Media Access Awards

Media Access Office

The Media Access Office (MAO) actively promotes the employment and accurate portrayal of persons with disabilities in all areas of the media and entertainment industry, ensuring that the industry recognizes people with disabilities as part of cultural diversity.

The Media Access Office is operated by the California Employment Development Department in partnership with the Governor’s Committee on Employment of People with Disabilities, volunteers, the disability community, and the entertainment industry. Media Access Office services include:

• Casting liaison service representing over 900 performers with disabilities
• Script consultation on disability issues and themes
• Referrals to assistive technology and experts in the disability community
• Educational opportunities offered to the media and entertainment industry about disabilities and related issues
• Career development and planning for members with disabilities
• Classes and scholarships for both adults and children with disabilities to help develop and improve their craft
• MAO Newsletter

California Disability Statistics

The following statistics on disability in California are provided from various sources. Due to differences in how the term disability” has been defined in studies, surveys, and other reports, there is no official count or estimate that appears with great consistency. Differences may also be noted in total population figures. This is due to such factors as whether or not the population numbers used were all-inclusive or excluded any portion of the population. For further information on each study, please consult sources cited. Despite the fact that different surveys vary greatly due to how disability is defined, there is an identified employment gap between people with and without disabilities.

The U.S. Census Bureau reported that approximately 5.9 million Californians have a disability.

• People of prime working age (21-64 years) comprise the largest segment of the disabled population in California. Source: U.S. Census Bureau – “Quick Facts From the U.S. Census Bureau”; “2002 American Community Survey Profile.” (www.census.gov)
• In a recent study, 20 percent of Americans (54 million) have a mental or physical disability, but less than 2 percent of TV show characters display a disability and only 0.5 percent have speaking roles. Source: Screen Actors Guild – “The Employment of Performers With Disabilities in the Entertainment Industry.” (www.sag.org)
• In 2005, an estimated 10.8 percent of civilian, non-institutionalized, men and women, aged 21-64 in California reported a disability.*
• In 2005, an estimated 37.4 percent of civilian, non-institutionalized, men and women with a disability, aged 21-64 in California were employed.*
• In California in 2005, the employment rate of working-age people with a disability was 37.4 percent in comparison to the employment rate of working-age people without a disability at 75.7 percent, creating an employment gap of 38.3 percent.*

*Source: Houtenville, Andrew J. 2006. "Disability Statistics in the United States." Ithaca, NY: Cornell University Rehabilitation Research and Training Center on Disability Demographics and Statistics (StatsRRTC), www.disabilitystatistics.org. Posted April 4, 2005. Accessed October 12, 2006. (www.DisabilityStatistics.org)

Media Access Office South Staff

Gloria M. Castañeda
Program Director
1255 S. Central Avenue
Glendale, CA 91204
818-409-0448

Media Access Office North Staff

Dr. Douglas W. Gordy, PhD
Program Director
4071 Port Chicago Highway, Suite 250
Concord, CA 94520
925-602-7721