The 2011 Ability Media International Awards were launched this morning, with a category focusing on corporate communications in addition to the new People’s Choice Award.

Run by the Ability Media initiative in conjunction with the charity Leonard Cheshire Disability, the awards recognise and celebrate artistic excellence in the media that is either produced by disabled people or promotes greater inclusiveness and understanding of disability issues.

The corporate communications category contains four awards, for Film and Video, Interactive Media, Live Events, and Information and Campaigns. The People’s Choice Award, which is also new this year, is the only award open to nomination by the public for the best creative work produced by or considering issues faced by disabled people.

Now in their third year, the winners are decided by the Ability Media Creative Board. Ability Media was set up in 2009 to educate disabled people in the media and creative industries, and aims to promote attitudinal changes both within communications industries and in the wider world towards disabled people.

Jane Jutsum, director of strategic partnerships and innovative services at Leonard Cheshire Disability, says of the awards: “We believe that disabled people working in the creative industries can lead to a major positive attitude change among colleagues and the general public. Previous award winners have already become role models for our disabled students as we help mould and unleash their talent in film, radio and animation.”