Easterseals Presented Inaugural Disability Arts Awards
The ceremony at The Barker Hangar honored excellence in film and media with authentic disability representation.
Updated on Oct. 11, 2026 in Cultural
Live Poll
Should entertainment companies do more to prioritize authentic representation of individuals with disabilities?
Easterseals hosted its inaugural Disability Arts & Culture Awards in Santa Monica on Saturday to honor outstanding achievement in film and television. The ceremony recognized winners such as The Pitt and individual performers for their contributions to authentic representation.
Why it matters
The event highlights the industrys move toward authentic disability representation by centering the voices and choices of individuals with disabilities in the selection process. By celebrating these contributions, the awards aim to raise the profile of disabled creators across global media.
The awards recognized The Pitt for Best Scripted Series and Best Achievement in Casting Ensemble, while Horsegirls received the honor for Best Feature. Daniel Monks was awarded Best Performance in a Scripted Series for his work in All Her Fault.
The players
Easterseals
This non-profit organization provides support and services to children and adults with disabilities.
Geri Jewell
An actress and comedian, she was a pioneering figure for performers with disabilities in television.
Daniel Monks
He is an actor and filmmaker recognized for his performances and work in screen productions.
Lachi
She is a singer, songwriter, and activist known for her work advocating for disability inclusion in the arts.
Vincent Rutley
He is an emerging talent in the entertainment industry who received recognition for his contributions.
The details
Co-produced by Shawn Davis, Andrew Schaff, and Eddie Delbridge, the gala featured a musical performance by artist Lachi. Special honors included the Legacy Award presented to Geri Jewell and the Christopher Reeve Emerging Talent Award given to Vincent Rutley.
Timeline
The inaugural Disability Arts & Culture Awards ceremony took place on October 10, 2026.
The Darcys will premiere on PBS SoCal Plus on November 17, 2026, at 7:30 p.m.
A secondary broadcast of The Darcys will air on PBS SoCal Plus on November 20, 2026, at 8 p.m.
Industry Dynamics
The establishment of these awards signals a shift toward formalizing inclusion metrics in Hollywood, moving beyond informal diversity goals. By creating a dedicated awards infrastructure, the organization is building a permanent recognition system to rival traditional industry honors.
Viewers can watch the award highlights and associated programming on PBS SoCal Plus or stream the content directly through the PBS app. This provides a direct path for audiences to discover the award-winning projects and performances recognized by the committee.
The takeaway
These awards provide a new benchmark for recognizing authentic storytelling that challenges historical stereotypes in film and television. Audiences can look to these winners as a curated guide for discovering high-quality media that centers on the disabled experience.
What happens next
The program titled The Darcys is scheduled to premiere on PBS SoCal Plus on November 17, 2026, with an encore broadcast on November 20, 2026. It will also be available for streaming via the PBS app.
Further reading
For more on the intersection of media and representation, visit the Cultural section.
Live Poll
Should entertainment companies do more to prioritize authentic representation of individuals with disabilities?
