Disability-Focused Shows Win Emmys – Disability Scoop

Two television programs highlighting the experiences of people with disabilities seeking out romantic relationships are taking home some of television’s top honors.

The Netflix show “Love on the Spectrum,” which chronicles the dating lives of adults with autism, won two Emmys, one for outstanding unstructured reality program and another for casting.

Meanwhile, the documentary “Patrice: The Movie” won for exceptional merit in documentary filmmaking. The film, which aired on Hulu last year, follows Patrice Jetter who wants to marry her partner, but can’t because they both have disabilities and doing so could compromise their Social Security and Medicaid benefits.

The awards were presented over the weekend at the Creative Arts Emmy Awards in Los Angeles where several honors were handed out ahead of the main Emmy Awards, which will be this Sunday.

Presenters at the specialty Emmys included two cast members from “Love on the Spectrum,” Marlee Matlin, an actress who is deaf, as well as Nyle DiMarco, who is also deaf and is a director and producer of the AppleTV+ documentary “Deaf President Now!”

“Love on the Spectrum” previously won five Emmys. The documentary series, which follows adults with autism from across the U.S. as they pursue dating and relationships, is a spinoff of an Australian version. Netflix has already renewed the show for a fourth season.

“From the beginning, our aim has been to create a series that treats our participants with dignity and respect while offering genuine insight into their experiences,” said Cian O’Clery, director, executive producer and co-creator of the series. “These awards celebrate not only our production team’s efforts but also the courage of our participants who have touched millions with their personal journeys and helped reshape the public’s understanding of autism.”

An edited broadcast of the Creative Arts Emmy Awards will air Saturday at 8 p.m. PT on FXX and will be available to stream on Hulu through Oct. 7.