Over 1 billion people on the planet have some sort of disability. A lot of the time, the media we consume is aimed at able bodied people. It’s time we change that!
- Going into a store and seeing the models on the wall
- Sitting down after a long day and turning on the tv
- Scrolling through social media
They all have one thing in common. You are more likely to see an able-bodied person than a disabled one. International Day of People with Disability (IDPwD) is the 3rd of December. This is a day that focusses on:
- Increasing awareness
- Understanding
- Acceptance of people with disabilities
This is why we believe now is the perfect time to raise why disability representation matters.
TV Shows
Throughout the history of film and TV, people with disabilities have been wrongfully stereotyped. Having been used as a punchline or have had non-disabled actors play disabled characters. Thankfully, more and more people are speaking up about ableism in the film industry.
It’s great to see an increase in authentic characters with disabilities showing up in movies and tv shows. It us a chance to give the viewer a true representation.
To name a few of the TV shows and movies that have nailed this is:
- Atypical
- Deaf U
- The Healing Powers of Dude
- The Politician
- Speechless
We look forward to many more to come!
Out and About
Whilst having people with disabilities in the media is important, it is equally as essential to have people with disabilities represented in other places too, such as shops.
Over the past few years, stores have distanced themselves from the idea of having only one type of person modeling clothes and items and have steered towards catering for every type of person. This is exactly the change we like to see.
Nowadays you can see people with disabilities modeling for stores including:
- Primark (Penney’s)
- Marks & Spencer’s
- Tommy Hilfiger
- Target
To show you just how important it is to have yourself represented, especially when you are young, check out this post HERE of young Oliver who sees a boy in a Target poster who is in a wheelchair, just like him.
This is why is it so important for disabled people to be able to see themselves in the spotlight. They need to be able to look up on the wall at the shop or turn on the tv and be able to think “they are just like me!”. When we see someone similar to ourselves achieve something great, we aspire to achieve the same things, and that is so important to have in a young disabled childs life.
Social Media
Social media is one of the most powerful things in our society as nearly everyone you will meet on the street will have some form of social media or another. It has such a strong influence on all our lives and therefore, we need to make sure that the people we uplift are ones that will shine a light on different aspects of the community and not spread negativity.
There are countless people on the internet that have been using their platform to educate both disabled and able-bodied people on the facts and myths of having different types of disabilities. These people are essential to break the stigmas surrounding disabilities by sharing the struggles, accomplishments, and individual experiences of having a disability.
These people have created a safe space and inspired other disabled people who are going through the same things as them to share their experiences too. This we can see that everyone is different and no two people with the same disability go through the same experiences, we can all learn from each other and celebrate our differences while coming as one to make sure everyone is seen, heard, and acknowledged in our communities.
If you or a loved one has a disability, why not make your home more adaptive and try our Uccello Kettle.
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