How Disability is Dealt with in West African Media

DECISIPH/Handicap International, 2010

The media are a lever for behaviour change in society regarding disability issues. The words and images used in the media have a direct positive or negative impact on the lives of people with disabilities (PWDs).

Today, the coverage of disability issues in the media in West Africa conveys, in most cases, stereotypes about people with disabilities. The terminology used is often incorrect (confusion of terms), even derogatory. Some types of disability are overrepresented (physical
disability), while others are rarely mentioned (mental disability, rare disabilities). Although the specific needs of children with disabilities are mentioned, including education, few articles concern women, despite the fact that they are especially vulnerable to discrimination
because of their gender and their disability.

Many journalists still present disability in the light of charity, where people with disabilities (PWDs) are victims, dependent persons who need assistance, and often with a dramatic tone to appeal to the compassion of the reader. In other cases, it’s the sensational
aspect of PWDs that is highlighted, presenting them as heroes, notwithstanding the disabling situation. In addition, most articles are rather short and talk about PWDs in general, and they hardly collect the personal stories of PWDs or their families. The few photos shown are taken during donations by authorities or NGOs.

Yet, the main source of information remains the associations and federations of PWDs. They therefore have the opportunity to convey a correct, objective and inclusive message on the situation of PWDs. Furthermore, half of the articles deal with the rights of PWDs, which proves that the rights-based approach is getting into the media agenda, even if few articles refer to specific legislation on the rights of PWDs. Now, the role of Disabled People’s Organizations is to concentrate their efforts in this direction, to raise awareness and
help the media achieve quality coverage on disability issues.