HSW2200 Disability Theory and Concepts: Analysis of Media Reports

This report delves into disability theory and its representation in the media, examining how media reports portray individuals with disabilities and influence public perception. It explores the conceptual understanding of disability, its historical context, and the issues raised by media coverage, including inequalities and stereotypes. The report identifies and analyzes various stakeholders, such as disabled individuals, their families, advocacy organizations, and service providers, highlighting their perspectives and concerns. Furthermore, it discusses the implications of media representation on attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors towards people with disabilities, emphasizing the importance of accurate and inclusive portrayals to promote equal opportunities and combat stigma. The analysis draws upon academic sources and real-world examples to provide a comprehensive overview of the complex relationship between disability, media, and society.

Disability Theory and Concepts MEDIA
REPORTS
1

Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................3
MAIN BODY..................................................................................................................................3
Conceptual understanding of disability.......................................................................................3
History of disability and influence of context.............................................................................3
Issued raised in the media............................................................................................................4
Identification and analysis of different stakeholders...................................................................5
Implications.................................................................................................................................7
CONCLSUION................................................................................................................................7
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................8
2

INTRODUCTION
Disability theory is basically defined as diverse in which setup interdisciplinary conceptual
approaches, analyse different aspects of disability in context of historical, cultural as well as
social manner. The media Reports are generally depicts people with disabilities on the basis of
their common stereotypes act, and also criticised and even protested against the disability rights.
In this report, it is mainly focused on the conceptual term of disability, history which
influence by media reports. It will describe about the importance of media reports which may be
raised certain issue related disability. Furthermore, it will analyse and identify the involvement
of different stakeholders in the media report telecast.
MAIN BODY
Conceptual understanding of disability
A disability is based on the condition of body or mind that make it more difficult for
individuals with handle critical condition, doing certain activities (Cocq & Ljuslinder, 2020). If a
person can interact with world around them but they can feel so much restricted due to the
disability.
In context of medical, the concept of disability designates, therefore it will represent as
functional limitation which arise in the lives of particular people as direct or indirect results.
These are affecting the physical, psychological as well as mental health condition. Disability
reflects the personal situation of people who have already suffering from disability.
History of disability and influence of context
In the early 1970s, there are different kinds of activists focused on the disability but it
should be started to complex issue or problem within society. Sometimes, it has become
increasingly problem among society which is not treatable at that moment.
Whenever, the society has been treated with disability people and also consider as medical
termed to differentiate the concepts of disability. Usually, it can be identified the problem such
as lack of work, physical barriers to access were determined (Goethals & et.al., 2020). These
kind of conditions are consider as functionally disable. It is not understand that what is well-
3

known as social model in context of disability. In past decade, it was identified the first language
describe a person is disabled. Many people prefer this and argue that this is the most important
aspect in regards of social model of disability. As it emphasizes that people is disabled not only
by their body but it also judged on the basis of language. To a certain degree, physical
Impairment and changing the mental condition of people. Therefore, many people have
experienced this kind of situation which is represented as disability (Hofmann, Kasnitz-Mankoff
& Bennett, 2020). In context of Historical aspect, Disability is not all about the way in which
represent a new concept but it is something that has emerged as result of increasing number of
people affected. For Ancient times, it may exists the disability in among people in different
ways. That’s why, Disability should be consider as crucial interest to all of community from
ancient times. It may arises in different forms.
In context of media reports, it has a long history of promoting the equal opportunity rights
for disabled person in different areas. It deeply influence public opinion and view point towards
concept of disability. Because media images and stories influence thinking and establish social
norms. People with disability have become endured mis-representation, defamation and lack of
representation. While the disability right movement which has made strides in past 30 years
using a rule or regulation.
Issued raised in the media
In recently, there are approximately 1- Billion people with disabilities across global world.
In both developing and developed nations, evidence suggests that people with disabilities are
becoming representing a complex situation or condition. At the time, the significant role played
by media influence public opinion and establish a societal norms.
Media has been raised the issues related disability inequalities exits among disable person.
A lack of mental and physical health condition of individual’s. These are majorly affecting the
entire life style of people with disability (Namkung & Carr, 2020). The negative beliefs, attitude
are directly affecting the individual people. Another way, it also raised the issue with disabled
people through media.
4

The fact that disable people have substantially poorer standards of living. There are certain
perception in context of Orthodox medical related suggestion. This is why because of
impairment which has become traumatic physical as well as psychological effect on the
individuals. On the other hand, People with disability is one of the complex issues so that many
enterprises will be rejected the individual person on the basis of their disability. While the media
alone cannot be held responsible for alarming the complex situation but its impact cannot be
overlooked. Although, Media is also raised the some dispute between societies or communities
in regards of disability.
The media can be represented as vital instrument in raising awareness and counting stigma
& mis-information. This is consider as powerful force to change the societal mis conception and
also represent a person with disabilities an individuals. As per increasing the awareness, it is very
important to identify the specific need or requirement for disabled people and provide the
diversification so as they can use their own rights (Rees, Robinson & Shields, 2019).
Media reports are actively used in the successful integration with people with disability in
related to the societal life. On the basis of conventional individual people with disability which
has been required to analyse the awareness and Combat stereotypes concepts.
Identification and analysis of different stakeholders
On the basis of identification, It has been examined the persons with disabilities,
understand the poorer health outcomes, low education achievement, less economic participation,
higher rate of poverty. Nowadays, Disability is the most common issue or threat which may
increase risk of life threatening problem (Stewart & Spurgeon, 2020). A lack of support to the
person with disabilities may increase the issue of poverty. But sometimes, it is putting extra
efforts to promote the development and reduction which have not always been adequately
inclusive of individuals.
To determine the main stakeholders such as disabled people, parents & families of
disabled people, disability with change movements, organisations of disabled people, agencies
whose purpose related with disability.
5

As per analysis, people with disability are becoming consider as visual impairment and
experience disability. That’s why, it can be understand the complex issue in context of
interaction where individual feel so much nervous and personal impairment, social process. But
it attempts to find the primary which have resulted like people living with disability.
On the other hand, Parents & families of disabled people may have experienced the social
process of disability. However, it differentiate between being a disabled person and living one.
Sometimes, it also identified the extra reliance on the family for support and also amplifying the
usual struggle. Disabled people with families are representing as community based disability.
Organisation of disabled people are basically intended to show as interest of people, and
always comprised of them (Rees, Robinson & Shields, 2019). According the disability right &
convention, it has been recognised the importance of society enterprise with representation of
significant role. Main aspect of society is to perform important role and implementing suitable
approaches. This will help to monitor or track activates of disabled people within organisation.
Service providers provide the different facilities and services to the disabled people who
have been suffering from visual, personal impairments. Moreover, it also defines disabled people
which is mainly represents as users of disability services. This reflects on the curiously
dependent on the consumers, people.
6

Implications
The implication of media and disability to an individual that identify the audience after
exposure for change in cognition, belief systems, attitude, physiological, emotional and
behavioural effects. Media Report will help disable people to cope up in the world. Now, media
is part of our daily lives and culture. It plays an important role to influence people with disability
where they can understand the critical situation or condition.
Media report influence is the current force exerted by messages, publish reports. It is
resulting either a change or reinforcement in audience or beliefs of disabled people. Whether that
media has an effect on the audience, including demographics as well as psychological manner.
These are identified in the both positive as well as negative aspect. Not all effects result in
change of media towards disabled people but it help to develop a positive perception towards
disability (Rees, Robinson & Shields, 2019). After media coverage, it exposure for change the
attitude, behaviour of society towards people with disability. In order to provide equal
opportunity and chance in different areas.
CONCLSUION
From above discussion, it has concluded that Disability theory plays important role in which
representation of various set of theoretical approaches. It can utilise to determine the cultural
history of disability. As per analysis, it has been described about the involvement of media
Reports, which are depicting the people with disabilities. In this report, it is mainly focused on
the conceptual term of disability, history which influence by media reports. It can be identified
the importance of media reports which may be raised certain issue related disability. Analysing
and identification of various stakeholders in the media report telecast.
7

REFERENCES
Book and Journals
Cocq, C., & Ljuslinder, K. (2020). Self-representations on social media. Reproducing and
challenging discourses on disability. Alter, 14(2), 71-84.
Goethals, T., & et.al., (2020). I am not your metaphor: frames and counter-frames in the
representation of disability. Disability & Society, 1-19.
Hofmann, M., Kasnitz, D., Mankoff, J., & Bennett, C. L. (2020, October). Living disability
theory: Reflections on access, research, and design. In The 22nd International ACM
SIGACCESS Conference on Computers and Accessibility (pp. 1-13).
Namkung, E. H., & Carr, D. (2020). The psychological consequences of disability over the life
course: Assessing the mediating role of perceived interpersonal discrimination. Journal
of health and social behavior, 61(2), 190-207.
Rees, L., Robinson, P., & Shields, N. (2019). Media portrayal of elite athletes with disability–a
systematic review. Disability and rehabilitation, 41(4), 374-381.
Stewart, K., & Spurgeon, C. (2020). Researching media participation by listening to people with
disability. Media, Culture & Society, 42(6), 969-986.
8