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Disability
is not Inability |
:: Disability and the media in Kenya.
The recent debate on media regulation
sparked by the introduction of the controvercial Media
Bill 2007 by the Information and Communication Ministry
has solicited much debate. However the inclusion of an organisation
of persons with disabilities added a new dimenstion to the debate.
Many contributions did not see the relevance of most of the 14
or so organisations included in a Statutory Council proposed by
the Bill to supervise the Media. One of the organisations was
The United Disabled people of Kenya (UDPK).
However, Joel Omondi in his articles
titled disability and
Media regulation in Kenya thought otherwise. He argues
that worldwide democratic reform has not been sensitive to disability
communities. He argues that in many developing countries where
private media dominate some form of
regulation may be the only way to ensure representation
of the disability community in media. This is unless self regulatory
organisations engage the community.
He observes that until very recently, people with disabilities
were not accorded equal rights even within the very free societies
like the Europe and US. Equal representation requires a sustainable
relationship between the media and the disability community. Society
need to recognise that People with disabilities also have right
to Freedom to express
an impairment. Giving various examples he shows why
the Media Council of
Kenya even under self regulation need to expand its horizons
Using the social model of disability,
He claims there is alot of disacrimination
which the Media should avoid.
Giving the various examples of
negative imagery and words that are evident in the society which
are being promoted by the media, he concludes that the media should
avoid perpetuating
cultural and religious perception on disability
He sees many media practising and using Exclusion
more comfortable than inclusion with positive imaging
and presentations.
He concludes that the way forward for the Media
to engage the disability community…
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