Work with the production team to address access requirements
Overview
This standard is about working with the production team to identify potential barriers to access and reach agreement on how to address the access requirements for cast, crew and contributors. The access coordinator provides advice and guidance to the production on how to remove identified barriers, support individuals who have declared access requirements and source, signpost and advise on solutions to meet the access requirements.
It will involve liaising with Heads of Department (HOD’s) and the production team to obtain the resources needed and supporting compliance with legislation and production or broadcaster policies.
This standard is for Access coordinators.
Performance criteria
You must be able to:
- liaise with individuals who have declared access requirements to identify potential barriers to access
- provide support to the production team with supporting artists, dailies or contributors, who may have access requirements as needed
- identify barriers to access and advise on solutions needed to the production for the individuals concerned
- research and advise on resources needed to meet access requirements, including specialist equipment and professional support
- advise production team regarding travel and accommodation for any cast, crew, creatives or contributors who have access requirements
- suggest amendments or alternatives if the resources are unavailable
- maintain agreed lines of communication with the production team and individuals involved
- support and guide heads of department to facilitate and maintain access requirements
- confirm and record agreements with the production team and other departments regarding meeting access requirements
- support and advise on policy, regulatory, organisational requirements and industry guidelines relating to access
- complete access records in line with data protection, production processes and contractual agreements
Knowledge and Understanding
You need to know and understand:
- how the production process works, and how to remove barriers to access within budget and production schedule
- how to approach cast, crew and creatives to confirm access requirements
- how to liaise with the Assistant Director’s department and production to provide support to supporting artistes, dailies or contributors who may have access requirements
- different types of access requirements using a social model approach
- resources needed to meet access requirements, including specialist equipment and professional support
- the importance of confirming and recording agreements with individuals, colleagues in the production team and other departments
- when and how to advise on and support with travel and accommodation for cast, crew, creatives or contributors
- the role of other departments, in particular Location, Costume, Construction, Props, Camera, Stunts, Hair & Make-up, Physical and Visual Special Effects and Post and how to work in collaboration with these
- how the role interacts with other roles such as Intimacy coordinators, Wellbeing facilitators and other professionals
- how to maintain lines of communication with the production team
- who to report problems or difficulties to as they arise
- the policy, regulatory, organisational requirements and industry guidelines around access for productions
Scope/range
Access requirements
- physical access
- environment
- lighting
- sound
- facilities
- transport
- physical contact
- personal space
- timeframes
- allergies and sensitivities
Resources - access equipment
- ramps
- adaptive furniture (evac chairs, off-roading chairs, standing desk)
- office equipment (different coloured paper, braille printer)
- software (text to speech, note taking software, time management software)
- adaptive hardware (specialised mouse and keyboard)
Resources - professional support
- personal assistants
- support workers
- creative enablers / collaborators
- sign language interpreters (British Sign Language (BSL), American Sign Language (ASL)
- lip speakers
- BSL monitors
- chaperones
- intimacy coordinators
- wellbeing facilitators
- medics
- assistance and support animals
Legislation/policies
- Equalities Act 2010 (England, Wales, Scotland)
- In Northern Ireland
- Section 75 of the Northern Ireland Act 1998
- Ireland Sex Discrimination Order 1976
- Disability Discrimination Act 1995
- Race Relations Order 1997
- Relevant industry access funding
- Government access funding (Personal Independence Payment, Access To Work)
- Reasonable adjustments
Scope Performance
Scope Knowledge
Values
Behaviours
Skills
Glossary
Social model
The social model of disability is a way of viewing the world, developed by disabled people. The model says that people are disabled by barriers in society, not by their impairment or condition. Barriers can be physical, like buildings not having accessible toilets. Or they can be caused by people’s attitudes to difference, like assuming disabled people can’t do certain things. The social model helps us recognise barriers that make life harder for disabled people. Removing these barriers creates equality and offers disabled people more independence, choice and control.”
(Definition provided by Scope UK)
Access Coordinators apply this way of thinking across creative sectors and apply it wider than the term disabled, it is also for people with short and/or long term health conditions, invisible conditions, people who might be pregnant or experiencing menopause and even those that don’t identify as having any condition but find certain tools helpful in their day to day lives.
Further to this way of thinking, we draw on our own experiences and appreciate the intersectionality in our industry and how that can impact someone’s experience with access.
Access barrier
An access barrier is simply an obstacle of any kind that stops a person from accessing a place or resource. These barriers can be physical, attitudinal or related to information and communication. Some examples might include: no step free access, lack of awareness, not having captions or subtitles available.