How RTRFM made an effective disability action plan
RTRFM was fortunate enough to be profiled by Powerd Media in 2024 for a short documentary about our accessibility journey. (Powerd is a platform created by and for people with disabilities, and an initiative of Disability Media Australia and the Community Broadcasting Association of Australia.)
Watch to see how we initiated a Disability Inclusion Advisory Group (DIAG) and developed a Disability Inclusion Plan!
From the Powerd Media website:
In this episode, we explore the journey of RTRFM, a Perth-based community radio station, as it transforms its engagement with people with disabilities. Recognising that accessibility extends beyond physical barriers, RTRFM initiates a Disability Inclusion Advisory Group (DIAG) and develops a Disability Inclusion Plan. This comprehensive effort redefines accessibility, considering not just access to the station but creating multiple entry points for involvement across different areas of media.
Through the Breaking Sound Barriers initiative, RTRFM opens the world of broadcasting and podcasting to people with disabilities, offering a free 12-week course funded in collaboration with Carers WA. Participants learn everything from content creation to marketing, gaining the tools to tell their own stories. The program is driven by the philosophy that inclusion means everyone should have a voice. As graduates like Jason and Nathan produce podcasts about their personal experiences, they also find new opportunities, such as public speaking and broadcasting. Meanwhile, Isabella shares her journey of discovering pride in her disability, co-hosting a podcast and giving a TED Talk that reframes how disability should be viewed as just another dimension of diversity.
At the heart of RTRFM’s transformation is a commitment to flexibility, with initiatives designed and run by people with lived experience of disability. This approach ensures that access is not limited to the physical space of the station but is extended into the broader community, fostering genuine engagement. As RTRFM continues to break barriers, the station’s initiatives prove that accessibility is about more than structural changes—it’s about creating spaces where everyone feels valued and included.