Since my life changing event I have become a strong advocate for people with
disabilities in Ireland. Physical changes that occur after an SCI combined with trying
to establish a new role in society means it can be tempting to compare ourselves
with what we see in the media. I began writing at first for therapeutic reasons and
later I set up an online community for people who have spinal cord injuries – writing
about my struggles and supporting others going through the same.
This subsequently has opened up several avenues for me.I have had many of my
articles published by Irish newspapers at the local and national level.
With disability, the representation is still woefully inadequate and just as we are no
less competent, our body types are no less deserving than our fully functioning
peers!!! Unfortunately, a lack of visibility and affirmation of disabled individuals in the
media and among those in power creates even more unnecessary misery. This
deficit guides people into thinking that disabled people can’t be powerful, sexy or in
control. Moreover, visibility influences feelings and if disabled people are only
portrayed as weak and sickly, it becomes difficult for a viewer to see them in a
positive light. They are often stigmatized or stereotyped, and may appear as either
objects of pity or super heroic accomplishment.
I was honoured when I got this opportunity as a fortnightly columnist in the western
people.There is a definite lack of representation of people with disabilities in the media, in
particular when it comes to mainstream media such as radio and TV. Just representation is
needed to change the public’s idea of what it means to be talented, hardworking, attractive
and also have a disability. Acknowledging the way the media portray disability and how the
media can help increase awareness throughout society about the realities faced by disabled
persons is the first step foreward. I wanted to use my voice to reduce stereotypes, prejudices
and harmful practices whilst promoting awareness of those with disabilities capabilities and
contributions.
Is it that unfortunately in society today, disability is still deemed undesirable, and disabled
people are frequently looked upon as hard work and less sexy in general than their
nondisabled peers?
The Undateables is a British TV documentary series which follows a range of people on dates
who have long term conditions, including: disabilities, developmental disorders, and learning
difficulties. From the onset, I find the very title offensive and thoughtless. Why assume
someone is undateable because they have a condition/illness or use a wheelchair?They have
the same issues that everyone else does and I fell the title of the show problematises their
conditions instead of seeing the person for a real person. An intrinsic part of the problem is
that disabled people, whether they are parents or not, are presumed to be asexual. Reducing
unnecessary labels and stigma is important as is reducing misinformation around sexual
health of people living with a disability.
I had a similar experience; I did an interview with a national newspaper to emphasise how
your life changes after an accident. The heading the editor entitled the article was “HOW DO
YOU FIND LOVE WHEN YOU’RE PARALYSED?” I would never have agreed to such a
title if I had been given the choice; in fact I would have insisted they not publish my piece at
all if that was going to be a caption anywhere on the page. I realise that words can be
extremely powerful and influential but why use them in a derogatory fashion to gain ratings;
when the bigger impact hurts people and creates negative stereotypes instead of empowering
those it was intended to help.
Some people with physical disabilities or differences may feel they are not seen for their true
selves because of their bodies and what they can and can’t do. A negative self image feeds
into low self-esteem and how much you feel you are worth and valued; A downhill spiral of
depression and addiction can ensue. One of the hardest things for me to cope with when I first
became a wheelchair user was my change in body image. I had always been a very athletic,
health conscious person and I struggled with how I viewed my new physical self. I think that
personal body image has a very important social value for women, with many females being
particularly vulnerable to perceptions of their body and physical appearance. Let’s face it,
everyone (even the most perfect-seeming celeb) has things that they can’t change and need to
accept about themselves . Being exposed to more disabled people on public platforms and
not shielding them away is at the foundation of how we can alter misconceptions about
disabilities and negative body images. Deserving representation that stands alone is a must.
There are few tv shows that include appropriate sources of local and national help to help
ensure that people with disabilities and their families get the information they need,
One such show; the fitting room discusses dressing for all body types. Fashion’s impact
reverberates through our society, which is why it is so important that it celebrates diversity
and champions inclusivity. Fashion has the power to shift attitudes and change perceptions,
and we should not underestimate its influence.
Embedding diversity and inclusivity, particularly with regards to disabled people, would help
push the fashion and retail industry to be even more creative, more innovative, more radical
and more forward-thinking. In 2023, you’d expect social attitudes to be evolving, that the benefits of having a diverse
society apparent but in truth a much more refined approach to disability in our society is
paramount. We need to promote the message that people with disabilities are present in every community
around the globe. They have the same range of emotions, interests, talents, skills and
behaviour as the rest of the population and should be portrayed as having the same
complexity of personality and experience as other people of similar age and situation