The Creative Diversity Network (CDN) has conducted an independent review of the representation of disabled people across the U.K.\u2019s television industry as part of its Doubling Disability campaign.<\/p>\n
Doubling Disability was launched in 2018 with the involvement of disabled people\u2019s organizations and is backed by the U.K.\u2019s main broadcasters and other industry bodies. At the center of the initiative is a commitment by the U.K.\u2019s main broadcasters to double the percentage of disabled people working in off-screen roles across the U.K. TV industry by the end of 2020, later extended to the end of 2021 due to the Covid-19 pandemic.<\/p>\n
Findings show that there has been only a small increase, of 0.9 percent, in the proportion of disabled people in off-screen TV production roles\u2014from 4.5 percent in 2017 to 5.4 percent in 2020. If this rate is maintained, it will be 2028 at the earliest before the Doubling Disability target of 9 percent is met. Also, the industry will not be representative of the U.K. working-age population in terms of disability until 2041 at the earliest.<\/p>\n
Deborah Williams, CDN’s executive director, said: \u201cIt has been a year that has tested the industry and its ability to adjust to changes both cultural and financial. As well as adapting admirably to working in the pandemic, the new measures that have been put in place for better race and ethnicity representation are to be applauded. So I\u2019m hopeful that the message about disability will also be embraced: disabled workers are looking for more broadcasting work, which suggests the talent needed to fulfill the Doubling Disability commitment exists.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe report does however reveal that misguided attitudes are still throwing up barriers to entry and career progression at every level. The industry has shown that it is capable of responding to the need for change\u2014the recommendations in our report provide some fresh ideas to support the industry to get back on track.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
The Creative Diversity Network (CDN) has conducted an independent review of the representation of disabled people across the U.K.\u2019s television industry as part of its Doubling Disability campaign.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":350,"featured_media":11071,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[69],"tags":[2459],"class_list":["post-11070","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","","category-top-stories","tag-creative-diversity-network"],"yoast_head":"\n