2023 Awards
- Outstanding Audio Description Visionary
- AD Game Changer: Innovation
- AD Game Changer: Gaming
- AD Game Changer: Education
- AD Game Changer: Popular Entertainment
- AD Game Changer: 100% Access
- Outstanding Achievement: Live Events
- Outstanding Achievement: Spanish Media (USA)
- Outstanding Achievement: International Media
- Audio Description People’s Choice Award
Learn how the ACB Barry Award nominees are selected.
Hosts
Marilee Talkington
Marilee Talkington is a professional actor, disability activist, and creator of new stage and screen works. They have recently performed as on Broadway as Morgan le Fey in Aaron Sorkin’s new adaptation of CAMELOT and have appeared on television shows such as SEE (Apple TV+), Extrapolations (Apple TV+), FBI: Most Wanted (NBC), Law and Order: SVU (NBC), NCIS (CBS), and New Amsterdam, (CBS). Marilee is the voice of Mind’s Eye at the Guggenheim Museum in New York City and is the founder of AC3 (Access Acting Academy), the world’s first professionally oriented Acting Studio for blind and low vision performers. They are one of the only blind/low vision actors in the United States to earn an M.F.A in Acting (American Conservatory Theater) for which they received the Carol Channing Trouper award for excellence, leadership, and dedication. Marilee has originated over a 100 characters on stage and screen, has been founder and artistic director of two theater companies. Their original work has been produced internationally and has her solo show TRUCE ran on the BBC. in 2020, Marilee was honored with the Dr. Jacob Bolotin international award for paradigm shifting work for blind persons, and was also named as one of Park Avenue Armory’s 100 Women: 100 Artists. Marilee is currently working on her first book. You can follow her/they on IG @anartistwarrior.
Conchita Hernandez Legorreta
Dr. Maria (Conchita) Hernandez Legorreta was born in Mexico and grew up in California. She advocates for the rights of blind children and their parents in the public-school setting in the United States and abroad through a lens of intersectionality focusing on social justice. Conchita received her Bachelor’s degree from Saint Mary’s College of California, majoring in International Studies, Spanish, and History. She then went on to Louisiana Tech University where she received her Master’s in Teaching with a focus on teaching blind students. As well, Conchita earned a master’s certificate in working with Deaf-Blind students from Northern Illinois University. Conchita received a Doctoral degree in Special Education from George Washington University. Conchita is a Biden Presidential Appointee to the National Board for Education Sciences. Conchita has been published in Future Reflections and Rooted in Rights. Conchita keeps up with research in special education and serves as a peer reviewer on the Journal of Blindness Innovation and Research. Conchita conducts workshops on best practices for educators and professionals in the field of disability and advocacy in the United States and internationally. Conchita worked in the rehabilitation field in Nebraska where she set up innovative programming for disabled adults. Conchita is the founder and Chair of METAS (Mentoring Engaging and Teaching All Students) a non-profit organization that trains educators in Latin America that work with blind/low vision students and other disabilities. In this role she engages lawmakers in policy discussions around people with disabilities and inclusion. Conchita is also a co-founder of the National Coalition of Latinx with Disabilities that seeks to amplify the voices of disabled Latinx in the disability rights movement. Currently, Conchita works as the Maryland Blind and Low Vision Specialist. Conchita strives to be a voice for change for educators, professionals and advocates to make full inclusion a reality for people with disabilities in Latin America. Twitter: @Conchitahdz
Event Producer
Doug Roland
Doug Roland is excited to be back producing the second annual AD Awards Gala. Doug is an Oscar-nominated director for his film Feeling Through, which was made in collaboration with Helen Keller National Center and is the first film to star a DeafBlind actor. As a social impact filmmaker, Doug has collaborated with many organizations, creating screening events and speaking at conferences, institutions, and schools around the world to foster conversation about important social issues.
Co-Producer
Joe Strechay
Joe is a media consultant and producer who specializes in bringing stories involving disability to screen while making productions accessible to cast and crew with disabilities. Joe is a Co-Executive Producer of SEE Season 3 on AppleTV+ and over three seasons helped to build the World of SEE.
He is an Associate Producer on Netflix’s All the Light We Cannot See, to be released in 2023, and served as a consultant on Marvel’s Daredevil and Netflix’s The OA. He has contributed to numerous scripts with writers from around the world, including award winning projects. In film, Joe advises on scripts, set decoration, props, and the blocking of scenes with the directors and cast. Joe has assisted in casting actors who are blind or low vision for numerous shows and networks, and worked with Jonathan Tropper to confirm the casting for SEE Seasons 2 and 3. Joe has also carried out leadership roles in multiple state government agencies and developed programs for non-profits. He completed undergraduate studies at East Carolina University and graduate studies at Florida State University.