This document discusses the representation of disability and issues with the term "disabled". It notes that the "dis" prefix implies negativity and definitions of "disabled" emphasize ineffectiveness. Those with disabilities often dislike this label and the stereotypical assumptions it carries. Media representation of disabilities is often limited and stereotypical, usually focusing on inspiring pity or showing disabilities as something to be overcome. While progress has been made, genuine actors with disabilities still struggle to get major roles. The document examines examples from advertising, sports, movies, and television.

1. Representation Of
Disability

2. Semantically, the word "disabled" causes
much debate.
 The 'dis' suffix is a negative one,
implying reversal, and disabled heads a
list in the dictionary of many negative
words - disappoint, discard, disconsolate,
discourage, disintegrate, dismay,
disrepute etc etc.
 That same dictionary defines the word
"disabled" as meaning "Made ineffective,
unfit or incapable".

3.  Quite rightly, those members of the
population who find themselves labelled thus
feel tarred with a distasteful brush.
 The word implies that they are unfit for
anything, that they are incapable of
effectiveness in any field.
 Verbal codes aside, the iconography
surrounding the word suggests a similar
plight, hence the European Union symbol:

4.  Here is someone who is not simply "in" a
wheelchair (are all disabled people in
wheelchairs? I think not...), but who relies on
the structure of the chair to give them arms.
 It is small wonder that the word "disabled"
immediately connotates wheelchairs, and
concepts such as broken, dependent, pitiable
etc etc

5.  Given the semiotics of the situation, it is
small wonder that media representation of
the disabled is limited and laregely
stereotypical.
 If the word "disabled" can be represented
in such a simple symbol as the one on
previous slides, we are reducing a large
and diverse group of human beings to
something less complicated than your
average roadsign.

6.  While great strides have been made in
recent decades in the representation of
gender and race, there are still many
prejudices attached to the representation
of disability.
• Or difability - the differently enabled,
as our PC friends would have us
speak.

7. Images of the Dis/Difabled

8. In magazines, the only images of the
disabled we tend to see are those in
charity advertisements, and their disablity
is the main focus of the representation.
 Often we are encouraged to pity the
person represented, or give them support
in another way

9.  Ideologically speaking, dis/difabled is not
considered sexy, and does not sell stuff.
More power then to companies like
Nordstrom & Benetton, with their use of
Downs Syndrome models.

10.  Disabled sport is seen as a very poor
relation to its so-called able bodied
counterpart.
 The Paralympics receive a derisory level of
coverage (and, oddly enough,
sponsorship... hmmm) but you can check
out their website here

11.  Likewise in the movies, disability is seen
as a great storyline - one to inspire pity in
audiences and Oscar nominations from
your peers.
 Think Tom Cruise in Born On The Fourth
of July (Best Actor nom, Best Director
win), Russell Crowe in A Beautiful Mind
(Best Actor nom, Best Picture win),
Leonardo di Caprio in What's Eating
Gilbert Grape (Best Supporting Actor
nom) and Audrey Hepburn in Wait until
Dark (Best Actress nom).

12.  These actors are applauded for their fine
performances, as though the
representation of disability were a
particularly dangerous and skilful thing.
 Something that has cleverly been ‘sent
up’ by the film ‘Tropic Thunder’

13.  WhileTom Cruise is prepared to
strap himself into a stunt wheelchair,
genuinely dis/difabled actors do not
get major parts.
 Amputees get good work in
Hollywood as stunt persons,
particularly when a film such as AI
needs limbless people to attach
prosthetics to, but their name is
never going to go on the marquee.

14.  Thisis fundamentally wrong -
we can only accept the
beautiful people pretending
to be incapacitated. Is this
the equivalent of white actors
'blacking up' to play Othello?

15.  Yet there are exceptions: stand up
comedian, actor and model Francesca
Martinez suffers from cerebral palsy but
sees no reason why she should not follow
a career in showbiz. A successful actress,
with several seasons of Grange Hill behind
her, she has won awards for her comedy.

16. Timmy!
 One of the most popular representations of
disability on TV in recent years has been
South Park's Timmy, the rebel in a
wheelchair. DVDs featuring Timmy-based
episodes sell well, as does the Timmy plush
doll (featuring a detachable wheelchair).
Timmy suffers from hydrocephalus, is
misdiagnosed as having ADD, and is only
able to say one or two words (initially, just
his own name, but he graduates to being
able to utter the name of his beloved pet
turkey - Gobbles).

17. Is this a fair representation?

18. How has disability been
Represented in this Casualty
Extract?