Try to avoid "inspirational" stereotypes
Journalists need to develop self-awareness about potential biases they might have so that they can report stories fully, fairly, accurately, and honestly. Journalists who don’t understand a culture, disability, religion, or another aspect of someone's identity can misinterpret the story or fall into the trap of using stereotypes. For instance, when interviewing a person with a disability, able-bodied journalists might have to confront their own fears about the fact that anyone can become disabled at any time. These underlying fears might lead a reporter to produce either a story that presents the person with a disability as a tragic, pitiable figure or one that presents the person with a disability as an inspirational “Supercrip,” who supposedly deserves special recognition for getting on with daily living. Either presentation is inaccurate.
For example, when journalists focus on how someone with a disability "is an inspiration" for participating in regular activities or on what they see as the "tragedy" of someone's disability to add drama to a story, they might send a message of pity to their audience. HolLynn D'Lil, a wheelchair-user, explained in the disability lifestyle magazine Mainstream:
Being told that you're inspirational when you're doing something ordinary is an assault on your self-concept. Suddenly you're reminded once again of the traditional attitudes about disabilities, that no matter who you are, what you do, how you feel, to some people you'll always be a tragic figure.
She reminds journalists that “a life with a disability is still a life after all, to be enjoyed and lived to the fullest.”
Journalists can see guidelines on interviewing sources with disabilities at the National Center on Disability and Journalism Web site, www.ncdj.org.
Beth Haller, Towson University, Towson, Md.