The Canada Media Fund (CMF) and the Disability Screen Office (DSO) have announced a two-pronged partnership to boost disability representation and accessibility in the screen industry.

The two-phase partnership begins this month with a comprehensive research project to develop a reference guide titled Best Practices Guide to Disability Engagement in the Canadian Film and Television Industry. Plans to create the guide were first announced when the organization launched in 2022.

Guidelines will be established using data from an industry survey, a literature review, and consultations and collaborations with individuals in the screen industry, according to a news release. The initiative is supported by Ontario Creates.

The research will build on initial consultations with the industry and “a broad spectrum of disabled communities,” which found a need for enhanced industry awareness, recognition of barriers, and the formalization of a production accessibility role, said the release.

The second phase begins in January 2024 and involves the creation of an online Industry Resource Centre, which will be funded by the CMF, with contributions from Ontario Creates. The resource centre will serve as a hub for information specific to the Canadian industry and, along with the best practices guide, offer tailored accessibility and disability information, including certified service providers and accessible venues.

Accessible Media Inc. (AMI) launched the DSO with the support of CMF and Telefilm Canada in April 2022, and it became an independent organization in September that same year. Funding for the DSO is provided by Telefilm, AMI, the Canadian Media Producers Association, and the Writers Guild of Canada.

“Our heartfelt gratitude goes out to the CMF and Ontario Creates for their generous support. Their visionary investment is not just a boost; it’s a catalyst for a new era in accessibility and disability inclusion,” said Winnie Luk, executive director at the DSO, in a statement.

Valerie Creighton, CMF’s president and CEO, added: “This partnership will promote the full participation of persons with disabilities in the Canadian audiovisual sector and represents an important step toward building a more inclusive industry.”

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