Mapping Representation and Barriers to Participation by People with Disabilities in the Screen-Based Media and Broadcasting Sectors
The DSO is leading Canada’s first-ever study on the participation of people with disabilities in the Canadian screen sector and the barriers they face in the labour market. This multi-year project will culminate in a research report and a foundational document outlining standards and guidelines for disability representation and inclusion on and off-screen, in both the Anglophone and Francophone markets.
This initiative kicked off in 2022, when the DSO partnered with Nordicity to complete a Discovery Phase (Phase 1). Our goals then were to determine the scope of the research and develop a robust methodology to support the development of a best practices guide.
During our initial consultations, we identified key findings and areas for improvement:
Increasing industry awareness of disability and accessibility
Recognizing and addressing various accessibility barriers
Enhancing engagement with individuals in the talent pipeline
Acknowledging that people with disabilities can drive accessibility change more effectively from within the industry.
Additionally, there is a need for industry-wide accessibility training and the development of a formal Production Accessibility role to support the full life cycle of a project.
The project is now in Phase 2, which will:
Map the current state of disability representation in the Canadian screen industry
Identify barriers
Provide recommendations on how to remove barriers.
We will employ various research methods, including a literature review, consultations, and an industry survey. We will also collaborate closely with people with disabilities in the sector, following the principle of “Nothing About Us Without Us.”
Canada’s Screen Industry Survey on Disability
As part of this study, from March to July 2025, the DSO conducted Canada’s Screen Industry Survey on Disability, the first survey to focus specifically on disability and accessibility within the Canadian screen sector.