Script

Guidance on portraying disability

Range

It is important to represent a wide range of impairments, including non-visible impairments and health conditions.

Hero characters

Use hero roles sparingly. They don’t reflect the everyday reality of disabled people. Bear in mind that:

A gold-medal winning disabled athlete is no more representative of disabled people than David Beckham is of non-disabled people.
Constant depictions of very high achievers can lower the self-confidence of some disabled people.
Some viewers may understand the heroic achievement as compensating for the disability.

Victim characters

Generally speaking, avoid presenting disabled people as victims or passive.

It is important to reflect reality - for example disabled people may be at greater risk of crime than non-disabled people. However anyone may be vulnerable or feel fearful of crime.

Carers

Many UK carers are family members of disabled people. They are also under-represented in the media. When including characters who are carers be wary of portraying them as martyrs or angels - but do not reduce their importance. Show them and disabled family members as equals.

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Page last reviewed: 04 November 2010