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Suggestions for the representatives of Mass Media when dealing with disability issues:


•  Always interview the person with disability. The direct speech will make your program lively and interesting and will make your audience think about it. It is better that your program has a hero.

•  Always demonstrate successful stories of people with disabilities. People with disabilities are able to achieve more in life and society when treated as an outsider of the events taking place around him/her. Like every human being, persons with disabilities have different physical and mental abilities, personal characteristics, interests and values.

•  Don't avoid to demonstrate and, at the same time, don't focus on physical difficulties of persons with disabilities.

•  Always avoid sorrowful nuances that cause people to feel pity and unnecessary pathos.

•  Don't be uncertain to ask questions to people with disabilities. The majority of them are disposed towards answering the questions and value honesty.

•  Wherever appropriate, speak with humor, especially concerning society's understandings about the lives of people with disabilities. Humor is a way to broadcast long and serious information without boring the audience.

•  Broadcast practical information that will be useful for the non disabled population to demonstrate adequate behavior when they meet people with disabilities in their everyday life.

•  Demonstrate the talents of people with disabilities and the positive things that they are able to bring to society. Refuse stereotypes that people with disabilities have only health and care requirements and are not able to be useful to others. The more you demonstrate the achievements of people with disabilities, the less importance will be attached to disabilities and differences and the person himself will be valued.

•  Speak about the people with disabilities as an equal and contributing member of the society rather than as outsiders. When equal opportunities are created for people with disabilities to get proper education and occupational training, when social services, supplementary supplies and physical environment are accessible for them, they can bring their talents, gifts and benefits to the society and their communities.

•  Tell children about their peers with disabilities. Children must see positive cases about the people with disabilities.

•  Speak about the improvement of our physical environment. The less barriers for people with disabilities, the better for all of us. An accessible environment for people with disabilities is also accessible for all.


Rules that are useful when interacting with people with disabilities


  1. When speaking to the person with a disability, look directly at him/her and not to his disability or guide.
  2. Always present yourself and your companions to a person with mild or severe visual impairment when you meet them.
  3. Listen attentively to a person with a hearing impairment during a conversation. Wait until he has finished his speech. Don't pretend if you understood his speech if it was not so. During the conversation, look directly to his eyes and speak clearly. Try to stand near light and never smoke, eat or chew when you speak.
  4. When you speak with a person who uses a wheelchair, your eyes should be on the same level as his/her.
  5. When you are pushing a wheelchair, always remember that it's speed may easily be increased and the slightest obstacle will distort its balance.
  6. When you offer your help, wait until it will be accepted and than ask how and what to do.
  7. It is myth that persons with psychiatric problems tend to be violent. Be friendly and they will feel calm and secure.
  8. It is prejudice to think that persons with psychiatric problems have poor intellect.
  9. Speak clearly with persons with mental difficulties; explain the problem step by step.
  10. If you don't know how to behave yourself, don't be confused and ask the person with disability about it. This way you will demonstrate your readiness to communicate with him.
   Language and ethics

   Persons with disabilities are very sensitive to the words describing themselves. In countries where the movements towards creating equal opportunities for persons with disabilities are strong, new descriptions and concepts are pushed forward that don't provoke negative feelings.

   It is wrong   


•  Deaf and dumb (Majority of persons with hearing impairments communicate with the help of sign language and many of them "read" from the lips and some of them even speak).
•  ILL person (Disabilities are a social problem rather than medical)
•  Victim, "bitter destiny", "illness" or "victim of mournful accident" phrases and word combinations provoke dramatic tones.
•  Weel chair ridden is unilateral expression because the wheel chair is the only means of transportation for its user. They may sit also on chairs, drive a car and sometimes walk with the help of arm crutches.
•  Suffering from disease.
•  Invalid
•  Handicap
•  Retarded
•  Not normal

   It is right   

•  Person with disability (antonym is non-disabled)
•  Having disability from early childhood (not congenital defect)
•  Children with special needs
•  Wheel chair user
•  Person with poor visual or hearing abilities
•  Persons with mental problems


Social Approach to disabilities and an environment free from barriers

   Presently, two main concepts dominate the world concerning disabilities: Social Model and Medical Model. Each ofthe models underline what is important in the word "disability".

   Medical approach

   There is concentration on the health requirements of people with disabilities. They treat then as ill persons; the efforts to improve their conditions are purely medical. Thus, the person becomes deprived of proper and independent choice in his own life and is treated as an ill person who needs everyday care. As a result, people with disabilities are socially excluded with a limited chance to be integrated and included.

   Social Approach

   With this approach, the disability is observed first as an inaccessible environment and an issue that is not adjusted to the needs of people with disabilities. Under the phrase "Physical barriers", it is understood that the physical, social and psychological barriers that interfere with the people with disabilities make it difficult to enjoy their basic rights equally as others do without disabilities. The social approach tends to eradicate all inner and outdoor barriers that don't allow persons with disabilities to participate in community life. The realization of this approach will create equal opportunities for persons with disabilities to participate equally with others and enjoy their lives with full rights.

 

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