Disability is not Inability

:: Disability and Media Advocacy: How to Make Disability Matter within the Media


In a recent seminar exploring ways in which persons with disabilities can improve their participation in the electoral process Frank Klein of Media Focus on Africa made an interesting presentation.

The presentation on: How to Utilise Media as a Tool of Education and Policy Change - Frank Klein, Media focus for Africa aim to transfer knowledge on pertinent issues and will be involved in trying to shape the media strategy for the elections.

Admittedly they had not been focusing on disability issues but promised that as the whole campaign will be strongly issue based; disability will feature not just as a topic of discussions but integrated wholly into the package.

He noted that on disability issues the way forward was to put the person rather than the disability at the centre stage. The media should avoid common stereotypes of PWDs and portray them as active members of society who should be treated as an integral part of the general public. He emphasised the need for a rights-based approach towards empowerment of PWDs and to ensure the general public and leaders were made aware that PWDs were not only interested in disability issues but could contribute positively to other aspects of society.

Frank told the participants that Media Focus on Africa was present in the workshop to also learn about PWDs priorities and needs. They were interested in being made aware of specific needs PWDs wanted addressed in the elections.


In the plenary participants brought out major issues on media Frank and Mburugu stated that media focus would integrate disability issues in its media activities but within the framework of its current programme. The media recommendations were enlightening.

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