The Disability Screen Office (DSO) has named its inaugural executive director, Winnie Luk.
A disability advocate and LGBTQ+ activist with experience in the non-profit, film, entertainment, and public sectors, Luk was formerly Director of Operations and Events at the Inside Out Film Festival and more recently served as Managing Director of Rainbow Railroad, a charity supporting LGBTQ+ individuals seeking safe haven from around the globe.
“My lifelong encounters with mobility disabilities as well as my identities as a Chinese Queer Woman, fuel my passion for advocating for accessibility rights and fostering equity in communities,” said Luk, in a DSO announcement. “We have important work to do with members of the Canadian screen industry to eliminate accessibility barriers and foster authentic and meaningful disability representation on and off screen. I am honoured to bring my lived experience and film industry leadership to my new role of executive director for the Disability Screen Office.”
“We are thrilled to have Winnie’s leadership to steer the DSO as we move into our second year of operations,” added Yazmine Laroche, DSO Chair. “Winnie’s track record in advocacy, community engagement and the entertainment sectors will be invaluable in operationalizing our mission and values.”
The DSO was created in 2021 to work with the Canadian screen industry to eliminate accessibility barriers and foster meaningful representation, both on-screen and off, following consultations with the disability community led by Accessible Media Inc. (AMI). The not-for-profit is funded by partners Telefilm Canada and the Canada Media Fund (CMF).
Andrew Morris, former Manager, Independent Production, AMI-tv, has been serving as interim executive director for the past year. Luk will assume her new role June 6 and represent the organization at the upcoming Banff World Media Festival.
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