Awareness of disability is greater than ever, but there are still many stereotypes to be challenged, and many people with disabilities struggle to access support. The language you use in your reporting could change perceptions.
You might think that language relating to disability is irrelevant if you are studying a sports journalism course, but as emphasised at https://schoolofjournalism.co.uk/journalism-courses/sports, you need to be fully aware of all aspects of journalism. You may still work with or report on people with disabilities.
“Nothing about us without us”
“Nothing about us without us” is fundamental to the modern disability rights movement. It means you must talk to people with disabilities, not just doctors, carers or family members, to accurately and authentically inform your audience.
Person-first versus disability-first language
Person-first language is saying “person with a disability” rather than “disabled person”. It arose as a way to emphasise that every person with a disability is a complete human being, not just a diagnosis. For some people, however, their disability is fundamental to their identity and cannot be separated. The advice is to employ person-first language generally, but respect each individual person’s preferences.
Framing
Think about why the story is significant, and also how you frame it. Rather than reinforcing the idea that disability is bad, you could instead focus on how proper accommodations can remove barriers and help people achieve their potential.
If you have an important, meaningful story about disability, it can easily be undermined by poorly chosen language. It may be complicated, but you need to think about it carefully.
