DISABILITY AND THE MEDIA John Keenan John keenancoventry

DISABILITY AND THE MEDIA John Keenan John. keenan@coventry. ac. uk

• • Lost in Coventry Cabinet of curiosities Letter to self Text including under-represented people

Next week • Friday 16 th 10 am ET 135 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

Stereotypes 10 Disabled Stereotypes in the Media 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 life Contact No. 70 Winter pp 45 -8 1991 Discrimination: Disabled People and the Media

TV • Coronation St

Advertising

3 problems Stereotypes – useful for narrative ‘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 When shown focus is on disability

R. E. S. P. E. C. T • 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)

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

Representation Make sure there isn't overrepresentation of, for example, people who use wheelchairs.

Be natural Aim 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 positive Depicting disabled people in responsible jobs or senior positions can change negative or limiting assumptions and expectations. Avoid representing disabled people as victims. . . or heroes.