HRTS Partners With Easterseals to Relaunch The Darcy Awards

The Hollywood Radio and Television Society (HRTS) has announced a strategic partnership with Easterseals Disability Services to relaunch the Darcy Awards, formerly known as the Media Access Awards. Originally established in 1979 by producer Norman Lear, the ceremony celebrates excellence in disability representation and authentic storytelling within the entertainment industry. The 2026 event is scheduled to take place on October 10 in Santa Monica.

As part of this expanded collaboration, HRTS will serve as a primary community partner and co-sponsor of the event’s afterparty. A significant highlight of this partnership is the introduction of the HRTS Access Leadership Award. This new honor aims to recognize executives or producers who have successfully integrated accessible storytelling into their business models, proving that prioritizing inclusivity behind the scenes and on screen yields tangible professional and creative benefits.

This initiative represents a deepening of the long-standing relationship between the two organizations, signaling a broader industry shift toward prioritizing disability inclusion. By formalizing this partnership, HRTS and Easterseals are moving beyond advocacy to create a structured framework for recognizing leaders who actively dismantle barriers to entry. This move underscores the growing consensus in Hollywood that authentic representation is not only a social imperative but a vital component of modern, sustainable media production.