You are protected from direct and indirect discrimination, and your employer must make access requirements to help you do your job. These protections extend throughout the application and employment stages.
The government has published the Act and a guide to the rights outlined in the Equality Act 2010.
This is also available in BSL format and Easy Read Format.
Employers who are part of the Disability Confidence Scheme display badges across their websites and social media. Disability-led organisations and unions in the industry also have information about which employers are active participants in disability accessibility.
No, you are not required to share your disability status unless you need adjustments or feel it’s relevant to the job.
All employers should take reasonable steps to ensure their application and interview process is accessible. If you have specific accessibility needs, sharing your disability status might be necessary to ensure accommodations are met.
ScreenSkills has a free, 30-minute module to help. And you can have a look at these Government and NHS guides on workplace bullying & harassment and bullying at work.
It can feel intimidating to report discrimination or ask for adjustments. We recommend you speak with a trusted friend, union rep, Citizens Advice, or advocate from a disability-led industry organisation. They will help you figure out the situation and what’s needed in the next steps.
If an access coordinator isn’t available, you can speak with a Disabled-led industry organisation or union first. Or speak with your manager or HR to find out their specific process for adjustment requests.
They should be willing to listen to your needs and how your disability impacts your job. Then you can draw up adjustments together, as well as create a Disability Passport if you don’t have one yet.
ACAS has excellent resources and information for access requirements.
It’s a confidential document that clearly outlines what types of adjustments you need at work. It helps ensure that expectations are consistent. An Access Passport can change as you develop and your roles change.
You can use an Access Passport produced by The TV Access Project. An easy read version of the passport is also available.
If you are employed, you should be able to access adjustments through your employer. If you are freelance and work from home, the Access To Work scheme can provide funding for adjustments, transport, and support workers when needed.
Access coordinators work across productions at all stages to ensure that Disabled workers have the accommodations they need to do their jobs.
Our training page (LINK) provides details and our main resources page (LINK) gives resources from production companies to legislation to disability-led organisations across the UK.
A good place to start is ScreenSkills’ HR Toolkit. The Disability Confidence scheme gives excellent information on the benefits of inclusion and accessibility, as well as how to get started on the scheme.
Watch the video below with BSL interpretation.