Easterseals Disability Arts & Culture Awards Honor “The Pitt,” PBS Documentary “Renegades,” “Facts of Life” Pioneer Geri Jewell and More

The Easterseals (DARCYS) Disability Arts & Culture Awards held its opening ceremony, celebrating its first competitive class of winners and marking a new chapter for the program, formerly known as the Media Access Awards, which was established in 1979. Produced by Easterseals Southern California and Film Independent, the ceremony recognized achievements in television and authentic representation of disability across film.

The inaugural Eastersill Arts and Culture Awards (DARCYS) celebrated its first competitive class of winners and marked a new chapter for the awards program formerly known as the Media Access Awards, established in 1979. Produced by Southern California Easterles and Independent Film, the ceremony recognized achievements in television fiction and disabled performers in media, honoring filmmakers and actors with disabilities in media. Working to reshape narratives in entertainment.

Hosted by comedian and cerebral palsy advocate Tina Frimmel, the event, held at The Barker Hangar in Santa Monica, mixed humor with clarion calls for the film and television industry to invest more in recruiting talent with disabilities. Among the night's winners were the PBS documentary series Renegades and HBO's The Pitt, while Facts of Life star Gary Jewell received the first Darcys Legacy Award and Vincent Ratley took home the Christopher Reeve Emerging Talent Award. Related stories Actors Guild Reveals Artios Awards Non-Film Nominations List: 'Pitt,' 'Fierce Competition,' 'Pluribas,' More News CAPE's 35th Anniversary Gala Raises $350,000 As Randall Park, Manny Jacinto, The Celebrant Women, More 'The Pitt.'

Independent film president Juan Davis, who in April this year replaced acting president Brenda Robinson, who took over the role after the death of Josh Welch in January 2025, said he was happy to continue the organization's relationship with Easterseals, which spanned more than a decade. "What we've been fighting for for 42 years is access and representation and pressure on the entire ecosystem to understand the value of what we're bringing," Davis told Deadline. I think it becomes more apparent every year that these kinds of events are just part of who we are. Watch on Deadline

Frimmel set the tone for the afternoon with an opening monologue that humorously described the gathering as "a truly debilitating collective event." "Yeah, you're a good guy to watch," he offered his interpretation of Y, explaining the acronym DARCYS.

The comedian also took aim at the healthcare industry, mentioning The Pitt, one of the nominees for the ceremony. "The only way to get health care [these days] is to go to a fake hospital," he said.

One of the biggest laughs of the event was during Fremel's take on an awards show. Instead of appreciating industry figures who have died, he praised on-screen expressions of disability, including "characters who would rather die than be disabled", "miracle cure", "cripping up" and "watery eyes".

"Sure, your career as a boxer may be over, but have you tried telemarketing?" Frimmel joked in the first song. For "Teary Eyes," he added another hit: "I don't want Michael B. Jordan cry because the puppy is dead I want him to cry because a hot woman is still alive.

When Renegades creator Amanda Upson accepted the award for best non-scripted series, humor gave way to immediate industry appeal. Hosted by award-winning musician and disability rights advocate Lachey, the five-part PBS documentary highlights the lives and cultural contributions of lesser-known historical figures with disabilities.

Upson said the project became a vision shared by more than 50 disabled filmmakers, emphasizing the value of employing disabled talent behind and in front of the camera. “We're proving that empowering disabled talent behind the camera yields nuanced storytelling that outperforms traditional programming. Please check out their work and hire them."

Upson also urged studios, broadcasters and foundations to provide more funding to disabled creators, citing an estimated $45 million cut in funding under the current administration and warning of the consequences for disabled artists and their ability to tell their stories. "In the face of near-invisibility on the screen in this onslaught of systematic erasure, we need allies," he said. "Studios and foundations, it's your turn to step up and invest in us."

Pitt won Outstanding Writing for a Series and Outstanding Achievement in an Ensemble Cast, with cast members and casting director Kathy Sandrich using her acceptance speeches to highlight the importance of the credentialed representation of Tal Anderson, who appeared alongside co-stars Taylor Dearden, Jessica "Limmer" Flores, Christopher Thornton and Diana Elizabeth Jordan, before recognizing the work of the show's cast and crew from Easter Seals, HBO Max and Warner Bros.

"Reputable representation is very, very important," Anderson said. "And Pete has done an amazing, spectacular job with authentic stories and shows."

On behalf of the cast, Sandrich credited creators John Wells, R. Scott Gemmill and Noah Wyle for being committed to telling stories that reflect worlds and communities that are often underrepresented on television. "It was a huge thrill for all of us to cast a disabled actor in a role that wasn't originally conceived or written as a disabled character," he said.

Sandrich also talked about the importance of reflecting her audience on screen, saying the show's commitment to authentic casting continues to change a character's gender to make the right choice. He praised the performances of Anderson, Thornton and Flores and noted that the writers also created roles specifically for disabled actors. "Their talent is undeniable," Sandrich said. We feel blessed to be given such extraordinary content and know that our writers, producers and directors will continue their commitment to reflecting the truth and complexity of our world."

Rutley, a recipient of the Christopher Reeve Emerging Talent Award, noted that the event was held in celebration of his 41st birthday and encouraged actors who are still waiting for their breakthrough. He said: "I want to say today is my 41st birthday and I want to give a shout out to all the actors whose careers didn't explode until after they were 40. I'll see you on the set." "It's not a matter of if. It is a matter of time. Your number will be called. Your name is called. today is my day Tomorrow could be yours. let's ride I love you."

Meanwhile, Jewell reflected on her career and the support of Norman Lear, who cast her on The Facts of Life after seeing her stand-up comedy show. Jewell recalls meeting Lear at the second annual Media Access Awards in 1980, where her friend, producer Fern Field, introduced them. "He said, 'You're really funny, kid, but you're way ahead of your time,'" Jewell said. I said: "Then wait a few months." He waited two months and then cast me in The Facts of Life.

Accepting the Legacy Award at the age of 70, the comedian reflected on the importance of this recognition and encouraged others to believe in themselves. "I just want to say always believe in yourself, no matter what other people believe about you, because anyone who believes in negative self-confidence or what they think you can't do will not carry you through life. What will kill you is what you believe about yourself and never underestimate the power of the human spirit. Thank you and God. Bless you."

Marlee Matlin, Wendy McLendon-Covey, Lisa Wilchell, John Ortiz, Marissa Budd, Cicely Colette Taylor, Scott McNairy, Abby Elliott, Karen Pittman, Jamie Brewer, Victoria Mack, Daniel Monks, Jessie Yates, Matthew Reel Southernels, Victoria McLendonCovey, Marissa Budd.

Producers: Alix Madigan-Yorkin, Michael Sherman

Featured Talent: Lillian Carrier, Matthew Schwab

Directors/Producers: Mike Attie, Katarina Poljak, Nathan R. Stenberg

Creator/Executive Producer: R. Scott Gemmill

Executive Producers: Simran Baidwan, Michael Hiserich, Erin Janto, Joe Sacks, John Wells, Noah Weil

Featured Talent: Tal Anderson, Jessica "Leamer" Flores, Victoria Mack, Christopher Thornton

Executive Producers: Michael Cantor, Carrie Lozano, Charlotte Mangin

Cast: Erica Berger, Kathy Sandrich Gelfond

Featured Cast: Tal Anderson, Jessica "Leamer" Flores, Diana Elizabeth Jordan, Victoria Mack, Christopher Thornton

Vincent Ratley, actor, disability influencer, author

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