The TV Access Project (TAP) have taken an uncompromising stance on the lack of disabled access in TV, which could have a serious impact for post facilities in older buildings.
TAP has been created by the BBC, Channel 4, Britbox International, Disney+ UK, ITV, Paramount, Prime Video, Sky and UKTV, with support from industry body CDN (the Creative Diversity Network) and PACT.
An open letter from TAP members laid out the standards which studios, post production houses and facilities companies are expected to meet. Broadcasters and SVODs will announce directly to studios and facilities companies that they will not work with them unless they meet an industry benchmark for accessibility.
They have suggested a three stage process to achieve this:
- Join a roundtable in Autumn to agree on a path forward together, supported by industry bodies
- Continue to work with TAP on a pan-industry access group to accessibility standards
- Collaborate to audit your facilities so TAP can create a target timeline for addressing access requirements
TAP has published the 5As production guidelines for disability inclusion. All those who adopt the guidelines will commit to Anticipating, Asking, Assessing, Adjusting and Advocating when it comes to working with disabled talent and providing their access requirements. Guidelines created by TAP include accessible toilets, wheelchair access, signage, induction loops/closed captioning tech and tactile flooring – with the full document to be created by a focus group of disabled allies and professionals who build these spaces, understand access or work in other industries where excellence in this area is achieved.
UK Screen Alliance were only informed by TAP about their intent three weeks ago and whist we feel that their cause is just, the consultation with our sector has been at best superficial, and largely concentrated on production, with post being an after-thought. There are many types of disability, not just mobility, and post/VFX is known for its ability to accommodate those with cognitive differences. We have now engaged with TAP and intend to ensure that companies who have already made reasonable adjustments for access as required by law, but do not reach the full TAP standard are not unfairly penalised by a loss of work.
This will be a topic for discussion in the UK Screen Alliance members meeting on 7th September.
