogue on Disability is supported by the Fred L. Emerson Foundation with additional support from The Golisano Foundation. The weeklong initiative runs January 13-19, 2025
WXXI and Al Sigl have been hosting Dialogue on Disability since 2005. In 2014, with the support of businessman and philanthropist Tom Golisano and the Golisano Foundation, Move to Include™ was formed. This initiative enables WXXI to present and develop programming that promotes inclusion year round.