NEWS

The seventh annual Richard Meritzer Award will be presented during the ReelAbilities Pittsburgh festival, September 4-10, 2025. Films that highlight the lives of people living with disabilities will screen at the fully accessible Pittsburgh Playhouse theater with a selection of films available online. Beginning Thursday, August 14th, please visit FilmPittsburgh.org/ReelAbilities to view the entire festival lineup and purchase tickets!

We are currently soliciting nominations of people or organizations to be considered by the committee to receive this year’s award.

The Richard Meritzer Award, co-sponsored by the City of Pittsburgh-Allegheny County Task Force on Disabilities and ReelAbilities Pittsburgh, recognizes outstanding leadership in advancing the letter and spirit of the 1990 Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Previous recipients include The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust, Dr. Josie Badger, Oakland for All, Mary Anderson Hartley, and the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh. (Read about the 6th Annual Mertizer Award presented to Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh.)

The award is named in memory of Richard Meritzer (1953-2019), who served as ADA Coordinator for the City of Pittsburgh from 2007 to 2019 and was a leader in promoting understanding and implementation of the Americans with Disabilities Act.

Criteria for nomination:

• The person or organization has made foundational change in Pittsburgh and/or Allegheny County by creating new levels of accessibility and inclusivity.
• The accessibility accomplishments of the person or organization are documented and quantified.

Please send nominee names (you can submit more than one!) and the reason why they should be considered to info@filmpittsburgh.org. Please also include your name and contact information.

Please submit nominations no later than July 18, 2025.

Thank you for helping us find the next Meritzer Award winner!

The Film Pittsburgh Team
City-County Task Force on Disabilities