Expanding Opportunities and Access for People with Disabilities

Comcast partners with the American Association of People with Disabilities to provide meaningful change to individuals with disabilities.

As a National Corporate Partner, Comcast works with the American Association of People with Disabilities to promote equal opportunities for individuals with disabilities. We have partnered with AAPD on several of its signature programs, and we’ve been honored by AAPD for our groundbreaking programming.   

Helena Berger, AAPD’s Chief Operating Officer and Executive Vice President, serves on Comcast’s Joint Diversity Council and assists our company in developing and executing our diversity initiatives. Our own Fred Maahs, Director of Community Investment at Comcast Corporation and Vice President of the Comcast Foundation, serves on AAPD’s Board of Directors, enabling Comcast to closely collaborate with APPD on our shared programs and initiatives. For example, one of our owned-and-operated affiliate stations, NBC4 in Washington, D.C., hosted an intern through AAPD’s summer internship program this year, and in celebration of National Employee Disability Awareness Month, AAPD’s Helena Berger participated in one of our Comcast Employee Enrichment Series. 

Each year, Comcast sponsors AAPD’s Leadership Awards Gala, and this year, USA Network was honored with the Image Award for its Characters Unite campaign. Characters Unite has helped promote equal rights and opportunities for people with disabilities. Through original on-air programming and public service announcements, digital content, community outreach and special events, Characters Unite has increased awareness of social injustices and encourages positive dialogue. 

Comcast has also partnered with AAPD to promote diverse programming. Earlier this year, we hosted screenings of The Movement, a documentary film that tells the story of five individuals who overcame extraordinary obstacles to become heroes. Vice Chairman and Chief Operating Officer of Universal Pictures Rick Finkelstein, who was paralyzed from the waist down following a 2004 skiing accident, is featured in the film as he rediscovers the freedom of movement. Comcast also supports AAPD through anti-bullying public service announcements. In one month alone, Comcast aired bullying prevention PSAs for a value of $2 million.