Disability and Digital Television Cultures

This timely academic work examines how the shift to digital television has transformed both the representation of people with disabilities on screen and the practical accessibility of television as a medium. Katie Ellis provides a comprehensive analysis of how digital technologies have created new opportunities for inclusion while also revealing persistent barriers in television culture. The book moves beyond simple celebration of technological progress to offer a nuanced critique of how disability intersects with media representation and access. Ellis demonstrates how television, as a dominant cultural force, has historically marginalized disabled communities through both problematic portrayals and physical inaccessibility.

What makes this study particularly valuable is its dual focus on representation politics and practical accessibility features like closed captioning and audio description. Ellis doesn't just critique existing problems but maps the concrete changes happening as digital television evolves, making this essential reading for media scholars, disability studies researchers, and industry professionals alike. The book's intersectional approach reveals how disability representation connects to broader conversations about diversity and inclusion in media landscapes. This critical examination of television's digital transformation offers crucial insights for anyone concerned with creating more equitable media ecosystems.