Disability is not Inability

:: plenary participants contributions on media and disability.

Participants were interested in finding out how the Media Focus on Africa planned to engage the media stations to air their programmes, and how all stakeholders would be brought together so that message formed for reporting is inclusive and tells the real story. They were interested in knowing what happens when there are issues needing to be aired by the media yet no one pays for them.

They noted that the media was not self actualised to report on issues that are not the flavour of the day. However, it was noted that on a positive note, some media houses, including the Standard Group, have committed themselves to work on issues of disability. DPOs should work on engaging more media houses.

They also wanted to know how the Media Bill affected PWDs. They were concerned about terms the media used when referring to PWDs such as the term “handicapped”. There is need for objectivity and balanced reporting e.g. when reporting on parents and families of PWIDs. Journalists tend to concentrate on the extremes of disability e.g. parents who have locked away children with mental disability.

Inclusion, participation and access to resources of PWDs is very important yet these are just theories that are not implemented. Media houses had even gone to court to protest a requirement making it mandatory that programmes on TV have interpreters. The participants wanted to know what strategies could be worked out in relation to this.

It was noted that disability was at times seen as a laughing matter with caricatures making fun of disability being common. PWDs were asked to stop being disability professionals and engage on other issues as well. The participants requested that the UNESCO manual mentioned in the presentation should be incorporated into journalism training courses.

There being so many languages in Kenya, the participants wanted to be informed on how Media Focus on Africa planned to reach everyone especially in those areas with no TVs. They were asked to be sensitive to blind persons when developing programmes e.g. by not giving their contacts on the screen without reading them out loud.

When developing the memorandum of agreement with the media, Media Focus on Africa was asked to include disability friendly standards such as incorporating brailing and sign language in their programs. The UNDP memorandum of agreement with Media Focus on Africa should also incorporate this.

It was strongly felt that PWDs need training on media relations strategy. It was noted that people with disability have many untapped talents which the Media Focus on Africa should focus on to improve their visibility. The PWD Acts 2003 should be posted to all candidates especially presidential ones and they should also be made aware of initiatives such as the African Decade for PWDs 1999-2009 and the Convention on PWD.

Video campaigns should have catchphrases as well; asking citizens to vote for PWDs. It was emphasised that the media can build and destroy and Media Focus on Africa was asked to assist the media to build PWDs.

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