April 24 Public Event to Focus on Disability Representation and Inclusion in Television
The Television Academy Foundation today announced it will co-present The Power of TV: Representing Disability in Storytelling with Easterseals Southern California on April 24, 2019, at the Saban Media Center in North Hollywood, California.
The free, open-to-the-public event will feature a panel discussion with entertainment industry leaders and talent focused on raising disability awareness and inclusion in television. This Power of TV event will discuss strategies to increase the representation and inclusion of people with disabilities in front of and behind the camera as well as encourage authentic television portrayals.
Panelists for the event include actors RJ Mitte (Now Apocalypse/Breaking Bad) and Shoshannah Stern (This Close), Grey’s Anatomy Showrunner and Executive Producer Krista Vernoff, and Founder and Executive Consultant of Bunim/Murray Productions Jonathan Murray (Born This Way). Actress and philanthropist Holly Robinson Peete will moderate the panel discussion.
The event will be held on Wednesday, April 24, at 7:30 p.m. at the Academy’s Saban Media Center, 5210 Lankershim Blvd., North Hollywood, California.
Admission is free, and RSVP is required (limit is two tickets per person). To reserve tickets visit TelevisionAcademy.com/power-of-tv/tickets.
“The disability community is the largest minority group in the nation,” said Mark Whitley, CEO, Easterseals Southern California. ”Collaborating with the Television Academy Foundation on this event is a great way to shed light on the need for greater representation of people with disabilities within the entertainment industry. Easterseals is proud to work toward a future where everyone is 100 percent included and empowered.”
“The Foundation is committed to examining the needs of underserved audiences and highlighting television’s role in promoting positive social change through inclusivity,” said Madeline Di Nonno, chair of the Television Academy Foundation. “Nearly 20 percent of Americans live with a disability, and we are pleased to partner with Easterseals on this important event that will explore how television can better serve and reflect this diverse audience.”
About Easterseals Southern California For 100 years, Easterseals has been an indispensable resource for individuals with developmental disabilities or other special needs and their families. The services provided by Easterseals Southern California (ESSC)—in Los Angeles, Orange, San Diego, Imperial, Kern, San Bernardino, Riverside and Ventura counties—make profound and positive differences in people’s lives every day, helping them address life’s challenges and achieve personal goals so that they can live, learn, work and play in our communities. With 2,800+ employees, 60+ service sites and hundreds of community partnership locations, ESSC assists more than 13,000 people, providing adult/senior day services; autism therapy; child development/early education; employment services, veteran employment support; independent living options; and more. At Easterseals, 88% of our income is spent on services. Join us in changing the way the world defines and views disabilities at easterseals.com/southerncal and WeCelebrate.org.
About the Television Academy Foundation Established in 1959 as the charitable arm of the Television Academy, the Television Academy Foundation is dedicated to preserving the legacy of television while educating and inspiring those who will shape its future. Through renowned educational and outreach programs, such as The Interviews: An Oral History of Television Project, College Television Awards and Student Internship Program, the Foundation seeks to widen the circle of voices our industry represents and to create more opportunity for television to reflect all of society. For more information on the Foundation, please visit TelevisionAcademy.com/Foundation.
