Netflix to fund drama diploma for people with learning disabilities

Netflix is funding a drama diploma designed for people with learning disabilities and autistic people to try to close the disability representation gap in UK television.

Only 8% of characters onscreen are disabled, compared to 20% of the UK population. The course aims to foster confidence, community, and well-being in disabled and neurodivergent students. Of previous students, 80% reported increased confidence, 75% improved communication skills, and 70% increased independence.

The Performance Making diploma is the world’s only course at a major drama school designed for and by people with a learning disability and autistic people. It is led by Access All Areas and co-delivered with The Royal Central School of Speech and Drama, University of London.

Anne Mensah, VP of Content, UK at Netflix, said: “Deaf, disabled and neurodivergent creators are some of the least represented groups on television in the UK. Put simply, we want to change that. Supporting the Performance Making Diploma is part of our ongoing commitment to building a more inclusive creative industry.  We’re incredibly proud to support Access All Areas in this vital work, and can’t wait to see what this next generation of storytellers and creatives brings to the industry.”

Netflix want role models for learning disabled and autistic artists

Since the Diploma launched in 2013, 79% of graduates have gone on to professional creative work, with over 180 roles secured including collaborating on scripts with companies including Sky Studios and BBC1, and performing in EastEnders (BBC), Holby City (BBC), Call the Midwife (BBC), Damned (C4), The Level (ITV), Grace (ITV), and with theatres including National Theatre, Old Vic, Royal Court, The Lowry and many more.

Charlene Salter, AAA co-chairperson and Diploma Graduate, said: “I really cherished doing the Diploma because it made me grow as an artist and a person. It made me more confident in myself than before, because I always was quiet and I never really spoke up. But doing the Diploma I learned to embrace who I am. To embrace my disability and be empowered by it. Now, I want to be a role model for learning disabled and autistic artists. We are so capable. All we need is a little help and we can do it…

“For all of us and our company, I’m so delighted that Netflix is partnering with us for the Diploma. They want new talent. Now, they’ve got somewhere to go to employ learning disabled and autistic talent. It’s so important right now because it’s really lacking. Thanks to them, loads of new shining stars will grow and grow and grow”

Applications open today, May 6th, 2025, and will close on June 24th, 2025. To apply and find more information on the application process, please visit https://accessallareasproductions.org/theatre/artist-development/diploma/.

Alison Bloomer

Alison Bloomer is Editor of Learning Disability Today. She has over 25 years of experience writing for medical journals and trade publications. Subjects include healthcare, pharmaceuticals, disability, insurance, stock market and emerging technologies. She is also a mother to a gorgeous 13-year-old boy who has a learning disability.

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