New LCA! Research Report, "#ScreenAccessON" Published: Exploring Issues in Employment, Accessibility and Inclusion in The Screen-Based Industries

Lights, Camera, Access! (LCA!) Marking 10 Years of Advocacy and Advancement For Persons with Disabilities In Canadian Film, Television & Digital Media

-Research Funding Provided In Part By The Ontario Media Development Corporation

-And From CBC Accessibility, Inclusion & Diversity; Accessible Media Inc. (AMI); AFBS (Actra Fraternal Benefit Society); Inclusive Design Research Centre, OCAD University

-Presented By Nordicity

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www.lightscameraaccess.ca

TORONTO, Sept. 27, 2016 /CNW/ - Lights, Camera, Access! (LCA!) today announced the launch of #ScreenAccessON, a new research report that delivers a compelling, current look at issues in employment, accessibility and inclusion for Canadians with disabilities in the film, television and digital media industries.

Funded in part by the Ontario Media Development Corporation (OMDC), and presented by globally recognized analysts Nordicity, #ScreenAccessON explores the experiences of a diverse cross-section of persons with disabilities (PWD) working in Ontario, one of Canada's busiest hubs for screen-based media production. Data was collected during the Spring/Summer of 2016, and establishes an important, inaugural baseline on attitudes, challenges, and opportunities for advancement in these vital, high-volume industries.

"If you don't measure, how can you make change?" said LCA! Founder, Leesa Levinson. "Together with our partners, we're excited about creating this new focal point for the conversation on disability, access and inclusion in the entertainment industry. The #ScreenAccessON report will serve as an important strategic resource for business leaders and influencers - opening new inroads to thinking and engagement on the impact of cultural and physical barriers."

As a pioneering registered charity, LCA! has been supporting persons with disabilities in Canada's media space since 2007, providing a wide range of networking, mentoring, and advocacy services. This industry-specific perspective, combined with noted accessibility compliance expertise has also positioned LCA! to serve as a unique Consulting and Education Program resource for corporate and production groups of all sizes.

"We applaud and encourage LCA! as they launch the #ScreenAccessON initiative, and enhance their outreach and education efforts in 2017," said Karen Thorne-Stone, President & CEO of OMDC. "We are confident that this report can help drive positive change towards a more inclusive industry, both in front of, and behind the camera."

To View the Complete #ScreenAccessON Research Report, Visit www.lightscameraaccess.ca/#ScreenAccessON

#ScreenAccessON - FAST FACTS*:

• Cultural Attitudes:  62% of respondents reported having faced some form of discrimination, and the lingering cultural assumption (industry and community at large) that the use of an assistive device such as a wheelchair implied not only a physical disability, but a barrier to comprehension or job performance.
  
  
• Nature of Employment: The majority of survey respondents (74%) were engaged in temporary freelance or contract work. Slightly more than one quarter of survey respondents had permanent positions, either fulltime (21%) or part-time (5%); Refer to page 22 of #ScreenAccessON for industry breakdown. 
  
  
• Compensation: The average annual income of survey respondents was $37,100 for 2015, below the average annual income of the general population of PWD in Ontario ($39,300); below the average annual income of the population overall ($44,100); and also below the 2015 Canadian Media Producers Association's annual profile for yearly full time (FTE) salary in the Canadian film and television production industry ($60,552).
  
  
• Education: 48% of survey respondents reported at least a college or undergraduate degree; significantly higher than national averages for PWD (16%). 
  
  
• Identifying Disabilities: Slightly more than half (51%) of respondents in the study identified a mobility impairment. The next most common category of disability chosen is mental health condition (25%). The prevalence of mental health conditions demonstrates that not all disabilities are visible.
  
  
• *Approach, Methodology, Sample: Nordicity, in consultation with LCA!, employed a range of methods in order to collect and analyze data. These included Literature Scan, Online Survey, Roundtable Discussion, and Personal Interviews with key industry and PWD community stakeholders. The combined sample size was approximately 100 persons.

REALITY CHECK: Ontario's 2025 Deadline - The Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act  / Integrated Accessibility Standards Regulation (AODA): All businesses in the province will be required to adapt or change facilities, general operations, or policies by 2025 to ensure compliance with specific accessibility and inclusion guidelines. For more, visit www.lightscameraaccess.ca/AODA

LCA! ON THE ROAD:  LCA! will be supporting and expanding the content and spirit of #ScreenAccessON with attendance at a variety of conferences & events throughout 2016/17. LCA! Innovation Calendar details to be announced.

ABOUT:

LCA!: www.lightscameraaccess.ca
OMDC: www.omdc.on.ca/
Nordicity: www.nordicity.com
CBC (Accessibility, Inclusion & Diversity): www.cbc.ca
Accessible Media Inc. (AMI): www.ami.ca
AFBS (Actra Fraternal Benefit Society): www.afbs.ca
Inclusive Design Research Centre, OCAD University: idrc.ocadu.ca

SOURCE Lights, Camera, Access!

Image with caption: "LCA! Logo (CNW Group/Lights, Camera, Access!)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20160927_C1415_PHOTO_EN_781917.jpg

Dean Ifill, Executive Director, LCA! - 416-363-9948, [email protected]