As part of their celebration of the 25 anniversary of the British Disability Rights Act, the BBC will host a series of high-level conversations on LinkedIn Live this Thursday, 19 November.
The talks, hosted by the BBC’s Creative Diversity team between 2pm and 6pm, are being run in conjunction with Valuable 500 and the Disabled Artists Networking Community (DANC) with the aim of inspiring audiences to create inclusive change.
Inclusive change
Guests will be given the opportunity to learn about successful models and how they might be replicated, giving them the tools they need to return to their communities, institutions and organisations to insight inclusive change.
The talks coincide with the BBC’s inclusion month and disability season, and this particular event will also be a celebration of disabled talent within the creative industry and beyond.
Leaders from the world of business, entertainment, philanthropy and media will feature in the event which will focus on disability representation as the route to ensuring that no one is left behind.
Each session will be headlined by leading disabled actors, writers, presenters and directors to explore whether there are any lessons the media industry could learn from them.
Powers for change
The sessions will include a ‘Spotlight’ with Mat Fraser, the curator of BBC America’s anthology series CripTales, in conversation with Alex Brooker.
BBC News’ Disability Correspondent Nikki Fox will moderate a session on ‘Disability Rights’ with guests including: Judy Heumann, US disability activist and star of Crip Camp; Ruth Madeley; Eddie Ndopu, global, disability rights activist and UN Goodwill ambassador; Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson; Caroline Casey, founder of Valuable 500.
Reframing Disability follows the BBC’s two-day virtual event, CDX, in July which showcased the vibrancy, innovation and leadership of Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic talent in the creative industry, and aims to do the same focussed on the representation of disability.
The event will leverage the convening power of the BBC to bring together leading creatives and their stories with the view to generate a cross-industry, solutions focussed conversation.
Anniversary
Throughout November, the BBC has broadcast a range of content to mark the anniversary of the Disability Discrimination Act. This has included BBC News bulletins from BBC disability correspondent Nikki Fox and a range of documentaries and art pieces.
These include: security correspondent Frank Gardner exploring his and other people’s experiences of acquiring a disability for BBC Two; a series of powerful monologues curated by Mat Fraser with contributions from Liz Carr, Ruth Madeley and Jack Thorne for BBC Four; a new film also for BBC Four exploring the Disability Paradox around well-being levels among disabled people and how we can all enhance our quality of life.
More events include: a radical reworking of Ben Johnson’s satire, Bartholomew Abominations and Connections, a series of monologues for BBC Radio 4, both featuring Graeae Theatre, a company which places D/deaf and disabled artists centre stage; and digital content showcasing some of the most exciting disabled influencers and voices online.
The event will be broadcast on LinkedIn Live on Thursday 19 November from 2pm, with the full agenda available here.
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