The media monitoring organization, FilmDis, has announced its first study into the representation of disability on television. The study features a look at representation after watching 180 television shows that aired between March 2018 and March 2019. The organization, started by disabled and LGBTQIA activists, Dominick & Ashtyn Law was done out of the pockets of these individuals. They applied for grants for their research study but didn’t receive anything.
They have already started their 2019 to 2020 study and could use your help. The duo started a Go Fund Me to assist in their research. You can donate to the study by visiting the GFM for the project: HERE.
Due to the influx of streaming services, there are now over 600 shows debuting between March 2019 and March 2020. In order to better understand exactly where representation is the duo plan to watch every show, and also hire an additional person or two since it’s going to take most of 2020 to watch everything.
This study is the first to truly give an intersectional look at representation. The television study currently offers statistics on gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, race, ethnicity/culture, nationality, age, role type, and whether the actor is disabled or not. Funding will go towards paying for a wide variety of streaming services (many new services like Peacock are set to debut, while other new services like Disney+ are available with new content that will be included in the 2019-2020 study. Additionally, it will allow them to focus on the study since they both have additional full-time jobs – Ashtyn working as a full-time writer, and Dominick editing media.
Your help will not only ensure that they can continue this important and groundbreaking work, but it will also allow them to create a regular podcast talking about representation on television. Eventually, they hope to hire additional staff to help with further studies and other forms of media including film, video games, theatre, and more!
You can check out the current study by visiting: FilmDis White Paper on Disability Representation on Television: Examining 180 TV Shows from March 2018 to March 2019