Media urged to change way disabled people are portrayed

A campaign designed to alter the way disabled people are
portrayed by the media has been launched by disability charity
Scope.

Maria Eagle, minister for disabled people, launched ‘Tell
It Like It Is’, which is aimed at broadcast, print, web,
advertising and marketing professionals. It is designed to
challenge professionals working in those sectors to reflect upon
their choice of language and imagery when portraying disabled
people.

Eagle said: “Many people don’t realise that one in four
households in the UK include a disabled person. It would benefit us
all to be more aware of this.

“The media has a direct route into almost all these households.
I hope that they will use the package to inform and inspire their
approach to disabled people and the way that they represent them,”
she said.

The project, funded through the government’s ‘See The
Person Campaign’, will see a road show roll out over the winter,
and a lobbying campaign to press for ethical standards across the
disciplines.

For more information visit www.scope.org.uk/tellitlikeitis