Media & Disability

An organisation for the advancement of disabled people in the media

• film
• broadcasting
• production

The abm is a non-profit organisation that has been working in German media for more than twenty years with the aim of increasing the awareness of disability in the public. The organisation consists of 16 self-help groups where people with and without disabilities work together. An important part is the production of TV programmes that are shown on German television on a weekly or monthly basis. The focus on media and disability therefore ensures a steady improvement in how people with disabilities are portrayed by the mass media.

All productions are made in close cooperation with the people concerned. The documentaries and reports avoid any degrading or patronizing approach. They show a lively and realistic image of disabled people that is often surprising and new to the viewers. The focus is on giving information and heightening people's awareness of disability issues.

In addition to this, abm offers a number of different services and further projects. The Filmbüro does consulting work for all kinds of activities dealing with film, television and disability. One of these is the International Short Film Festival "Wie wir leben!! / The Way We Live!", the oldest and longest-running film festival on disability in Germany. The Filmbüro also maintains an Internet data base of films and TV productions about disability, with more than 3,500 items, and runs an educational project called OBJEKTIV- Disability, Media and Education.

For further information, please visit our website or contact us directly.