Academy of Disabled Journalists

Ability Today launched the Academy for Disabled journalists in 2020 and we are now in our 4th year supporting over 80 students online to study and learn new skills using available technology to make our classes accessible. using Zoom, OBS recording software, speech to text software, screen readers for the visually impaired, special hard ware for those with mobility problems and other software packages to allow students with a wide range of disabilities take part in our online training.

We have 3 students now who’ve gone on the full time employment with ITV/ BBC and Newsquest and several are also in the application process with these companies. Ability Today also won the 2022 NCTJ’s award for excellence in Diversity, Equality and Inclusion for the work we do with our disabled students. The pandemic has allowed people to work from home, Ability Today is utilising all available technology to allow disabled students to use this as an opportunity to thrive. As one of our first students stated in a class ” the reason I have signed up to the course is because you have made it accessible to me, I can’t go to college or University on a daily basis so until now have missed out on learning”.

Ability Today launched the Academy for Disabled SEO Specialists in January 2023 providing access to a new program where disabled people can train and work from home. Later this year we will be launching a bookkeeping course to continue supporting disabled people to gain employment in this new hybrid working environment.