Disabled People in the Society

 

Part3. Discrimination: Disable People and the Media

     The depiction of disability in the media plays a major role in forming public perception of disability. Perceptions created by the media informs the

way people with disabilities are treated in society. "The media have been cited as a key site for the reinforcement of negative images and ideas in regard to people with disabilities.The media generally depict people with disabilities according to common stereotypes such as pity and heroism.

3.1.Television.

     Apart from specialist programmes like the BBC's 'One in Four' and 'Same Difference' on Channel 4, disabled people are generally under represented on British television; but when they are it is usually in the context of one of the disabling stereotypes. In factual or current affairs programmes stories about disabled people are usually linked to medical treatment or the special achievements of disabled individuals - usually children. With one or two notable exceptions disabled people rarely appear in soaps or quiz shows. Their absence from mainstream programming coupled with the link between disability and medicine reinforces the widespread misconception that disabled people are ill and unable to participate in every day life. In fictional programmes, the genre most likely to include disabled characters is crime and thriller films. They usually appear as criminals, monsters or powerless and pathetic victims. Recently screened examples include James Bond's arch rival 'Dr No' and 'What Ever Happened to Baby Jane' starring Bette Davis. In most cases disabled characters are introduced not because they are ordinary people but to suggest precisely the opposite.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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3.2. Newspapers

     Similar criticisms are applicable to the British press. The use of disablist language is common in newspapers, and not only in the tabloids, but also in the so called 'quality' papers. Terms like 'the disabled' and 'the handicapped' appear quite regularly despite campaigns by disability organizations to raise the awareness of journalists. Reports about disabled people are usually featured for their sensation value rather than their accuracy. Common examples include items about the sexual impotency of recently disabled men, individuals who 'bravely manage' to achieve despite 'their handicap', and the non-disabled celebrity who understands the 'plight' of disabled people, or who is willing to make unprecedented personal sacrifices to help a particular charity. Individuals with impairments are seen as legitimate fodder by a sensation hungry press eager for an easy story, and unwilling to consider the harm done to the public image of disabled people. 

                                                                                                                                        3.3. The Advertising Industry

     There are at least two ways in which the advertising industry contributes to discrimination. Firstly, disabled people are excluded and in some instances deliberately ignored by mainstream advertisers and advertising agencies. Besides hiding disability from the general public this is a clear denial of disabled people's role as consumers. Secondly, some advertisers, notably charities, present a particularly distorted view of disability and disabled people to raise money. In both cases disabled people are the losers.

     While this development might be seen as a step in the right direction it can achieve relatively little in terms of empowering disabled people. It is a clear denial of the status of disabled person and disabled culture, obscures the need for change, and perpetuates the impression that disabled people need to be supported by charitable organizations. The focus remains squarely on disabled people rather than on the disabling society in which we live; the very opposite of what is needed. The shift in emphasis, therefore, can be seen as little more than a shrewd marketing exercise by charities to conceal the fact that they themselves are a fundamental part of the disabling process; normal able-bodied people do not depend on charity for life's necessities.

 

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Part 4.Disabled People-are ordinary people

     Disabilities come in all forms and effect many different types of people. Disabilities do not discriminate. You may be rich or poor, black or white, old or young, educated or not a disability doesn't care about any of these things. Disability doesn`t mean ,that you are unusual .We should not forget ,that disabled people are ordinary people ,with ordinary thoughts and wishes.

                                                                              

4.1.Adapted Sports

     The Paralympic Games (meaning "alongside the Olympics") are held after the (Summer and Winter) Olympics. The Paralympic Games include athletes with a wide range of physical disabilities. In member countries organizations exist to organize competition in the Paralympic sports on levels ranging from recreational to elite (for example, BlazeSports America in the United States).

     The Paralympics developed from a rehabilitation programme for British war veterans with spinal injuries. In 1948, Sir Ludwig Guttman, a neurologist working with World War II veterans with spinal injuries at Stoke Mandeville Hospital in Aylesbury in the UK, began using sport as part of the rehabilitation programmes of his patients.

     In 2006, the Extremity Games was formed for people with physical disabilities, specifically limb loss or limb difference, to be able to compete in extreme sports.

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4.2.Disabled People’s Organizations

1) International Asia-Pacific Region (DPI-AP)

     Disabled People’s International (DPI) is a cross-disability, self-help, human rights organization that promotes the full-participation and equalization of disabled persons. DPI-AP is DPI’s Asia-Pacific regional branch that promotes the disability movement in the AP region.

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2) Rehabilitation International (RI)

     RI is the worldwide network of people with disabilities, service providers, government agencies, academics, researchers and advocates working to improve the quality of life of people with disabilities. Within member organizations in 100 countries, RI provides a forum for exchange of experience and information on research and practice.                                    17

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  3) The Global Initiative for Inclusive Information and Communication Technologies (G3ICT).Its missionis to facilitate and support the implementation of the dispositions of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities on the accessibility of Information Communication Technologies (ICTs) and assistive technologies.

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Conclusion

    Working on the project paper helped the author to clearly realize, that disabled people have a lot of problems and difficulties, but, despite this fact, people try to struggle for their rights.

     The more knowledge there are a lot of different organizations and they help Disabled people. Also, the author show, how governments care about these people. Unfortunately, Russia hasn`t got conveniences for Disabled people.

     It is important, that the person with disabilities is increasingly seen as a citizen, entitled to full protection, rights and privileges under the law. 

 

 

 

 

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Reference List

1.Albrecht, Gary L., ed. (2005). Encyclopedia of disability. Thousand Oaks, CA: SAGE Publications

2.Charlton, James I. (2004). Nothing about us without us : disability oppression and empowerment

3.Bagenstos, Samuel. Law and the Contradictions of the Disability Rights Movement

Internet Sourсes :

1. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Disability

2. https://www.gov.uk/definition-of-disability-under-equality-act-2010

3.http://disability-studies.leeds.ac.uk/files/library/Barnes-Media.pdf

4.http://hub.coe.int/web/coe-portal/what-we-do/society/disabilities

5. http://www.infouse.com/disabilitydata/disability/2_6.php

6. http://www.disabilitypolicy.ca/resourcesNational.php

 

                                                                                                                       

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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