“When I write about difference, I always need to validate that what I show is faithful to reality,” says Simon Boulerice. That’s why he rejoiced on Monday that the series six degrees received the Coup de coeur award from the Regroupement des bliss et amblyopes du Montréal métropolitain (RAAMM).
Posted at 4:39 p.m.
Awarded each year on the occasion of White Cane Week, which aims to raise public awareness of visual impairment, the award highlights an initiative that represents progress in respecting the rights of blind and visually impaired people. six degrees mark, according to the general manager of the RAAMM, Pascale Dussault, “a big blow for the inclusion of diversity on Quebec television. The series was also nominated last October at the Diversity TV Excellence Awards in Cannes.
Broadcast in February 2021 on ICI Télé, six degrees tells the story of Léon, a visually impaired teenager interpreted with great finesse by Noah Parker. First born between the pages of a youth album published in 2016 by Quebec America (Florence and Leon), the endearing character was largely inspired in its author by his friend Méridick Forest, who became a consultant for the series.
“I had this fear of hurting the visually impaired community by misrepresenting them,” explained Simon Boulerice to The Press. Méridick Forest, himself visually impaired, therefore not only advised him in the writing of the show, but also accompanied Noah Parker on the set. “To help him in his travels, to show him small details, to touch as much truth as possible. »
PHOTO MARCO CAMPANOZZI, THE PRESS
Noah Parker plays Leon in the series six degrees.
Tedious, representing a disability on screen? On the contrary, replies the author, who sees in this award proof that the inclusiveness efforts made by Quebec television have real effects on people’s lives. “This award gives me the impetus to embrace differences even more. »
A rant was awarded to the Clic Santé platform, which is inaccessible to blind and visually impaired people.