Performers' Unions Unveil New Resource; Tri-Union Initiative Promotes Hiring Performers With Disabilities.

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 27, 1999--

As the Supreme Court embarks on its review of the Americans with Disabilities Act, three performers' unions -- Actors Equity, American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (AFTRA) and Screen Actors Guild (SAG) -- are debuting a special Industry Resource card, designed to educate the entertainment industry about working with performers with disabilities.

At a press conference today in New York, Screen Actors Guild President Richard Masur hosted special guests Patricia Neal ("Cookie's Fortune") and Chris O'Donoghue (WWOR).

Designed in English and Spanish, "Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Working with Performers with Disabilities But Were Afraid to Ask" is a two-sided, laminated card being distributed to production companies, talent agents, casting offices and other industry related groups. The card provides answers to questions, key contact numbers for helping arrange accommodations that may be needed and, hopefully, more understanding of the fact that disabled actors can and do work.

"Our goal is to acknowledge the many disabled performers working in movies, television, theatre, commercials and industrials," explained Masur. "These actors are not limited by their wheelchairs, hearing disabilities, guide dogs, interpreters or by the set's cables, scenery, cameras or stages. They are only limited by other people who think these talented professionals can't do the job."

Tony and Academy Award-winning actress Patricia Neal, advocate of this initiative, hopes that this resource card will challenge people's perceptions. "Having a physical disability simply does not nullify one's talent or ability to get the job done," said Neal, best known for her work in "HUD" and "The Fountainhead."

Masur, who has been outspoken about this issue for quite some time, added, "People need to remember that anyone can become disabled as the result of illness or accident, thus, anyone might need this support at any time."

"We hope these materials will address many of the more common questions that are asked, and provide sources that can offer answers and assistance," said AFTRA National President Shelby Scott.

According to Gail Williamson, Talent and Industry Coordinator of the Media Access Office (a non-profit advocacy group dealing with performers with disabilities), 52 million Americans -19% of the general public- have a disability. While 13% of the disabled are in the everyday workforce, less than 1% appear in the media.

"Despite significant gains made in the areas of non-traditional casting, actors with disabilities still remain vastly under-represented on our stages as well as on film and television," said Ron Silver, President of Actors' Equity. "Hopefully this resource will serve to counter this inequity by reminding creative decision makers that the presence of a physical disability neither negates nor dissipates an actor's talent."

"SAG's records list only 650 Performers with Disabilities nationally," explained Jae Jae Simmons, SAG/NY's Affirmative Action Administrator. "We recognize that it's not always possible for producers and directors to take advantage of the talented actors who have disabilities. The Affirmative Action policy of the Guild calls for these performers to have the same opportunity and access to audition for roles as others."

Simmons went on to emphasize the importance of encouraging the advertising industry, so centralized in New York, to actively seek out disabled performers to sell products. "These people eat, buy clothes, go to the movies like everyone else...They represent a large, virtually untapped segment of the buying public not to mention a significant component in accurately casting the American scene."

Actors' Equity Association is the 40,000 member union of professional actors and stage managers in the legitimate theatre. Members work on Broadway, in regional theatres, dinner theatres, summer stock, theatres for young audiences, Disney World and at Small Professional Theatres throughout the country.

The American Federation of Television and Radio Artists represents approximately 80,000 actors, news broadcasters, talk show hosts, announcers, singers, dancers and others who work in the fields of television, radio, sound recordings, commercials and non-broadcast/industrial productions.

The Screen Actors Guild is a national union representing over 96,000 principal and background actors, singers, dancers, stunt performers, voice-over artists, pilots, puppeteers and models working in everything from television and film to interactive multimedia productions. New York, with approximately 30,000 members, represents the largest branch of the Guild, second in size only to Hollywood, the union's national headquarters.

The Tri-Union PWD Committee also works closely with the New York-based Non-Traditional Casting Project, Inc. headed by Sharon Jensen, Executive Director.