Oscar winners Marlee Matlin and Troy Kotsur who Co-Starred in the film CODA reunited as the first deaf co-hosts of the Media Access Awards, which celebrate films, television shows, and performances that include characters with disabilities.
Matlin has seen significant progress in Hollywood’s understanding of accessibility but she emphasizes that there is still a long way to go. When she attends awards shows, she says she often feels drawn into the role of accessibility advisor.
“I don’t want to call it worrying, but I’m still attending with something in the back of my mind saying, ‘How is it going to look? Who are the interpreters? Where are they going to place it? Where are we going to sit?’” she says. “More and more, they’re all talking about DEI — everybody in Hollywood. But they forget about access and accessibility. They forget that there is a group of us that needs access to be part of the whole picture.” Read more.
TravelAbility TakeAway: Matlin articulates the double-duty that many individuals with disabilities are often compelled to take on. Beyond navigating an event or project on their own, they also take on the role of educating the organizers about accessibility. Matlin is a powerful spokesperson for the cause.
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