PRESS RELEASE

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SAG, AFTRA and AEA Announce the I AM PWD Campaign
Inclusion in the Arts & Media of People with Disabilities
Announcement Recognizes National Disability Employment Awareness Month

October 6, 2008 (Los Angeles, New York and Washington DC), - The
Performers With Disabilities (PWD) Tri-Union Committee of Screen
Actors Guild (SAG), the American Federation of Television and Radio
Artists (AFTRA) and Actors' Equity Association (AEA), announced the
launch of a major disability rights campaign to increase the
visibility and equal employment opportunities for actors,
broadcasters and sound recording artists with disabilities throughout
the entertainment and news media – I AM PWD (Inclusion in the Arts &
Media of People With Disabilities). The announcement was made Monday,
October 6, at simultaneous news conferences in Los Angeles, New York
and Washington, DC to coincide with National Disability Employment
Awareness Month.

Robert David Hall, National Chair of the Tri-Union Performers with
Disabilities Committee, said, "I'm fortunate to have a good career as
an actor and creative artist. The normal struggles any performer
faces, however, are complicated ten-fold by our industry's reluctance
to include people with disabilities in the full landscape of
entertainment. In the 21st century, media is the world's common
cultural environment. Society's values and priorities are expressed
and reflected in film, television, theatre, news and music. If you
aren't seen and heard, you are invisible. People with disabilities
are largely invisible within the arts and media landscape. I.AM.PWD
will awaken the general public to the lack of inclusion and universal
access for people with disabilities by uniting with a network of
industry, labor, community and government allies."

SAG's National President Alan Rosenberg says, "Screen Actors Guild is
committed to inclusion of all actors, and will work tirelessly to
advocate and seek visibility and equal employment opportunities for
performers with disabilities as they are an integral part of the
diverse landscape of the Guild membership and the American Scene."

AEA President Mark Zimmerman says, "Actors' Equity acknowledges that
the growth and vitality of our collective industry is dependent upon
the principles of equality, diversity and inclusion, and
wholeheartedly endorses the I.AM.PWD campaign. The Theatre should,
and must, reflect the true diversity of our society."

"Our responsibility as union members is to challenge any and all
roadblocks to inclusion and access in the workplace," says AFTRA
President, Roberta Reardon. "AFTRA has led the fight against all
forms of discrimination on so many fronts throughout our history and
I am proud to be part of this important day in announcing this
landmark disability rights campaign. Now is the time to stand
together to combat discrimination and truly integrate our brothers
and sisters with disabilities into the promise of the American Scene"

The mission of the Tri-Union PWD Committee is to serve as the means
to enhance the status and promote the advancement of performers with
disabilities; nurture members knowledge and skills; improve members
professional careers through the sharing and dispersing of
information; promote the profession as a whole; further the
understanding of the profession and foster understanding and respect
for the disabled performers within; develop and improve working
standards and assist in the continuing development of ethical
standards for practitioners in the industry.

Over the course of the three-year I AM PWD campaign, the group will
outreach to the entertainment and media industries, the general
public, political and legislative leaders, and to national and glob
al civil rights, labor and community allies in an effort to urge the
entertainment industry to open up equal opportunities for disabled
performers.

Interested allies are urged to join the I AM PWD network of
supporters by signing up at www.IAMPWD.org.

About I AM PWD

I AM PWD is a global civil rights campaign seeking equal employment
opportunities for artists and professionals with disabilities
throughout the entertainment and news media. Founded in 2008 by the
Actors Equity Association (AEA), American Federation of Television
and Radio Artists (AFTRA) and Screen Actors Guild (SAG), Tri-Union
Performers With Disabilities Committee, I.AM.PWD is dedicated to
ending the discrimination and exclusion of performers and
broadcasters with disabilities. I.AM.PWD is uniting labor, industry,
community and governmental allies in the fight to combat continuing
discrimination against people with disabilities. Visit I AM PWD at
www.IAMPWD.org.

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