Disability Screen Office - DSO

It’s here! 🎉 We’re excited to launch the Industry Resource Hub, a brand-new, free platform to help make Canada’s screen industry more accessible and inclusive. Whether you're looking for venues with accessibility features, service providers, or inclusion-focused tools, the Hub brings everything together in one place. You can filter listings by region, disability category, industry role, service type, language, and more, making it easier than ever to find what you need to embed accessibility into your projects from the start. This is the first platform of its kind in Canada, built in consultation with disabled creatives and professionals. It’s made for the community, by the community. We would love for you to test the beta version of our platform over the holidays and help shape its next steps. Your feedback will directly inform how the Hub grows in the new year. If you have comments, suggestions, or spot anything we should know about, please reach out to [email protected]. Explore the Hub at dso-orphe.ca/hub. Huge thanks to our wonderful funders who made this possible: Canada Media Fund, Ontario Creates, Shaw Rocket Fund, Creative BC, and PictureNL. Let’s make accessibility the norm, not the exception! #IndustryResourceHub #InclusiveProductions #DSO #Disability #Inclusion #Accessibility

In the screen industry, accessibility is often treated as an afterthought, and accommodations only appear once someone is already struggling, exhausted, or forced to self-advocate under pressure. When accessibility is integrated into production planning from the start, people don’t have to justify their needs, and disabled creatives can focus on doing their best work rather than fighting for the bare minimum. Sign up for our Industry Resource Hub now at dso-orphe.ca/hub to access practical tools for building accessibility into your production from the start. #DSO #Disability #IndustryResourceHub #Inclusion #FilmProduction #Accessibility

The DSO is co-presenting two screenings of the documentary “The Last Days of April” during the 2026 Hot Docs Festival, in Toronto (ON). We have 30 tickets to share with our community! Directed by Ree Wright and Meaghan Wright, the film follows disabled artist April Hubbard’s personal experience navigating the medical system and her community's response to her choices regarding her end-of-life care, providing a direct look at the complexities surrounding disability, healthcare, and self-determination. The DSO’s Executive Assistant and Operations Manager, Elspeth Arbow, served as a story consultant on the project. Screenings: - Friday, April 24 | 8:30 PM – TIFF Lightbox 2 - Saturday, April 25 | 10:45 AM – TIFF Lightbox 2 Screening with closed captions on April 24 and open captions on April 25. Audio description for the film, and ASL interpretation for the intro and Q&A will be available at all screenings. If you would like to redeem one of the free tickets, please email [email protected] with your name and specify which date you would like to attend. Tickets will be distributed on a first-come, first-served basis. Alternatively, you can also buy your tickets. Thank you to the Directors Guild of Canada and the Directors Guild of Canada in Ontario for sponsoring the Canadian Spectrum Competition at Hot Docs, in which The Last Days of April is proud to be participating.

A story is only as powerful as its ability to be shared and enjoyed by the audience, regardless of their access needs. For National Canadian Film Day, take a moment to reflect: Are the films you love truly accessible? Here are a few examples of what to look for: - Closed Captions: Captions that include critical sound cues like [ominous music] or [door creaks]. - Audio Description: A narrator describing on-screen action for blind or low-vision viewers. - CART Services: Live, human-powered transcription for film festivals, director Q&As, and live panels. - Assistive Tech: Cup-holder captioning devices and personal audio receivers at theaters. - Sensory-Friendly Options: Relaxed screenings with lower sound and dimmed lights. - Equitable Seating: Wheelchair spaces with "prime" views, not just the front or back row. - Authentic Casting: Disabled characters portrayed by actors with lived experience. What’s a movie that got representation or accessibility right? Let us know below! 👇 #DSO #Inclusion #CanFilmDay #Accessibility #Disability

Meet the DSO delegation to the BANFF World Media Festival 2026! Tom Sinclair (MB) Loren Sinclair, known to most people as Tom, is a 29-year-old filmmaker from Winnipeg, Manitoba. He is passionate about storytelling through film and inspiring others, especially people with disabilities, to follow their dreams. Although he lives with disabilities, he does not let them prevent him from doing what he loves: filmmaking and storytelling. He had the opportunity to star in the film Champions (2023), where he demonstrated that no matter who you are, you can achieve anything if you put your mind to it. He strongly believes that dreams can come true. Heather Taylor (ON) Heather is a writer/creator/director of TV, film, and audio projects about messy, complicated family relationships – chosen and otherwise – often told through a genre lens. Her work strives to destigmatize mental illness, disabilities, and poverty. She recently wrote on REVIVAL (Syfy/Peacock) and co-wrote KNOW YOUR NEWLYWED (Simon&Schuster). Heather co-hosts BRAAAINS, a podcast exploring the portrayal of mental health and disabilities on film and TV. Her career started as a playwright in England, where she authored three poetry collections. Heather’s a former journalist and ad(wo)man, an idea machine, and the Indiana Jones of research. Our delegates will have access to curated conversations, masterclasses, case studies and networking sessions. Thank you to Ontario Creates, On Screen Manitoba, and BANFF World Media Festival for supporting our delegation! #DSO #Disability #Inclusion #Accessibility #BANFF2026

From March 15 to 17, DSO Executive Director Winnie Luk attended Canada’s first National Summit on Artificial Intelligence and Culture at the Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity. The event brought together leaders from across cultural, government, technology, academic, and civil society sectors to shape a shared vision for the future of culture in the age of artificial intelligence. Discussions centred around the three pillars of Canada's AI strategy—build, empower, and protect—with panels focusing on topics such as how to ensure creativity is protected in this new scenario and how AI-powered tools can respond to the needs of creators and cultural industries. For the DSO, it was an opportunity to highlight the need for accessibility, disability representation, and intersectional thinking as this technology advances. In addition to the summit, Winnie joined a tour of the National accessArts Centre (NaAC) alongside Minister Marc Miller (Canadian Identity and Culture and Official Languages). Canada’s oldest and largest disability arts organization, the NaAC supports hundreds of artists with developmental, physical, and acquired disabilities. Thank you to JS Ryu and the NaAC team for hosting this lovely tour! Learn more about what took place at the summit and get other DSO updates in our upcoming newsletter. Sign up at dso-orphe.ca. #AICultureSummit #DSO #Disabilty #Inclusion #Accessibility

The DSO’s new Industry Resource Hub is a searchable online platform designed for the Canadian screen industry where you can find venues with accessibility features, service providers, and tools to build more inclusive workflows. It’s the first database of its kind created with the needs of disabled creatives and industry professionals in mind. Users can search by industry role, service type, disability category, region/province, language, and more. And the best part? It’s completely free to sign up! Explore the Hub now: dso-orphe.ca/hub (link in our bio) Thanks to Canada Media Fund, Ontario Creates, Shaw Rocket Fund, Creative BC, and PictureNL for supporting this initiative! #IndustryResourceHub #InclusiveProductions #DSO #Disability #Inclusion #Accessibility

I tell stories because sometimes it’s the only way I know how to express myself. Living with invisible disabilities doesn’t just affect your body — it affects your mind. With Type 1 Diabetes, my brain is always on. It’s a 24-hour job I wasn’t trained for or paid for: being the healthcare provider for my own body. Every choice carries a consequence. When I write or step onto a set to act, I enter another world. I can access parts of myself that feel locked away — parts I’m afraid to show. In that space, vulnerability is allowed. Between “Action” and “Cut,” it’s okay to simply be. I also direct because I’m searching for truth — especially about our bodies. I recently watched a high-profile series where a character was Type 1 diabetic. It was clearly stated twice that she was insulin-dependent. Then it was never mentioned again. She was chased, injured, even knocked unconscious. In reality, a Type 1 diabetic would likely carry sugar and insulin, and being knocked out without blood sugar monitoring would be dangerous. The media we consume shapes how we see ourselves and how others treat us. That responsibility matters. That’s why I tell stories. Sarah Luby is a disabled Canadian filmmaker, performer, and producer based in Winnipeg. Her credits include Netflix, CBC, CBS, Hallmark, Crave, Universal and more. Catch her leading a new Lifetime thriller this spring and in Universal’s Violent Night 2 this Christmas. She also apprentice-produced the feature NORMAL with Bob Odenkirk (in theatres April 2026). Learn more about her work: swiy.co/luby-en - DSO Spotlight is our way of celebrating the contributions of disabled creatives across the screen industry and making space for their work to be seen and valued. Hit the share button to help us amplify Sarah’s work! #DSO #DSOSpotlight #Disability #Inclusion #Accessibility

Read “Voices from the Field: An Interview with DSO Executive Director Winnie Luk” to discover Winnie’s insights into the programs and priorities shaping the DSO’s next chapter, the stories that reaffirm why this work matters, and the tools that can help disabled creatives enter and thrive in the field. Link: swiy.co/voices (link in our bio) Thanks to Creative BC for inviting us to be part of this project!

The DSO is thrilled to share that, thanks to generous support from Ontario Creates, On Screen Manitoba, and BANFF World Media Festival, we will be bringing a delegation of disabled creatives to BANFF 2026 (June 14-17, Banff, AB) to access curated conversations, masterclasses, case studies and networking sessions. We’re pleased to provide this opportunity to disabled creatives across Ontario and Manitoba. There are two spots available. One spot is specifically reserved for a Manitoba-based disabled Francophone and/or Indigenous creative, and the second spot is for a disabled creative living in Ontario. Learn how to apply: swiy.co/banff26-en (link in our bio) #DSO #BANFF2026 #Disability #Inclusion #Accessibility

As part of our ongoing advocacy efforts, DSO Executive Director Winnie Luk met with Member of Parliament Leslie Church to discuss how the Disability Screen Office is developing opportunities for disabled creatives. Winnie highlighted how our programs and partnerships are advancing inclusion across the screen sector and explored ways the DSO can help support Canada in meeting the Accessible Canada Act deadline. Our Accessibility and Disability E-Learning Series, launching later this year, is a great example. This training program is designed to help industry professionals understand the current laws, regulations, policies and standards related to disability and accessibility in Canada, specifically as they apply to the screen sector. Making accessibility a priority is not only a matter of equity, but also a significant economic opportunity. As a 2019 report by TD Economics shows, unlocking the talent of disabled professionals who are capable and ready to work could lead to a $50 billion boost to Canada’s GDP. Through our programs, the DSO gathers data and develops practical tools, training, and guidance to help remove barriers and build clear pathways into inclusive employment, expanding the workforce and contributing to a more resilient and competitive Canadian economy. We’re excited about the opportunity to help shape a more inclusive future for all! #DSO #Disability #Inclusion #Accessibility #Advocacy

“As a kid, I wasn’t very good at hockey, so I joined theatre instead, and that’s where I fell in love. The stage felt like home. I knew I wanted to pursue acting, but I never saw anyone with a disability on screen. After so many no’s, you start to wonder if they’re right. You try to hide your disability to look like everyone else. I remember my uncle telling me, early on, “Don’t hide your disability. Use it. Be proud of it. That’s what sets you apart. That’s what makes you unique.” At the time, I didn’t fully understand, but as I am older now, I’m very happy I listened, as it would have been easy to give up and do something else. There was a moment on set years later when I realized people weren’t waiting for me to change. What changed how I see my work was realizing my difference isn’t a barrier; it’s a lens. I tell stories because I know what it feels like to search for yourself in the world and not find a reflection. If I could change one thing about this industry, it would be the belief that access or difference is a limitation, instead of a strength. When I’m creating, I feel free. Being disabled has reshaped how I work. I plan differently, listen deeper, see stories others might miss. What no one sees but is always there is the resilience it takes to keep showing up. What I want others to know about being a disabled creative is this: you don’t need to hide to belong. The thing that makes you different is the very thing that makes you unforgettable”. Allan Dobrescu is a Canadian actor known for his work on Fargo and currently appearing on FOX’s medical drama DOC. Originally from Quebec and bilingual in English and French, he has worked across diverse North American productions, bringing depth and authenticity to his performances. Beyond his on-screen work, he is also noted for his advocacy around disability representation in the entertainment industry, drawing on his own experiences as an actor with cerebral palsy. Make sure to hit the share button to help us amplify Allan’s work! Learn more at swiy.co/dobrescu. #DSO #DSOSpotlight #Disability #Inclusion #Accessibility