Representation of Disability

The media continue to enforce disability stereotypes portraying disabled individuals in a negative un-empowering way.

In his 1991 study, Paul Hunt identified 10 stereotypes that the media use to portray disabled people:

1.            The disabled person as pitiable or pathetic

2.            An object of curiosity or violence

3.            Sinister or evil

4.            The super cripple

5.            As atmosphere

6.            Laughable

7.            His/her own worst enemy

8.            As a burden

9.            As Non-sexual

10.        Being unable to participate in daily life

Disabled people over the years have been marginalized within and through the media.

These areas are as follows:

1.            The media still tends to use the medical model of disability

2.            The focus is on the impairment more than the individual

3.            Disabled people are under-represented both in terms of employment in the media &

                portrayal in the media

4.            Lots of media forms are inaccessible and broadcasting tends to be at inaccessible times           

5.            Mainstream media do not recognize the disabled art, media culture

Though the media are beginning to change, it is evident that the media industry and the

disabled community need much more work, where both need to work and learn from each

other. Particularly mainstream media learning from the disabled media and arts sub culture.