The DSO has completed 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 market. This project began in 2022, when we partnered with consulting firm Nordicity to determine the scope of our research and develop a robust methodology to support the creation of a best practices guide on disability inclusion in the Canadian screen industry.

Our initial consultations identified the following areas for improvement across the sector:

• Increasing industry awareness of disability and accessibility;
• Recognizing and addressing various accessibility barriers;
• Enhancing engagement with individuals in the talent pipeline;
• Acknowledging that people with disabilities can drive accessibility change more effectively from within the industry.

Additionally, our Phase 1 research found 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.

Phase 2 of this research focused on mapping the current state of disability representation in Canada’s screen industry at the workforce level, identifying the barriers to participation experienced by disabled creatives across all roles in the industry, and providing recommendations on removing barriers to participation and representation for disabled creatives. To carry out this research and collect our data, we conducted an extensive literature review, engaged in desk research, and interfaced directly with industry stakeholders to identify best practices for inclusion both on and off-screen. Our research methods included nationwide focus groups, interviews, a survey, a StatsCan data order, and outreach supported by industry partners.

The first of two publications to come out of this multi-year project is the newly published “Reframing Access: A Best Practices Guide on Disability Inclusion in Canada’s Screen Industry”. This 120-page guide features practical, step-by-step guidance on how to build accessibility into every stage of the production lifecycle, from development and hiring to casting, on-set processes, and post-production. It also outlines common barriers faced by disabled creatives, shares strategies to remove them, and offers tools for planning accommodations, improving workplace practices, and fostering disability inclusion both on-screen and behind the camera.

In early 2027, the DSO will publish the second work associated with this initiative, a major research report submitted to Accessibility Standards Canada (ASC). While Reframing Access is a resource and actionable document for individual screen industry employers, the research report will present data in more detail and provide policy recommendations about how to improve the accessibility of the screen sector as a whole.