uScreen is part of the Accentuate programme in the South East.

The project set out to give young, deaf and disabled people a voice in our digital online world. The uScreen website pioneered ground-breaking technology to allow young deaf and disabled people to express their thoughts through film-making. As well as free accessible group editing and storyboarding tools, uScreen provides British Sign Language, subtitles, visual captioning and audio description, enabling everyone to enjoy the films.

Led by Screen South, uScreen was launched with a programme of live workshops and screenings alongside training and professional mentoring opportunities and a range of online sessions.

The site was championed by comedian Stephen Fry and subsequently won 'The Interactive Media Award 2011' at the AMI [Ability Media International] awards. It also reached the semi-finals of the Best Arts Project at the 2011 National Lottery Awards.

‘Aiming High’ is a film about a young wheelchair tennis player which was made as part of the uScreen live workshop programme. Jordan, Stephen, Ryan and Jordan all have autism and with the help of uScreen mentor Jan Dunn they were able to move outside their comfort zone.

Watch a film about their experiences here:

Accentuate will further invest in an extension project to uScreen called Accentuate Young Voices.  This will ensure deaf and disabled young people have a voice and continue to inform what Accentuate does.  uScreen will provide a platform for young people to make films based on the theme of change.

Films produced by Magneto Films
Image credit: Gaby Jeffs