The document discusses different models of viewing disability - the medical model which sees disability as something to fix, versus the social model which focuses on reducing societal barriers. It also outlines common stereotypes of disabled people in media such as being pitiable, a burden, or incapable. Guidelines are provided on how to avoid these stereotypes by showing disabled individuals as complex people facing societal barriers rather than their disabilities defining them. The document also discusses an article advocating for more inclusive media representation of disabled youth.

1. Representation of Disability in the Media Research

2. Medical vs. Social Traditionally, in many cultures around the world, people with physical, sensory or mental impairments were thought of as under the spell of witchcraft, possessed by demons, or as penitent sinners, being punished by God for wrong-doing by themselves or their parents. The 'medical model' sees disabled people as the problem. They need to be adapted to fit into the world as it is. If this isn't possible, then they should be shut away in a specialised institution or isolated at home, where only their most basic needs are met. In recent years, the disability movement has advocated a different way of looking at disability, which they call the 'social model'. This starts from the standpoint of all disabled adults' and children's right to belong to and be valued in their local community. Using this model, you start by looking at the strengths of the person with the impairment and at the physical and social barriers that obstruct them, whether at school, college, home or work. The 'social model' defines 'impairment' and 'disability' as very different things.

4. Stereotypes 1. Pitiable and pathetic; sweet and innocent; a miracle cure- The blind flower seller in City Lights (1931, Charlie Chaplin, USA); 2. Victim or an object of violence- Deaf Christine, cruelly deceived by two men in In the Company of Men (1997, Neil LaBute, USA); 3. Laughable or the butt of jokes- Dumb and Dumber, featuring two men with learning difficulties in laughable situations (1988, Charles Crichton, USA); 4. A burden/ outcast- Despised outcast, Quasimodo, in The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1923, Wallace Worsley, USA; 1998, Walt Disney, USA). 5. Incapable of fully participating in everyday life- Deaf people in Children of a Lesser God (1986, Randa Haines, USA);

5. Our response We do not want

6. Guidelines on how not to portray disability stereotypes 1. Shun one-dimensional characterisations. Portray disabled people as having complex personalities capable of a full range of emotions. 2. Avoid depicting us as always receiving. Show us as equals, giving as well as receiving. 3. Avoid presenting physical and mental characteristics as determining personality. 4. Refrain from depicting us as objects of curiosity. Make us ordinary. Our impairments should not be ridiculed or made the butt of jokes. 5. Avoid sensationalising us, especially as victims or perpetrators of violence. 6. Refrain from endowing us with superhuman attributes. 7. Avoid Pollyanna-ish plots that make our attitude the problem. Show the barriers we face in society that keep us from living full lives. 8. Avoid showing disabled people as non-sexual. Show us in loving relationships and expressing the same range of sexual needs and desires as non-disabled people. 9. Show us as an ordinary part of life in all forms of representation. 10. Most importantly, cast us, train us and write us into your scripts, programmes and publications.

7. Pamela Wilson’s article When we were researching, we came across an article by Pamela Wilson expressing her personal views on representations of disability in the media. She said that “most children and teens with disabilities are just ordinary young people going about the business of growing up with all the hopes, dreams, and challenges of their mainstream peers, siblings and cousins. It is certainly not too much to ask to have media representation in commercials, television and movie scenes, print ads and articles that all other groups have struggled for civil rights can expect.” From what Pamela has said, we agree that the children should be represented in a positive way in all forms of the media.

8. Bibliography http://www.bfi.org.uk/education/teaching/disability/thinking/ http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art54743.asp