Development & Pre-Greenlight

The 5As provide guidelines for disability inclusion in UK television production, and can be applied to all areas of the industry, both behind and in front of the camera. All members of the TV Access Project are signed up and committed to implementing the 5As. These are:

• Anticipate
• Ask
• Assess
• Adjust
• Advocate

When you are producing content for TAP's members you will be asked during commissioning and greenlight conversations to consider how to apply the 5As throughout the production process. Each broadcaster and streamer will have their own individual processes for these conversations and associated paperwork relating to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion principles.

Find out more about the 5As.

The Industry Access Survey, carried out in 2022 found that physical access in the industry remains extremely problematic, with 1 in 4 offices used by companies in the TV industry physically inaccessible

If the TV industry is to become accessible and inclusive, it is important that production companies identify and remove barriers so Deaf, Disabled and/or Neurodivergent employees can work in the buildings and spaces associated with TV and film studios, post-production and office environments. In addition, the Equality Act places a legal duty on employers to make these adjustments.

An access audit is a useful first step towards ensuring that your company is accessible, inclusive and able to employ a wide range of Disabled talent. There are lots of audits and providers on the market.

We have produced the TAP Self-Assessment Audit Checklist, which provides a comprehensive guide to enable companies to assess their own access and provides best practice guidance. These results should then be publicised on your website for users to identify what level of access is available. 

You can access the checklists on the TAP BAFTA Hub to access the checklists.

Find out more on the Accessibility - Spaces & Locations page in this TAP toolkit.

Organisations that have completed an access audit and created a roadmap for full inclusion receive TAP Activator Status. See a list of TAP Activators.

If you work in scripted, you can also utilise Triple C’s Guidelines for Inclusive Writers Rooms.

As part of the 5As you should anticipate that you will be working with Disabled people, and to support and encourage Disabled applicants you can ensure your hiring process is inclusive. This includes growing your network of Disabled talent, providing alternative ways to apply for a role, and ensuring interviews are accessible.

Find out more about meeting and hiring Disabled talent.

Securing funding for access should not be a barrier to production companies working with Deaf, Disabled and Neurodivergent cast, crew and contributors. 

Members of TAP are committed to fund access costs not covered by Access to Work, over and above the production budget.

Whilst each individual broadcaster or streamer will have their own processes, the below information is an agreed approach by all TAP members to fund access, inclusion and adjustments on both scripted and unscripted productions via an Access Funding Request.

Specifics for each broadcaster will be provided as soon as possible in development/pre-green-light/commission.

Find out more about reasonable adjustments and funding available on productions commissioned by TAP broadcasters & streamers.

Access Coordinators (AC) are specialists working within the Film, TV, and creative industries. They support  productions to identify and remove potential and actual barriers to access for all staff, cast and crew, to  increase the representation of Deaf, Disabled and/or Neurodivergent (DDN) people in TV. ACs enable an  “access first” approach, applying the values of the Social Model of Disability  and the 5As.

By engaging an Access Coordinator from the very beginning, you can ensure that the access requirements of a production team, cast and crew are considered from the start and any associated funding can be put in place. Access Coordinators can help support with access in casting, writers rooms and production offices.

Find out more about working with an Access Coordinator.

You can also engage other experts such as Disability Advisors or organise training for your teams.