HOLLYWOOD RADIO & TELEVISION SOCIETY (HRTS) JOINS FORCES WITH EASTERSEALS DISABILITY SERVICES FOR THE DARCYS
HRTS Will Serve As A Community Partner & Co-Sponsor HRTS Access Leadership Award
Easterseals Disability Arts & Culture Awards Set for Oct. 10
LOS ANGELES, CA, June 18, 2026 – The Hollywood Radio and Television Society (HRTS) has extended its long-standing relationship with Easterseals Disability Services, partnering with the non-profit organization on its upcoming Easterseals Disability Arts & Culture Awards (The Darcys).
The news was announced by President of the HRTS Board of Directors Tim McNeal, HRTS Chairperson David Madden and HRTS CEO and HRTS Foundation Chairperson Melissa Grego, and Easterseals Southern California Chief Advancement Officer Nancy Weintraub.
HRTS will serve as a Community Partner for the 2026 DARCYS, set to take place Oct. 10 at The Historic Barker Hangar in Santa Monica. Information about submissions can be found at https://socal.easterseals.com/darcyawards. Submissions are now open and close Tuesday, July 14.
Additionally, the two organizations are co-sponsoring the afterparty, which will include recognition of the HRTS Access Leadership Award, honoring an executive or producer whose efforts to provide and showcase access in the entertainment industry have demonstrated the positive business impact of accessible storytelling, be it narratively, behind-the-scenes, or all of the above. The nomination process for the HRTS Access Leadership Award will be announced at a later date.
Last month, Easterseals announced it was reimagining The Media Access Awards to The DARCYS. Originally founded in 1979 by Norman Lear, The DARCYS honor disability representation and authentic filmmaking in all forms of media.
The initiative is spearheaded by Easterseals Disability Services and leaders from the disability community, with Film Independent serving as co-producer. The DARCYS aims to introduce a modern identity, an expanded mission, and a broader cultural reach with the updated model.
This new partnership marks the most ambitious collaboration between HRTS and Easterseals Disability Services since Easterseals became a Presenting Sponsor of HRTS in 2019. The organizations have partnered on numerous initiatives tailored for the moment that drive awareness and education around the value and business impact of accessibility in the entertainment industry, and the power of authentic representation on screen.
The HRTS co-chairs of the DARCYS After Party in partnership with HRTS and the HRTS Access Leadership Award are HRTS Board Members JoAnn Alfano, Vivian Cannon, Cliff Decatrel and DJ Nurre; and HRTS Advisory Council Member Kelly Goode.
“We are honored to extend our long-standing relationship with Easterseals and join forces with them on the newly reimagined DARCYS, which stand to take the recognition of disability representation and authentic filmmaking in our industry to the next level,” says HRTS’ McNeal.
Added Easterseals’ Weintraub, “We are truly excited to grow our relationship with the HRTS community, which has helped lay the groundwork for this broad cultural moment, as we relaunch the Media Access Awards as The DARCYS.”
About HRTS
Led by a Board of Directors comprising TV and entertainment’s most distinguished leaders, Hollywood Radio & Television Society is the premier networking, education and mentorship association in the industry. Our membership community includes 50+ Corporate Members and 2100+ individual members, representing the top companies across the landscape. We build on HRTS’ rich, 75-year+ tradition of providing an unparalleled forum for conversation and community through events, our mentorship program and other initiatives for professionals at all career stages — from student to C-suite — in Los Angeles, NYC and around the world. www.hrts.org
About Easterseals Southern California
Easterseals Southern California transforms lives every day. For over a century, Easterseals has championed inclusion and independence—delivering essential services like early childhood programs, autism services, employment and independent living support to more than 29,000 people each year. Through advocacy and education, we break barriers and create opportunities for the one-in-four Americans with disabilities. Learn more at: https://socal.easterseals.com
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