"Often disabled people are having to choose between studying at a world class institution like this or not studying at all. That talent then gets wasted. This will open a huge amount of doors for disabled people into an industry that has traditionally not welcomed them."
"According to Thompson, most discussion of disabled representation focuses on the more visible on-screen roles rather than behind-the-camera positions, which the school specialises in training students for. Making disabled art is important as well, he said. He felt that although there was a willingness to improve representation in the industry, it has always seen access as a cost issue."
The National Film and Television School is implementing major accessibility improvements to support disabled students. Beginning in 2027, nine fully accessible residential rooms will be available with living costs fully covered, enabling physically disabled students to live on campus for the first time. The school identified 200 inaccessible areas during an accessibility audit and commits to eliminating all of them by 2027. This initiative addresses the underrepresentation of disabled people in the TV industry, where only 12% of employees are disabled compared to 18% in the broader labour market. The school's disability advocate emphasizes that disabled talent is being wasted when students must choose between attending prestigious institutions or remaining accessible to their needs. Behind-the-camera training positions, the school's specialty, particularly lack disabled representation in industry discussions.
#disability-accessibility #film-and-television-education #industry-representation #campus-infrastructure #inclusive-education
Read at www.theguardian.com
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