TORONTO – Accessible Media Inc. (AMI) announced today the launch of the Disability Screen Office (DSO) in partnership with the Canada Media Fund (CMF) and Telefilm Canada.
“With our commitment to establish and support a voice for Canadians with disabilities, AMI is currently facilitating the creation of this industry office with funding from the CMF and Telefilm Canada,” a press release explains.
Over the past year, AMI has been holding roundtable discussions to obtain feedback on the accessibility of the media industry, identify barriers and brainstorm solutions. These discussions led to the creation of the DSO.
“It became apparent that there is currently no single program, incentive or regulation that can cause the screen industry to be fully inclusive for people with disabilities,” said Andrew Morris, manager, independent production, AMI-tv, in the release.
“The only way to create meaningful real opportunities for people with disabilities in the media industry is to address the systemic barriers relating to education, industry regulations, insufficient and/or inaccurate representation, public beliefs and attitudes, and full accessibility throughout the media industry,” Morris said.
The DSO’s services are designed to do three things. First, to “increase accurate and meaningful disability representation on and off screen throughout the Canadian media landscape,” second, to “expose and eliminate accessibility barriers to create a more inclusive and accessible industry for all,” and third, to “support and amplify the creative voices of Canadians with disabilities nationally and internationally,” the release says.
AMI is currently working on a national, bilingual research endeavor with CMF funding. This process will end with the creation of a document called the Best Practices Guide for Disability Engagement in the Canadian Film and Television Industry, which will be the foundation of the DSO.
Telefilm Canada has provided start-up funding in the meantime “to enable the DSO to recruit a board of directors and open the office within the year,” the press release says.
Telefilm Canada and CMF also contributed funding for programs to help make writers’ rooms in the country accessible to screenwriters within the disability community. These programs will be announced this summer.
“As part of CMF’s growth and inclusion strategy, we’ve introduced new measures to support creators with disabilities,” says Tamara Dawit, vice-president, inclusion and growth, CMF. “Helping establish the Disability Screen Office to support and amplify the creative voices of Canadians with disabilities, both here in Canada and beyond our borders, is part of that strategy. We’re delighted to partner with AMI and Telefilm to achieve this important goal.”
“The creation of the Disability Screen Office will be a significant advancement for meaningful representation, advocacy, and change for creators on both sides of the camera,” said Christa Dickenson, executive director and CEO at Telefilm Canada. “The DSO will further contribute to breaking down barriers and shaping a more accessible and equitable screen-based industry within Canada.”
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