[2] Stanfield, alongside Paul W. Trester, was the recipient of an Academy Award for Technical Achievement in 1979 for the development and manufacture of a device for the repair or protection of sprocket holes in motion picture film.
[4] Jennifer Bailey described video modeling as "a teaching concept that uses trained actors to 'model' three different ways to respond to challenges by a 'difficult person' and what might be the positive or negative consequences of each.
"[5] One of the main themes Stanfield has worked with in film is sex education,[6] especially for the mentally disabled and those with other handicaps.
[7][8] In 1972 the American Association on Mental Retardation's Social/Sexual Concerns Group presented James Stanfield with the 1st Annual Award For Development of Socio-Sexual Training Materials for People with Disabilities for his work in the field.
These and other videos are used in every school district in the United States to teach both disabled and regular students about sex education.