PSM INNOVATIONS

‘AccessCBC’ – CBC’s new initiative for creators with disabilities

Canada’s national public broadcaster, CBC/Radio-Canada, recently launched AccessCBC, a new initiative focused on increasing access to CBC for the disabled creator communities.

25 January 2022

Canada’s public broadcaster, CBC, recently launched AccessCBC, a new initiative focused on increasing access to CBC for the disabled creator communities. The number of disabled creators across the creative industry is “abysmally low,” said Lisa Clarkson, CBC’s Executive Director of Business & Rights and Content Optimization, “especially when compared to the number of people in the general Canadian population who self-identify as having a disability.”

AccessCBC was developed in partnership with ReelAbilities Film Festival Toronto, to remove and prevent the various barriers that can often obstruct disabled creators. The pilot programme is inclusive of creators who identify as having visible or invisible, temporary or permanent, disabilities. It is made up of two streams: scripted comedy/drama and short documentaries. It covers everything from pitching to production, and will also offer training, mentorship, and sometimes financial support. “As far as we are aware, we are the first media company to do this”, Lisa said, demonstrating how public media leads the way in diversity initiatives.

This innovative programme epitomises two of public media’s core principles: accessibility and diversity. As a publicly funded and owned media organisation, CBC has an important role in ensuring that all Canadians are authentically reflected in its content and across its workforce. The initiative actively forms part of CBC/Radio-Canada’s ongoing efforts to enhance its diversity and inclusion, beyond mere words and intentions.

“As a public broadcaster, we want to accelerate our ongoing efforts to increase equity and representation across all areas. Our content must be created and produced by a more diverse range of creative talent who authentically reflect more communities and perspectives from across the country, including peoples with disabilities.” – Lisa Clarkson, CBC’s Executive Director of Business & Rights and Content Optimization

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Header Image: Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada – July 9, 2011: CBC Television logo. Credit: Shaun/istock