Media engagement on disability reporting – GFDO

When most Journalist think of diversity, they think of ethnicity, race, and sexual orientation. 

They usually overlook the largest minority, persons with disabilities. In the cases of accidents, some journalist don’t report about people who have become disabled. Disability is seen solely as a medical story or an inspirational feature. 

This misrepresent the disability experience which include a uniquely tragic and pitiful life.

According to the Meriam Webster’s dictionary, disability is define as a physical, mental, cognitive or developmental condition that impairs, interferes with or limits a person’s ability to engage in certain tasks or actions or even participate in typical daily activities.

Therefore it can be argued that disability comes in various forms contrary to the knowledge that disability is only link to our physical being. 

So, do you know that albinism is a disability? Do you also know that being very short can be described as a form of disability?  

Disability ranges from psycho social disability to intellectual disability. 

Despite all these forms of disability, it will interest you to know that, in some instances when there is an accident, some journalists don’t report about people who have become disabled as a result. 

They often report about only people who have died or sustain severe injury. 

This among others, have triggered a one day media engagement with the Ghana Federation of Disability Organization, GFDO, and the media on disability reporting. 

The workshop organized in Bolgatanga attracted 8 journalists who represented their various media houses and some of the leaders of PWDs drawn from Bongo, Navrongo and Bolgatanga. 

The communications and media relations officer of GFDO, Adams Abdul-Wahab, gave the analysis on how issues relating to Persons with Disability were reported in 2016. 

He said, about 68 articles were contained in the print media. 

Meanwhile about 185 news stories, documents and features were produced and broadcast on televisions whilst over 200 radio discussions were broadcast. 

He indicated that, out of these figures, about 43 percent of the discussions were on the positive side of PWDs, the remaining 67 percent was reported on the medical angle module of disability. 

Mr. Adams explained that the medical angle module of disability constitutes a person’s impairment situation, and subsequently being declared by a doctor that the person is incapacitated and cannot do anything.  

He said the aim of the workshop is to promote total inclusion of

PWDs in all sectors of development, using the media as the gate way of information.