TV Access Project and Pact want to make the industry fully inclusive by 2030.
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| Image courtesy of Jovaughn Stephens/Unsplash |
The TV Access Project (TAP) in the UK has created and launched an industry-first accessibility toolkit in a bid to make the TV production sector more inclusive for professionals with disabilities.
Local trade body Pact—which represents independent production and distribution companies—is partnering with the org to host this free resource on its website, starting today (August 19).
The toolkit features guides and practical advice for producers, including tips on how to be more inclusive in the recruitment process, how to apply for funding to cover access-related costs on a production, and an overview of all the potential barriers (physical, visual, cognitive, etc.) faced by people with disabilities in the industry.
This resource also offers tailored guidelines for productions based on whether the project is currently in development, in production or in post-production.
Launched in 2022 at the Edinburgh TV Festival, TAP is an alliance between 10 of the leading UK broadcasters/streamers: BBC, Sky, ITV, Channel 4, Britbox, Prime Video, Disney, Paramount, STV and UKTV. The members have pledged to work towards removing accessibility barriers and ensuring fair representation for talent with disabilities in businesses and productions. Roughly 24% of the UK’s working-age population has a disability, according to a survey conducted in late 2023.
Since its launch, The TV Access Project has launched and rolled out key initiatives amongst its members, including a universal process for funding necessary access not covered by Access to Work, over and above the production budget.
“[In] order for the whole industry to reach our goal of full inclusion by 2030, we need to make sure we’re supporting productions to utilize the commitments made by our members,” explained project lead Heloise Beaton in a release. “The toolkit was produced to ensure that there is clear guidance for the production sector, and over the coming year, we will be meeting with producers to support them [in utilizing] it.”
Project Lead Heloise Beaton said: “The TV Access Project has done a huge amount of work since its inception, but in order for the whole industry to reach our goal of full inclusion by 2030 we need to make sure we’re supporting productions to utilise the commitments made by our members,” explained project lead Heloise Beaton. “The toolkit was produced to ensure there is clear guidance for the production sector, and over the coming year we will be meeting with producers to support them to utilise it.”
Pact’s Head of Diversity, Anjani Patel, said: “Pact is proud to support the work of the TV Access Project. The Toolkit is a comprehensive resource developed in collaboration with TAP members specifically for production, designed to help companies address barriers and to create better access for Disabled talent in our industry.
“The TAP Toolkit will sit amongst other online Diversity, Equity and Inclusion resources on the Pact website and is available to members and wider industry.”
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Original source: Kidscreen.
