Download - DISABILITY AND THE MEDIA
• Lost in Coventry• Cabinet of curiosities• Letter to self• Text including under-represented people
Next week
• Friday 16th 10am ET135 Steve Brookes Lecture and awards.
HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE DISABLED IN THE UK?
• 10 million
What percent of people in UK are in a wheelchair?
• 1 million
What types of disability are there?
• Physical disability• Sensory disability• Intellectual disability • Mental health and emotional disabilities• Developmental disability
1. Pitiable and pathetic
2. Object of curiosity and violence
3. Sinister
4. Super-cripple
5. Atmosphere
6. Laughable
7. Her/his own worst enemy
8. A burden
9. Non-sexual
10. Unable to participate in daily lifeContact No.70 Winter pp45-8 1991 Discrimination: Disabled People and the Media
Stereotypes10 Disabled Stereotypes in the Media
Advertising
‘The complaint is...we’re just not there. That sends out the message we’re not part of society’Laurence Clark cited in The Invisible Force, The Guardian 27/11/02 Maria Eagle
3 problems
Stereotypes – useful for narrative
When shown focus is on disability
•respecting the diversity of disability and portraying those varied experiences; •respecting the views of disabled people and consulting with them to provide more authentic and credible portraits; •respecting the abilities of disabled people and actively involving•Crucially, what disabled audiences want is an acknowledgement of the fact that disability is a part of daily life and for the media to reflect that reality, removing the insulting label of ‘disabled’ and making it ordinary (Karen Ross, 1997: 676)
R.E.S.P.E.C.T
Is it possible?
Is it possible?
Disabled people CAN
Brief
In pairs or on own
Use in national conferences of material
Publication in RADAR
£20 prize for the best submission
Certificate from Steve Brookes
CV
RepresentationMake sure there isn't overrepresentation of, for example, people who use wheelchairs.
Be naturalAim to generally include disabled people in a natural way, where they are part of the story without their disability being the focus of it. Avoid being tokenistic – make sure there is a point to the disabled character rather than simply being there to represent disability
Be positiveDepicting disabled people in responsible jobs or senior positions can change negative or limiting assumptions and expectations. Avoid representing disabled people as victims...or heroes.
