Exemplary Achievement in Children's Programming
Sesame Street
Since its inception over 33 years ago, Sesame Street has achieved well-deserved
recognition as one of the preeminent children’s education and entertainment programs
in the world. Well before it became the politically correct thing to do, the originators
of Sesame Street produced a program where the cast of characters — which includes
Linda, the librarian who happens to be deaf — interact with and discuss people of
different races, ethnicities, and abilities on a regular basis.
Exemplary Achievement in Print Martha Perske
Since her first drawing appeared in the Greater Omaha Arc Gazette in 1971, the members of
TASH and countless others have been impressed with Martha’s stunningly powerful and
sensitive drawings of people with disabilities as part of their communities. Martha is a
self-taught illustrator with a marvelous gift for showing a person’s disability and
natural beauty at the same time.
Exemplary Achievement in Disability Media Coverage and
Advancement
Janine Bertram Kemp
Jennifer Burnett
Steve Drake
Lucy Gwin
Tari Susan Hartman
Mary Johnson
Marcie Roth
Greg Smith
William Stothers
These individuals have been selected to receive this award in recognition of their career
achievements and dedication to raising public, political, corporate, and mainstream media
awareness in the area of media coverage for people with disabilities and their families.
Through their efforts, the ability of these constituents to report on the issues affecting
people with disabilities in a positive and empowering way has been raised to new heights.
Exemplary Achievement in Print Beth Mount
Through the years, Beth Mount’s artwork, publications, and posters have served to
inspire us all to realize that every person with a disability is a valuable and productive
member of community life. The impact of Beth’s 30-year body of work has been
extensive and is known throughout the world. Her work has been instrumental in helping
people to find meaning in supporting people with disabilities to build their lives.
Documentary
Disability Culture Rap
Producer: Jerry Smith and Cheryl Marie Wade
Company: ACT
This high-energy delivery by Cheryl Wade shows disability culture as never before.
Powerful images representing people of many different abilities provide a strikingly new
perspective on disability.
Documentary Honorable Mention
Creative Expressions - Opportunities for Persons Who Are Deaf-Blind
Producer: DB-Link, The Blumberg Center and VSA Arts of Indiana
Honored for its positive emphasis on inclusion and its use of art as a means of
communication.
Documentary
Thinking Big
Producer: Eleanor Yu
Company: ABC News, "Hopkins 24/7"
Inspiring story about one of the most brilliant orthopedic surgeons, Dr. Michael Ain, who
specializes in treating dwarves, or little people. Dr. Ain is himself a little person, and
has paved the way for other little people to pursue a medical profession.
New Media - Internet
Laura Hershey
www.cripcommentary.org
One of the pioneers of the online disability movement, Laura Hershey’s writings,
poetry and commentaries about disability have served to inform and impact a wide-reaching
audience. Laura has demonstrated the power of the Internet to create a revolution.
New Media - Internet
Taylor Hines and Greg Schippel
www.stoppity.org
Honored for the phenomenally well-organized, far-reaching, and effective media campaign
designed to counteract the negative effects of the Muscular Dystrophy telethon and other
vehicles like it that foster pity and disconnectedness among the broader community.
New Media - Internet
Business Week Online and John Williams
"Assistive Technology"
Recognized for the partnership between Business Week Online and John Williams, and their
successful collaboration in bringing issues that affect people with disabilities into the
mainstream media.
New Media - Music Video Honorable Mention
Secret Dreams
Producer: Fred Michael Beam
New, original, romantic, seductive and innovative music video with original music, song,
performance, sign and dance all performed by deaf artists. The production is recognized
for its diversity and its celebration of American Sign Language.
Print
Washington City Paper, "Before Their Time," (Oct. 27, 2001)
Author: Annys Shin
This compelling story depicts the struggle of young people with disabilities who have been
forced to remain in nursing homes in D.C. The story is an accurate account, written in
empowering language, and based on information obtained from people with disabilities as
primary news sources.
Print
Rosie Magazine, "Mom Power" (October 2001)
Rosie O’Donnell Interview with Laura San Giacomo
Honored for its refreshingly candid and straightforward interview by Rosie O’Donnell
with "typical" mother, film and television star Laura San Giacomo, in which she
talks about her son’s cerebral palsy, and why she’s fighting to make sure that
all kids with disabilities get the same education as everyone else does.
Print
Braveheart Press, "Disability Is Natural" and "Presumed Competence"
Campaigns
Author: Kathie Snow
This successful print campaign has reached countless people worldwide. It has contributed
to the shaping of positive images and the elimination of stereotypes.
Print
San Francisco Bay Guardian, "Pity This"
(August 29, 2001)
Author: Emily Teplin
Excellent analysis of why disability activists dislike pity approaches to what should be
viewed as civil and human rights issues, and the harm that programs like the Muscular
Dystrophy telethon cause by skewing public perception about the desires and abilities of
people with disabilities.
Print
Baltimore Sun, "Race, disability: a double minority"
(July 24, 2001)
Author: Mike Adams
Recognized for its well-written discussion of various aspects of blindness, and its
insightful discussion of a little touched on subject race and disability.
Print
Wall Street Journal, "Those Suffering Special Stress"
(October 18, 2001)
Author: Albert R. Hunt
A sobering look at how the horrific events of September 11 have impacted the
security-consciousness of the nation. This story is honored for having raised awareness in
the media that better emergency procedures must be designed for all people.
Public Service Announcements - Radio
People with Disabilities/People First Language
Producer: Robert Futterman
Promotes the idea that people with disabilities are just like everyone else. Created as a
series of generic announcements that can air on any radio station at any time of the year.
Public Service Announcements - Public Affairs
Windows of Opportunity
Producer: Microsoft
Company: BLN-Seattle
Good company promotional video, depicting diversity and
inclusion of people with a variety of disabilities throughout the company on an equal
footing with employees without disabilities.
Public Service Announcements – Television
WE Media’s Disability Rights 2000 PSA Campaign
Producer: WE Media Inc.
Agency of Record: Trumpet Advertising
Extremely effective, well-done public service announcement about children and adults with
developmental disabilities, portrayed with dignity and respect, and with a worldly and
far-reaching vision of community and inclusion.
Public Service Announcements - Television
1) Learning 2) Working
Producer: Alberta Association for Community Living
Powerful public service announcement that promotes empowerment and values the civic
participation of people with disabilities.
Television- Commercial Advertising
Cingular Wireless
Cingular and the artistic abilities of Dan Keplinger received national acclaim for this
commercial, which premiered during the 2001 Super Bowl, and emphasized the painter’s
incredible artistic talents and his means of self-expression through his work.
Television- Drama Series
"Family Law’
Producer: Stephen Nathan
CBS Television
Honored for its ongoing commitment to accurately portraying images of people with
disabilities as demonstrated by casting an individual with a disability, Allison Gray, in
a recurring role, and its topical episodes which have served to create dialogue around
disability related issues.
Television- Drama Series
"CSI"
Producer: Jerry Buckheimer
CBS Television
Recognized for its ongoing commitment to shaping positive images of people with
disabilities as demonstrated by casting Robert David Hall in a recurring role.
Young People’s Program -Animation
Rocket Power, "Radical New Equipment"
Producer: David Rosenberg, Klasky Csupo Productions
Company: Nickelodeon
This episode of the popular animated series brings a character face-to-face with her own
well-meaning but misinformed, misguided pity for another child — one who happens to
have a disability and one, she later discovers, is as fierce a snowboard competitor as
herself.
Young People's Program -Animation
Clifford, the Big Red Dog, "A New Friend"
Producer: Deborah Forte, Scholastic Entertainment
Company: PBS
He’s BIG, he’s RED, and he’s a great friend. He always stands up for what
he thinks is right. Though Clifford’s head is sometimes in the clouds (literally!),
his four paws are planted firmly on the ground. Clifford’s positive character traits
are very much in evidence as he leads his canine friends to understand, accept, and
embrace the new arrival in their neighborhood, a dog with three legs.
Young People’s Program -Animation Honorable Mention
Futurama, "The Cyber House Rules"
Producer: Brian Cowan
Company: M. Groening
The grass is not always greener on the other side. So learns a character with a disability
in this episode about accepting oneself for one’s own special and unique gifts, and
not attempting to get fixed or looking for a cure.
Young People’s Program -Animation
Pelswick
Producer: John Callahan and Nickelodeon
Company: Nickelodeon
The first animated children’s program to feature a kid with a disability, Pelswick
has captured the hearts of millions of viewers — both young and young at heart.
Young People’s Program -Live Action
A Walk in Your Shoes
Producer: Danielle Bertarelli
Company: Nickelodeon
This unique venture between Nickelodeon and Sesame Workshop provides a much-needed
educational media resource focusing on tolerance and diversity. This original series takes
two real kids from different backgrounds and switches their lives while the cameras roll.
The show is designed to help kids get a firsthand look at how people from different
backgrounds and perspectives see the world.
Young People’s Program -Live Action
My Louisiana Sky
Producer: Anthony Edwards
Company: Showtime
Recognized for its poignant and sensitive tale about a rural family’s loving and
positive support of one of its members with mental retardation during the 1950s, well
before such terms and concepts were widely used.
