Women in Film, Television & Media Italia launches the Access Team

On Monday, 6 July, on the occasion of Disability Pride Month, Women in Film, Television & Media Italia (WIFTMI) officially launched its new ?????? ????.

The WIFTMI Access Team was created with an intersectional perspective, recognizing the importance of addressing accessibility alongside gender equity: discrimination and barriers are not experienced in the same way by everyone.

The Team promotes, across the Italian audiovisual industry:

• awareness of accessibility, disability, and neurodivergence;

• equitable participation of people with access requirements, disabled people, Deaf people, and neurodivergent people;

• authentic representation on screen.

As ?????? ???????????? (WIFTMI Board Member and DEIA Co-lead, DEIA Consultant and Access Team Coordinator), explained, the creation of the Team fulfils a commitment she made when she joined the WIFTMI Board: to create a dedicated space within the association to address accessibility. 

“In our industry, accessibility is still too often considered only in relation to audience access. Yet accessibility goes far beyond that. It is about ensuring that disabled, Deaf, and neurodivergent professionals can enter the industry, build sustainable careers, contribute creatively, and progress into leadership roles. When access barriers prevent talented professionals from participating, the entire industry loses perspectives, skills, innovation, and authenticity.”

The launch took place during a dedicated webinar, opening an ongoing space for dialogue, exchange of professional experiences, and discussion of the barriers that continue to limit participation.

As ?????? ??????, author, DEIA consultant, and member of the WIFTMI Access Team, stated:

“When we talk about accessibility, we must look at the entire audiovisual industry: at who is able to enter the sector, the conditions under which they can work, who participates in writing, casting, and production, all the way to how works reach their audience. The presence of people with disabilities, Deaf, and neurodivergent individuals in creative and professional processes impacts the quality of stories, their authenticity, and the real possibilities for changing the industry.”

As ?????? ??????,  author and member of the WIFTMI Access Team, highlighted, authentic representation is inseparable from accessibility:

“Representations are often ineffective, stereotypical, or simply inaccurate because the people who belong to the communities being portrayed are not meaningfully involved in the creative process. Perhaps the issue is that we keep reading neurodivergent characters through categories designed for neurotypical ones.”

Her contribution underlined that meaningful involvement of disabled, Deaf, and neurodivergent professionals is essential to creating more accurate stories, moving beyond stereotypes, and broadening the industry’s collective imagination.

As ?????? ??????, member of the WIFTMI Access Team, explained, the creation of the group responds to the need for a dedicated space where professionals can exchange ideas, learn from one another, share experiences, and build connections with colleagues and organizations.

“We wanted to create a safe space where we can imagine a better future for those who are already part of the audiovisual industry, as well as for those who fear they may not be able to enter it because, today, opportunities and the necessary conditions are still lacking. It is about doing our part to imagine new worlds—more accessible, livable, and joyful—drawing inspiration from the many authors and thinkers of Critical Disability Studies who have shown us the power of collective imagination and change.”

The WIFTMI Access Team welcomes dialogue, knowledge sharing, and collaboration with other Women in Film chapters and industry partners working on accessibility, disability, and inclusion. By exchanging experiences across different cultural and professional contexts, the Team hopes to contribute to building screen industries where accessibility is recognized as a professional standard, a driver of innovation, and a measure of quality and leadership.

For further information, to share experiences, or to explore potential collaborations, please contact us at info@wiftmitalia.it. 

Proudly: Marzia Macchiarella, Marina Cuollo, Meltea Keller, Chiara Zanini.