Marissa Bode, Marlee Matlin and Nyle DiMarco to Be Honored at Media Access Awards 2025 (EXCLUSIVE)

“Wicked” star Marissa Bode, Oscar-winner Marlee Matlin and “Deaf President Now!” documentarians Nyle DiMarco and David Guggenheim will be among the honorees at this year’s Media Access Awards.

The awards, presented with Easterseals, honors artists, storytellers and stories that champion disability inclusion.

Additional honorees will include actor Anita Hollander, writers Liz Meriwether, Kim Rosenstock, Sasha Stewart and Keisha Zollar, reality show hosts Jay Manuel and Pamela Manuel and casting directors Paul Schnee and Kerry Barden.

The ceremony, which will be held on Oct. 8 in Los Angeles, will have its broadcast debut on Nov. 5 on PBS SoCal Plus.

“This year’s honorees reflect the breadth of creatives who are advancing cultural discourse and inclusion on both sides of the camera,” said awards show writer and co-CEO Allen Rucker.

Executive producer and co-CEO Deborah Calla added, “It’s an incredible honor to bring the screen community together to celebrate the groundbreaking achievements of disability representation.”

Actress and activist Ali Stroker will host the ceremony and presenters will include Henry Winkler, Esco Jouléy, Nic Novicki, Cesily Collette Taylor, John Maucere and Amber Sealy, with additional special messages from Lily D. Moore and Jenny Slater.

SAG-AFTRA president Sean Astin will present Hollander with the guild’s Harold Russell Award at the event. “Our team at SAG-AFTRA is thrilled to honor Anita Hollander with the Harold Russell Award at this year’s Media Access Awards,” Astin said. “Anita’s remarkable advocacy, leadership, and creativity have inspired so many, and it’s a privilege to celebrate her contributions. We are proud to shine a spotlight on her achievements and incredible talent.”

The show will also feature performances from Luca “Lazylegs” Patuelli, Brian King Joseph, Rick Allen (Def Leppard) & Lauren Monroe and more surprise guests.

Following the Nov. 5 premiere on PBS SoCal Plus, the show will broadcast on Nov. 7 on PBS SoCal proper and then PBS stations nationwide starting Nov. 15. Viewers can stream the show on the PBS App concurrently with the premiere.