(July 26, 2010) — Screen Actors Guild today commemorates the 20th anniversary of the signing of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). President Obama will host an event marking the date on the South Lawn of the White House this afternoon with members of SAG in attendance as well as Adam Moore, SAG associate director of Affirmative Action & Diversity. Robert David Hall (CSI: Crime Scene Investigation), National Chair of the Tri-Union (SAG, AFTRA and Actors' Equity) Performers With Disabilities Committee, will speak and introduce Obama. A live stream of this event is available here at 2:30 PDT/5:30 EDT.
In Los Angeles, SAG Affirmative Action & Diversity will host its inaugural “Dare to Be Diverse” Screening Series with the film Sympathy for Delicious, starring Christopher Thornton, Mark Ruffalo, Juliette Lewis, Orlando Bloom and Laura Linney, written by Christopher Thornton and directed by Mark Ruffalo. A Q&A featuring Ruffalo and Thornton will be moderated by actor Ron Livingston.
The screening and Q&A are part of a daylong ADA anniversary celebration at Los Angeles City Hall featuring SAG members RJ Mitte (Breaking Bad) and Geri Jewell (Deadwood) and scheduled guests Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, City Controller Wendy Greuel, City Attorney Carmen Trutanich, Council President Eric Garcetti, and Councilmembers Tony Cardenas, Janice Hahn, Tom LaBonge, Jan Perry, and Bill Rosendahl.
“Disability rights are human rights and organized labor plays a critical role in addressing workplace discrimination faced by people with disabilities," SAG President Ken Howard said. "We are proud to continue to shine a spotlight on the contributions people with disabilities make to our lives and the challenges faced by those with disabilities in our industry.”
Signed into law by then-President George H. W. Bush on July 26, 1990, the Americans with Disabilities Act protects people with physical or mental disabilities in employment and other walks of life.
Media Contact:
SAG Communications Executive Director Pamela Greenwalt, (323) 549-6872, pgreenwalt@sag.org
