At FIXtv, everyone participates in everything
FIXtv is an online TV channel made by people with intellectual disabilities in cooperation with an instructor. The aim is to provide meaningful and interesting activities for people with disabilities and to increase positive representation of them in society.
FIXtv is a part of Dagtek, a Swedish-language service unit that provides daytime activities for people with disabilities. Dagtek is located in Tammisaari. Dagtek and FIXtv have previously belonged to the Kårkulla joint municipal authority and are now part of the Disability Services of the Western Uusimaa Wellbeing Services County.
Everything started in autumn 2017 when the group participated in Open Minds TV, a media production course aimed at people with disabilities. Almost the entire team completed the one-year programme with Sara Jansson attending as a tutor. Since then, FIXtv has had the opportunity for further training.
Creating an online TV channel from scratch
The FIXtv website was launched in September 2019.
– “We built up everything from scratch, including the logo design and making the website during an adapted course. Our team works together and does everything independently. And I mean everything— planning, scripts, storyboards, audio, lighting, performing in front of the camera, filming behind the camera, editing, and so on. We want to show how much you can do, even if you have a disability,” says Jansson.
Both for benefit and enjoyment – out in society
FIXtv currently has 12 different series on its website at fixtv.fi(external link), including En liten fråga(external link) (“A small question”), in which reporters from FIXtv go out to interview people in the city. FIXtv has additionally made a short film titled Jag tror inte på spöken(external link) (“I do not believe in ghosts”) as well as their own Christmas calendar(external link) series in 2020 and 2021.
In addition, Nathalie Järnström, a member of the team, also has her own series called Nathalies bokhörna(external link) (“Nathalie’s Book Corner”), where she recommends easy-to-read books for adults. There are already 58 episodes in the series. Nathalie selects and reads the books herself, after which she writes the scripts and does the editing, also all by herself.
– ”Easy-to-read literature is close to our hearts here at FIXtv. We have frequent read-aloud sessions, and we like to follow the news and current debates in society,” Jansson explains.
In a top team, everyone is important
At FIXtv, it is important that everyone in the group can participate in the deciding of all matters related to FIXtv. The group starts the day with a meeting where they plan what to do and who does what. Everyone also participates in filming and editing.
The FIXtv team consists of Katarina Jalander, Nathalie Järnström, Cedric Krook, Rasmus Rancken, Sofia Lindeberg, Marlene Lundberg and Elin Tuomela. Sara Jansson is the group instructor.