@RobinParker Sad that this discrimination continues. There are deaf theatre companies full of talented actors to draw from for cast members - and a huge international Deaf and hard of hearing audience (about a fifth of the UK and US population).
I’ve written in Deaf characters into my screenplays/pilots as writers need to be proactive about increasing diversity on the screen.
Rua Kasumi Turner
@RobinParker I feel like it’d make more sense to have a big push to getting non-deaf crew & production staff trained up in BSL & Makaton and offer incentives for those who are willing to train in it.
It’s a life goal of mine to be proficient in BSL, but the cost of the course and the time needed make it hard to fit in around the freelance work schedule. When I have the time to do it, I don’t have the money. When I’ve worked and have the money, I don’t have the time! It’s massively ableist of us to assume that deaf people need make adjustments for them to work alongside us when we’re in desperate need of deaf, disabled and neurodivergent perspectives to improve the accessibility of our companies and our the shows they produce.
I’ve written in Deaf characters into my screenplays/pilots as writers need to be proactive about increasing diversity on the screen.
It’s a life goal of mine to be proficient in BSL, but the cost of the course and the time needed make it hard to fit in around the freelance work schedule. When I have the time to do it, I don’t have the money. When I’ve worked and have the money, I don’t have the time! It’s massively ableist of us to assume that deaf people need make adjustments for them to work alongside us when we’re in desperate need of deaf, disabled and neurodivergent perspectives to improve the accessibility of our companies and our the shows they produce.