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What is TAP?

Officially launched in August 2022, TAP is an alliance of ten of the UK’s biggest broadcasters and streamers who have pledged to work together to create a substantive and permanent structural shift to ensure access provision for Disabled talent. 

 

TheVision

TAP's vision is to see full inclusion by 2030 – that is to say, a television industry where no Disabled talent is ever excluded because barriers have been removed and equity created.


What Does FullInclusion Look Like?

  • No Disabled talent excluded from the TV industry because of their impairment or condition
  • Equity, to enable Disabled talent to perform and achieve in their chosen areas on a par with their non-disabled peers
  • Consistency of practice to ensure that access needs are always asked about and provided for, for everyone
  • Adequate and consistent funding for any access costs
  • Easy access to Access to Work grants
  • Production spaces providing accurate information about their access status
  • A healthy talent pipeline and Disabled people in senior, decision-making roles
  • Accountability for broadcasters, streamers, production companies to achieve and maintain high standards for disability inclusion
  • The wellbeing of Disabled talent actively supported
  • In line with the Equality Act 2010, ableism, prejudice and discrimination are considered unacceptable and will not be tolerated
  • A culture where disability is accepted and celebrated, and Disabled talent feel safe to disclose
  • A workforce which reflects the working age Disabled population of UK


Why?

In December 2022 the Creative Diversity Network published its latest report as part of the Doubling Disability Initiative. Since 2016, off-screen disabled contribution to UK programming only increased by 1% - from 5% to 6% in 2021.

Twenty-four per cent of working age people in the UK identify as Disabled. In Doubling Disability, the report concluded that with the current rate of progress it will take until 2041 for Disabled people to be properly represented in the UK television industry

In order to meet these targets, and reach TAP’s goal of full inclusion by 2030, we all have a responsibility to create an industry which is inclusive and accessible for Disabled talent.


How WillTAP Deliver?

Workstreams

TAP members have committed to the principles of TAP and contribute by providing senior leadership to participate in workstreams and provide funding for key work.

Each of TAP's workstreams pools together the expertise and resources from our members, partners, and Disabled talent to identify and remove the barriers that exist in our industry.

  1. Industry best practice guidance – making the 5As and other TAP standards and templates impactful through communication, training, monitoring and evaluating. 
  2. Access to Work - how to make it fit for purpose and to support freelancers to make best use of it. 
  3. Funding – rolling out a pan-industry approach to paying for adjustments. 
  4. Access roles – establishing and standardising roles and responsibilities across all genres.
  5. Talent Retention and Progression - how to prevent the continuous exit of Disabled talent from the industry and how to nurture Disabled talent into long-lasting leadership and decision-making roles. 
  6. Production Spaces - how to support Studios, Facilities, Post Production Houses, VFX, & Outside Broadcast Units to make these spaces accessible so Disabled people can carry out their roles on an equitable basis.
  7. Production Sector Engagement – Ensuring the production community are supported and informed on how to meet the commitments of TAP members.
  8. News – adapting TAP standards and templates to work in broadcast newsrooms and newsgatherings.
  9. Training, Education & Outreach – Ensuring industry training is accessible and pathways into the industry are inclusive.
  10. Accessible Technology – Understanding how assistive and industry technology work together, and improving literacy around accessible technology.
  11. Industry Access Survey – understanding the current lay of the land, on the production sector and broadcaster side and measuring progress towards full inclusion by 2030.