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The Broadcasting and Creative Industries Disability Network Manifesto
The BBC as a member of the Network aims:
- To increase the presence of disabled people on air and on screen
- To increase the number of disabled people in all areas of the workforce
- To increase access to services, on and off air
- To ensure access to its buildings
Definition of disability
The Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) (1995) defines a disabled person as 'someone who has a physical or mental impairment which has a substantial or long term adverse effect on his/her ability to carry out day-to-day activities.' This definition includes not just those with mobility or sensory impairments but also a wide range of other impairments including mental health problems such as depression or schizophrenia, learning difficulties including dyslexia, diabetes, heart conditions, progressive and fluctuating conditions such as MS or epilepsy, and severe facial disfigurement.
The BBC action plan
- The BBC aims to increase the presence of disabled people on air and on screen
- The BBC will develop and deliver training for journalists, programme makers and commissioners to help them to both increase the representation of disabled people on screen and on air and ensure that portrayal of disability is done in a non stereotypical way. By the end of the financial year 2001 the BBC will have provided such training for some 600 Broadcast Journalists across the UK.
- The BBC will encourage producers to include disabled people in their programming e.g. in studio audiences, as participants in chat shows, contestants in game shows, interviewees and experts, presenters, actors, vox pops, etc through a range of activities including the marketing of the Diversity Database which lists some 1000 plus disabled potential contributors.
- The BBC will develop initiatives such as The Exchange with the aim of increasing the participation of disabled people in all aspects of programme making. The Exchange - started in 2001 and designed to run for 3 years - is a Radio Drama initiative for writers with disabilities. The Exchange has recruited four writers to participate in introductory radio writing skills workshops, working closely with experienced radio writers and BBC producers. Currently, the writers new to radio are working on treatments for the Afternoon Play slot on Radio 4.
- The BBC will provide advice to programme makers to improve disability awareness and know how through its Diversity Centre and through such initiatives as the Production Handbook - a guide for programme makers to the Disability Discrimination Act Part 3; and the Diversity Roadshows - which aim to raise awareness of the concerns of disabled members and ethnic minority members of audiences. In 2001/2002 there will be a total of some 46 shows (each for between 50 and 150 staff) at 14 venues all over the UK.
- The BBC accepts that access costs are a legitimate budget line for all programmes where access maybe a requirement
- The BBC will monitor the presence of disability on screen annually whilst recognising that change will take place over a longer period. In doing this the BBC recognises that currently this may mean monitoring disability on screen only when it is visually present.
- The BBC will contribute towards an industry-wide database of disabled talent
- The BBC aims to increase the number of disabled people in all areas of the workforce including production
The DDA states that:
- It is unlawful to treat a disabled applicant or employee less favourably for a reason related to their disability, unless that treatment can be justified
- Employers must also make reasonable adjustments to premises or working arrangements that place a disabled person at a substantial disadvantage
In order to meet these legal obligations the BBC will:
- review all recruitment practices so that job opportunities are accessible to disabled people (e.g advertising, selection and assessment procedures)
- make reasonable adjustments for employees who are or become disabled during employment:
In addition the BBC is committed to:
- assessing the current level of disabled employees by end of 2001/2002
- monitoring progress annually
- providing job specific disability related training for all HR personnel during 2001 and 2002
- providing disability related training for managers from January 2002
- continuing to run Extend for the next 2 years. Extend offers around 40 work placement opportunities for disabled people across the BBC annually
- developing the existing disability production trainee programme to offer 5 programme based training placements annually - by 2004
- continuing to work with the government and Disability Service Teams (DST) to improve knowledge of and efficient administration of the Access to Work scheme.
- establishing central support systems for all disabled staff - currently this includes the provision of central funds to meet access costs which are outside the costs met by the DST, the establishment of a Disability Computer Group and of a pan BBC Access Unit, and the appointment of a Disability Employment Adviser.
- The BBC aims to increase access to services, on and off air
The DDA states that it is unlawful for service providers to treat disabled people less favourably, unjustifiably. Service providers
- Must make reasonable adjustments to practices, policies and procedures which make it impossible or unreasonably difficult for disabled people to use the service
- Must provide aids such as a textphone or information in alternative formats (eg disc, tape or Braille) where this would help a disabled person use a service that would otherwise be inaccessible
In broadcasting, 'services' include:
- Programmes (subtitling, audio description, and signing)
- Programme support services (helplines, booklets, fact sheets)
- Web sites
In terms of service provision the BBC has:
- Committed to 100% subtitling by 2008 on digital terrestrial channels
- Committed to signing 2% of its output across all channels from November 2001 on digital terrestrial channels
- Agreed Guidelines for Visually Impaired Members of TV Audiences
- Ensured that all its websites are BETSIE compliant
- Agreed that all shows with audiences will have provision for disabled people to attend - this includes the provision of British Sign Language (BSL) interpreters for a % of all shows, the training of audience stewards in disability awareness, the provision of spaces for wheelchair users, access for guide dogs and the provision of induction loops.
- Agreed that all support material will be available in large print, on audio tape and in Simple English (DST)
- Ensured that its audience lines can be accessed by textphone
- The BBC aims to ensure access to its buildings by 2004 by:
In order to comply with the DDA steps should be taken to make its buildings used by disabled employees accessible now. From 2004, buildings used by members of the public such as contributors and studio audiences should also be accessible.
In order to achieve access by 2004 the BBC has
- set access standards
- trained and established an audit team
- started auditing all its buildings - to be completed end of 2001
- built the BBC access standards into all new build programmes
Once the audit is complete the BBC will develop a programme of refurbishment, and where necessary relocation - to make it buildings accessible to disabled users.