Radio Training for the Disabled

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Radio Training for the Disabled

Postby jon » Tue Jun 02, 2015 9:04 am

People with Disabilities Get Radio Broadcast Training, Employment Support
DAILY NEWS Jun 1, 2015 7:23 AM
Broadcaster

Connect 4 Life, a charity that aims to empower individuals with disabilities in partnership with the Broadcast Training Centre (BTC), is making preparations to launch a unique Radio Broadcast Training Program for people with disabilities.

“The program will begin on September 8, 2015,” Melanie Taddeo, President, Connect 4Life, said of the program, called the first of its kind. “It is one of our initiatives that aims to empower individuals with disabilities to become independent, contributing members of our society.”

Connect 4 Life and BTC are hosting an official launch today, June 1, with the aim of creating awareness about the charity and the Broadcast Training Program. The launch will be held at the BTC: 264 Lakeshore Road East in Mississauga, ON., where classes will be held.

The 24-week radio broadcast training program will introduce students to basic radio production, the use of digital audio editing software, how to operate studio equipment, as well as the theory behind it. Students will also be introduced to on-air presentation, including news and sports writing, presentation, and accessible content.

“We are proud of our unique education and training programs,” said Peter Whitaker of the, Broadcast Training Centre. “The programs are tailored to meet the needs of over 171,030 people with disabilities in Peel Region, as well as our Internet radio station, Voices4Ability, that brings a voice to our community.”

Connect 4 Life was initiated in order to address the lack of program availability and the unmet service needs of those with disabilities in the Peel region. The number of people living with a disability in the Peel region is disproportionately higher than the provincial average. According to Statistics Canada, in 2010 there were approximately 13.5% of the population (2 million people) in Ontario living with a disability, while in the Peel Region, 14.8 % of the population (171,030 people) are living with a disability. The lack of representation of people with disabilities who are gainfully employed extends across sectors, and has recently become noted in the broadcasting sector. According to the Canadian Association of Broadcasters (CAB), people with disabilities make up only 2% of employees within the broadcasting and production industries. In 2005, the CAB found that barriers preventing employment of the disabled within the broadcasting sector included attitudes (including those held by people with a disability), lack of access, poverty, lack of accessible transportation, lack of accommodation (including available accessible software) and stigmatization and stereotypes. The CAB along with the Canadian Radio-Television and Telecommunications Commission have made increased efforts to promote inclusion and accessibility within the broadcasting industry for people living with disabilities. This proposed project aims to address the lack of visibility of people with disabilities in the broadcasting sector by improving the accessibility of this field for people living with disabilities and increase awareness.

For more information, visit http://www.connect4life.ca
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