ITV Studios, a British multinational TV production and distribution company, is taking steps to make the TV industry more accessible by hiring its first in-house disability access coordinator and becoming an associate member of the TV Access Project.
The company recently announced the appointment of Bethany Matthews as its first-ever in-house coordinator. In her role, Matthews will ensure that accessibility requirements and solutions are available across all seven of ITV Studios’ drama labels for individuals who are Deaf, disabled, neurodivergent, or have long-term health conditions.
Julie Clark, the director of production, drama, at ITV Studios, expressed the company’s commitment to supporting the TV Access Project and actively participating in real change. The underrepresentation of disabled people in the industry remains a pressing issue, and ITV Studios is dedicated to addressing it. Clark stated that Matthews will play a crucial role in finding solutions to remove barriers and create an environment where everyone can do their best work.
As part of her responsibilities, Matthews will report to Clark and Sam Tatlow MBE, the creative diversity partner at ITV. She will ensure that all production teams, crew, and cast members undergo accessibility training. Matthews will also review the accessibility of production sites and collaborate with the post-production team to confirm the availability of accessible editing facilities. Having received training as one of the first 12 access coordinators in the UK, Matthew’s previous experience includes working at the BBC, Netflix, Sky, and Channel 4.
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Matthews expressed her excitement about joining ITV Studios and contributing to industry-wide change. She emphasized the importance of prioritizing accessibility in all aspects of production, from casting to post-production. By doing so, the industry will discover hidden talent that has been overlooked due to barriers.
In addition to hiring a disability access coordinator, ITV Studios has also joined the TV Access Project (TAP) and committed to meeting its guidelines for disability inclusion. TAP is a pan-industry effort that aims to promote substantive and permanent structural shifts in both scripted and unscripted content. Supported by the Creative Diversity Network and PACT, TAP was launched in August 2022 in response to a campaign by disabled creatives led by Genevieve Barr, Katie Player, Holly Lubran, and Jack Thorne.
All ten of the UK’s largest broadcasters and streaming platforms, including BBC, Channel 4, Disney+ UK, ITV, Paramount, Prime Video, Sky, and UKTV, have joined TAP. Each company has agreed to address issues related to funding models for access and adjustments, the deployment of access coordinators, and the retention and progression of disabled talent into senior roles.
Tanya Motie, the co-project lead of the TV Access Project, acknowledged that the success of the initiative depends on collaboration between industry players and disabled creatives working on the ground in production. The partnership with ITV Studios in various TAP workstreams throughout the year has been significant, and their official membership as a TAP Associate will contribute to the project’s goal of achieving full inclusion by 2030.
In conclusion, ITV Studios is dedicated to making the TV industry more accessible by hiring a disability access coordinator and becoming a member of the TV Access Project. By prioritizing accessibility and working towards the inclusion of disabled individuals, ITV Studios aims to bring about tangible change and ensure that everyone has the opportunity to contribute their talents to the industry.
