Part 1 - [with]tv - an important role model for countries all around the world

Written by: Anna Bergholtz, a Swedish freelance journalist, motivational speaker and the first blind film critic of Sweden.
E-mail: Anna@annasvision.se
Web Page (soon to be in English): http://www.annasvision.se/

Part 1

Already existing toilets had to be rebuilt to become accessible for people using wheelchairs. For persons being visually impaired the computer-system did not work. For the blind to find their way around, a tactile tape was glued to the floors. Braille was also put on coffee-machines and in elevators. And for some, certain places in the building were completely inaccessible.

This was the situation when I went to work for Swedish Television in 2004. To me, it became pretty clear. People like me, journalists with disabilities, where far away from being common workers there. A person that was, was not to be seen, either behind or in front of the camera.

Three years later, you probably wonder if things changed. Unfortunately, I have to say not. The only reason for us with disabilities working there at that particular point was this new TV show. Swedish Television needed us since the program was about disabilities. Many people within Swedish Television said that this was the first step for things to become different. This was the start of mainstreaming disabled people. For the first time in Swedish history we had a person in wheelchair leading the TV show. And it was also, without a doubt, the only time that many people with disabilities worked there at the same time. And I am not exaggerating when I say I felt like a UFO.

(To be continued)