Programs – Mapping

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 force. 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, and 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, and provide recommendations on how to remove them. We will employ various research methods, including a literature review, consultations, and an industry survey, and will collaborate closely with people with disabilities in the sector, following the principle of “Nothing About Us Without Us.”