The British media are being called upon to be more responsible in the way they represent people with learning disabilities.
The Foundation for People with Learning Disabilities has made the appeal in order to help stem bullying, harassment and hate crime. People with autism are among those who have reported being the victims of such abuse.
The charity is also urging the public to sign a petition calling on Ofcom, the broadcasting regulatory body, to use its influence in changing the way that people with learning disabilities are represented in the media.
The charity said: “Words like spastic, retard and mong are not acceptable in modern-day language and should not be used.”
Although not all people with autism have learning disabilities, this latest campaign will help draw attention to reports of victimization of people on the autism spectrum.
TV presenters Jon Snow and Siân Lloyd are supporting the campaign. Channel 4 news presenter Snow said: “We have come a long way as broadcasters in understanding and reporting disability, but the often-unseen issues surrounding people with learning disabilities are still far from well reported by the media.”
Jeremy Edwards CBE, chief executive of the Mental Health Foundation, called on more journalists to join Snow and Lloyd. He said: “People with learning disabilities have the right to positive representation in the media. We are asking those who work in the media to consider how they portray people with learning disabilities in their programmes and to make positive changes to improve this in the future.”
Jill Davies, from the Foundation for People with Learning Disabilities, highlighted the way that irresponsible portrayal in the media of those she represents can have devastating consequences. She said: “If people with learning disabilities are only seen in small, tokenistic roles or depicted as vulnerable and disadvantaged in the media, then the public will take on these ideas, thereby encouraging bullying and hate crime.’
She added: “People do not get to see the real experience of having a learning disability, or the positive ways that people with learning disabilities contribute to our society.”
Social media and the internet are now recognized as places where high levels of offending take place. But this is also reported to be happening in people’s homes, at work and out in their communities.
The Foundation has produced two guides to provide tips and advice to help, Staying Safe on Social Media and Staying Safe Out and About
It has also developed a guide for broadcasters, giving five tips to help them improve the way they represent disabled people. These are accompanied by a short film where people with learning disabilities talk about how they feel they are represented and the simple changes they want to see made.
To find out more about the campaign visit www.learningdisabilities.org.uk
Published: 1 July 2014
