Ep 38: Access Coordinator, Leah Rachel - Pulling Back the Curtain on Disability & Access in TV

What does access actually look like on a TV or film production and how can we do better on our own sets, for everyone’s benefits?

In this episode of TV Makers, Ashley Golder is joined by Leah Rachel, an access coordinator working across TV and film, supporting deaf, disabled, and neurodivergent cast and crew.
Leah pulls back the curtain on what access really means in practice, from the everyday decisions made in prep and on set, to the conversations productions often avoid because they’re unsure how to handle them. It’s an honest, practical look at how access works when it’s done well, and why expertise matters.

Together, they unpack:
* What an access coordinator actually does, from prep through to production
* The difference between access needs and access requirements (and why the language matters)
* How hiring an access co-ordinator may not even affect your budget!
* The questions people are often afraid to ask.
* How access benefits everyone on set, not just disabled colleagues.

If you work in TV or film and want to approach access with confidence, clarity, and care - this episode is for you.

You can find more info on the future Access Coordinator training at Screenskills: https://www.screenskills.com

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Questions or guest suggestions? Email podcast@tvmakers.co.uk

Thanks again to Casarotto team:
https://www.casarotto.co.uk/access-team

This Episode is Sponsored by:

Rimms

The Kit House

Directed By Good

Edited by Ben Seale 

Recorded by Ashley Golder - https://ashleygolder.tv/
Instagram @tvmakerspod
Email: Podcast@tvmakers.co.uk

Artwork by Benjamin Leon  -
Instagram: @benleondraws
Website:  www.benleondraws.com