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Disability and the Media
Disability and the Media
Promoting an accurate image and enhancing the voice of persons with disabilities in the media
Background
Currently, there are approximately 1 billion persons with disabilities in the world, or 15 per cent of the global population. In both developed and developing countries, evidence suggests that persons with disabilities are disproportionately represented among the world’s poor and tend to be poorer than their counterparts without disabilities. Economic and social exclusion is a part of the daily lives of persons with disabilities and is a breach of human rights and a major development challenge. The rich diversity of our society inclusive of all its members – including persons with disabilities – can help strengthen fundamental human rights and contribute to development for all.
The United Nations is committed to the full and equal enjoyment of all human rights by all persons, including persons with disabilities. It has a long history of promoting these rights in all areas, and on an equal basis with others, in order to achieve a society for all. The work of the United Nations for persons with disabilities is now supported by a legally binding document – the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities – that prepares the way to further empower persons with disabilities to better their lives and promote their inclusion in society on an equal basis with others.
The role of the media
Images and stories in the media can deeply influence public opinion and establish societal norms. Persons with disabilities are seldom covered in the media, and when they are featured, they are often negatively stereotyped and not appropriately represented. It is not uncommon to see persons with disabilities treated as objects of pity, charity or medical treatment that have to overcome a tragic and disabling condition or conversely, presented as superheroes who have accomplished great feats, so as to inspire the non-disabled.
The media can be a vital instrument in raising awareness, countering stigma and misinformation. It can be a powerful force to change societal misconceptions and present persons with disabilities as individuals that are a part of human diversity. By increasing the awareness and understanding of disability issues and the diversity of persons with disabilities and their situations, the media can actively contribute to an effective and successful integration of persons with disabilities in all aspects of societal life.  Indeed, the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities requires States to raise awareness and combat stereotypes related to persons with disabilities, including by encouraging all media to portray persons with disabilities in a manner consistent with a respect for human rights.
Changing perceptions
Attention should be drawn to the image of disability in the media with a view to an accurate and balanced portrayal of disability as a part of everyday life. The media can play an important role in presenting disability issues in a way that could dispel negative stereotypes and promote the rights and dignity of persons with disabilities. Furthermore, options should be developed on how to present persons with disabilities in various media and the importance of supporting the work of the United Nations to build a peaceful and inclusive society for all.
The Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities can work as a tool to enhance the work of the media in promoting the rights of persons with disabilities, as well as to promoting their access to education, employment, health and other areas of development on an equal basis with others.
Opportunities
Public events and other international commemorations can provide excellent opportunities to raise-awareness and conduct outreach to promote the disability perspective and highlight the concerns of persons with disabilities. Disability-awareness and related sensitivity trainings can also be conducted in organizations in conjunction with such events or be mainstreamed in standard operating procedures. Some UN-sponsored opportunities and campaigns include:
World Down Syndrome Day
, 21 March
World Autism Awareness Day
, 2 April
World Mental Health Day
(10 October)
World Sight Day
(second Thursday in October)
World AIDS Day
, 1 December
International Day of Persons with Disabilities
, 3 December
Human Rights Day,
10 December
Inclusion saves lives:
DiDRR campaign
UN Enable Film Festival
Spokespersons
Public figures, senior Government officials and high-profile celebrities can work to change societal perceptions about disability and raise awareness about the concerns of persons with disabilities. Some UN-related spokespersons include:
UN Messengers of Peace
Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
Special Envoy of the Secretary-General on Accessibility and Disability
– Goodwill Ambassadors:
UN Players
UNHCR
UNICEF
UN Women
Partnerships
It is vital to include persons with disabilities and their organizations in preparing for any media and communications strategy or event. A common slogan that echoed through the halls of UN Headquarters during the drafting of the Convention was “Nothing about us, without us”. Multi-stakeholder partnerships that include Governments, UN system organizations, civil society organizations, as well as organisations of persons with disabilities is the way forward to advance the rights and inclusion of persons with disabilities in society and development.
Other resources
Eliminating Offensive Terms about People With Disabilities
(Style guide and Terms To Avoid When Writing About Disability)
Media Representation of Disabled People
Disability Rights Education & Defense Fund: Doing Disability Justice
Changing Attitudes Changing the World: Media’s Portrayal of People with Intellectual Disabilities
Our Mandates
Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD)
Special Envoy of the Secretary-General on Disability and Accessibility
Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities of the Human Rights Council
DESA Forum on Disability and Development
Expert Group Meetings
International Day of Persons with Disabilities - 3 December
UN Voluntary Fund on Disability
History of disability and the United Nations
Frequently Asked Questions
Working at the United Nations
Acknowledgements
Foreword
Chapter 1: Overview
Chapter 2: In detail
Chapter 3: Monitoring
Chapter 4: Becoming a party
Chapter 5: National legislation
Chapter 6: Implementing the Convention
Chapter 7: Creating national institutions
References
Annex I: Convention
Annex II: Optional Protocol
Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and Disability
Transforming our world: The 2030 Agenda for Global Action
Final draft of the outcome document for the UN Summit for sustainable development
Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and Disability
Disability, accessibility and sustainable urban development
Monitoring and evaluation of disability-inclusive development
Women and girls with disabilities
Disasters and emergency situations
Mental health and development
Refugees and migrants with disabilities
Accessible tourism for all
Indigenous persons with disabilities
Development and human rights
Disability and sports
Financing for disability-inclusive development
All issues
History of disability and the United Nations
The UN and Disabled Persons -The First Fifty Years
General Assembly Reports and Resolutions
Security Council
Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC)
Commission for Social Development
Human Rights Council
Inter-Agency Support Group for the CRPD
Regional Commissions
Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
Handbook for Parliamentarians on the CRPD
UN Expert Group Meetings
Toolkit on Disability for Africa
COSP Home
Fifteenth Session 2022
Fourteenth session 2021
Thirteenth Session 2020
Twelfth Session 2019
Eleventh session 2018
Tenth session 2017
Ninth session 2016
Eighth session 2015
Seventh session 2014
Sixth session 2013
Fifth session 2012
Fourth session 2011
Third session 2010
Second session 2009
First session 2008
CRPD Homepage
List of NGOs accredited to the Conference of States Parties
NGOs in Consultative Status with ECOSOC - Search
How to apply for NGO Consultative Status with ECOSOC
CRPD Homepage
Conference of States Parties to the CRPD
Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
Ratifications and Signatures of the CRPD
and
Optional Protocol
Map of Signatures and Ratifications
Status of Ratification Interactive Dashboard
Monitoring of Implementation
Civil Society
Convention in Brief
Timeline of Convention Events
Frequently Asked Questions on the Convention
Negotiation Archives
Featured:
World Enabled
Women's Refugee Commission
(disabilities section),
Disabled People's International
(DPI),
G3ict
GAATES
International Disability Alliance
(IDA),
International Disability and Development Consortium
(IDDC),
Rehabilitation International
Zero Project
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IDPD Main Page
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Special Envoy of the Secretary-General on
Disability and Accessibility
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