Disability is not Inability

:: Disability and the media

The role of the media in building an inclusive society cannot be overemphasized. Sustainable inclusive development demands comprehensive representation in all sectors of national dialogue which the media is a crucial facilitator.

By their current status, persons with disabilities may many a times not be able to present their views on a policy plan in every area of social interaction, especially these transitional times. Disability Policy representation is therefore lacking in crucial areas including the current raging debate on the Media Bill 2007 tabled by the Kenyan Information Minister.

The spite with which various stakeholders talk about disability representation in the proposed media regulatory body shows the level of ignorance of media discriminiation on the community.

Disability is seen to portrays what media may not prefer especially when their main target audience is a middleclass brought up to hide its "shameful" side. Disability ends up being hidden in the media as we do in our homes. This builds a worldview biased to disability- friendliness initiatives. This has improved in recent past.

Power to reinforce social attitudes...

The power of media in reinforcing social attitudes is immense to say the least. Recent research shows that almost 2.5 million Kenya households have a TV, over 60 percent believe they can’t do without it.

Over two million Kenyans read newspapers on a daily basis, over ten million Kenyans listen to radio on a daily basis. There are over a million internet users. The media has potential influence in building positive social attitudes to disability.

Media bill 2007.

Unlike the past there has been an increase in media disability relations. More disability organizations have extended a mutual educative hand to the media leading to better coverage and mutual understanding.

While there is need for improved media coverage of disability within a positive agenda the inclusion of a disability organisation in the proposed statutory body regulating media lacks a clear mandate either within the disability ACT or local conventional practice.

While there may be reasons why The Bill is necessary with provisions for bodies like Marketing Society, Law Society and Disability to sit on the media regulatory body, such reasons cannot be stronger than those making government increase its pace and seriousness in implementing the Persons with disability ACT 2004 with some more seriousness.

But questions still remain.

Does the Kenyan Media discriminate against persons with disabilities? Should the media to directly regulated within disability friendly adjustments? Should the non-media organisations sit in the body charged with this regulatory responsibilities. The status of media and disability in Kenya would answer those questions.

disabilitykenya