The BBC
“I can't think of a more important Organization in this country that doesn't deal exclusively with disability issues that has got to get this right.” That expectation from Geoff Armstrong, chief executive of the National Disability Arts Forum, set the tone of an unprecedented meeting in October between top BBC decision makers and representatives of 24 key disability organizations.
The Disability Leaders seminar aimed to open a fresh dialogue on portrayal, recruitment and how technology can improve access. It was set against the background of the BBC's acknowledged unsatisfactory performance, on and off air: in 2003-4, representation of disability in peak time TV was less than one percent, while 2.7 percent of our staff disclosed a disability, compared with10.1percent of the UK population. And it followed the introduction of targets for the portrayal of disability in TV output, a target for disabled staff off our percent by 2007 and the launch in April of a new BBC diversity strategy.
Radio Times moves listings forward
In consultation with the Broadcasting and Creative Industries Disability Network (BCIDN), Radio Times has developed a new web-based listings service for disabled viewers and listeners. Within the next few months, users will be able to search for all programmes on all channels that offer audio description, sign language and sub-titles. ‘This is a small step but we think a very important one,' said BCIDN chairman David Kogan.
Access all areas
In the first half of the year, all the BBC's main channels exceeded their Ofcom targets for providing subtitling, audio description (AD) and signing. BBC Three more than doubled its AD quota under the code on television access services, with only the CBBC channel dipping slightly (one percent) below its target for subtitling. The BBC remains the only broadcaster committed to 100 percent subtitling by 2008.
Disabled actors fund
The BBC partnered Channel 4 and The Actors Centres to launch the Talent Fund for Disabled Actors - a bursary scheme designed to increase the pool of disabled acting talent available to t v casting directors. Through auditions in London, Newcastle and Manchester, 25 actors were selected to attend BBC master classes, given by leading TV directors, and Actors Centre training. As a direct result, actor Mark McCubb in, who is lame, won the part of a psychiatrist in ITV's new Trial and Retribution drama. All the actors have been helped to develop professional portfolios and a DVD compilation of their work has been distributed across the industry. A number have since auditioned for TV parts and others were invited to meet the BBC comedy team at a special session in London.
Progress on portrayal
Targets set in 2004 for the portrayal of disabled people on TV included:
- a regular disabled character in a returning BBC One drama
- two disabled extras out of every hundred across all BBC One drama
- three top entertainment shows on the main channels to feature a minimum of one disabled contestant in 50
- one BBC Three entertainment or drama series with a regular disabled character.
There is no formal monitoring system, although some progress has been made against these targets in the last year.
Coming in 2006 are Magnificent 7, a single BBC Two drama about a family of autistic children; Soundproof, a deaf thriller, also for BBC Two; and a BBC Three series of I'm With Stupid - commissioned via the BBC Comedy North talent scheme. Portrayal targets will be reviewed annually.
Doing the business
The first ever business benchmarking exercise on disability for the public and private sector scored the BBC significantly higher (90 percent) than the average (57 percent) of 80 UK organisations taking part. The results from the Employers Forum on Disability found that the BBC was most successful in working to ensure disability equality in areas like training, promotion, workplace design and employee support. Development of equality goals in marketing was singled out as a future priority.
My web, my way
Working with computing and disability charity AbilityNet, the BBC has launched the My Web, My Way website, giving advice on how people can customise their computers to make the most of the internet, whether they're able-bodied or disabled. Visit bbc.co.uk/accessibility/