BFI hires Clare Baines, an inclusion specialist, as head of equality for people with disabilities

The BFI has named its first Disability Equality Leader. Claire Baines will take on the role of further promoting equality for people with disabilities in screen industries and organizations.

Baines, who went blind at the age of 15, will promote the BFI’s strategic goals for people identified as deaf, hard of hearing and / or neurodiverse. This includes “sustainable interventions” which hinder the capacity of the exhibition industry.

You will work with fellow BFI to identify and represent different representations in group projects and activities and through funds they support, such as the National Lottery. It will also support equal access for people with disabilities, both in terms of physical and accessibility.

He joins Zebra Technologies and reports to Melanie Hoyes, BFI Inclusion Manager, as a key member of the inclusion team led by Jennifer Smith, BFI Director of Culture and Inclusion.

Hoyce said, “This workspace has been in the spotlight for some time and, with the support of our fantastic team of Disability Screen Advisors, we have made good progress in highlighting the huge inequality of representation and accessibility for talent with disability up side to side… Camera… I’m happy to work with Claire to build this.

Baines said: “I went blind at the age of 15 and, ironically, that’s when my passion for cinema began. I immediately began to understand the importance of storytelling and how vital belonging is when I couldn’t find myself represented in a British film.

I am proud to be a part of BFI now, where I am happy to build on the success of existing projects such as Eliminating Bias and Restoring the Press, as well as working with BFI’s team of disability screening consultants and peers across the organization to implement . A true change, empowering voices with disabilities, sustaining access and building important relationships and allies.