The Foundation for People with Learning Disabilities are calling for a change to the language used about people with learning disabilities and the way they are represented in the media, in order to tackle the increase in bullying, harassment and hate crime.
Social media and the internet are places where high levels of bullying and hate crime are experienced by people with learning disabilities, as well as when they are at home, at work or out in their communities.
As well as campaigning for more positive representation in society and the media, the Foundation, working with a dedicated reference group of people with learning disabilities, has produced two guides to provide tips and advice to help people with learning disabilities stay safe.
‘Staying Safe on Social Media’ and ‘Staying Safe Out and About’ have been produced to help people with learning disabilities enjoy life whilst reducing the risk of being a victim of hate crime.
The Foundation has also developed a guide for broadcasters giving 5 important tips to help them improve how they represent people with learning disabilities in the media. The tips are accompanied by a short film where people themselves talk about how they feel they are represented and the simple changes they want to see made.
Channel 4 news presenter Jon Snow agrees that representation in the British media is far from what it should be:
“This guide provides our much needed starting orders”.
The charity, are also asking the public to sign a petition calling on Ofcom to change the way people with learning disabilities are represented in the media. Words like ‘spastic, retard and mong’ are not acceptable in modern day language and should not be used.
To support the campaign and sign the petition, watch the video hearing what people with learning disabilities themselves feel, or to read our tips for broadcasters visit www.learningdisabilities.org.uk
The charity, are also asking the public to sign a petition calling on Ofcom to change the way people with learning disabilities are represented in the media. Words like ‘spastic, retard and mong’ are not acceptable in modern day language and should not be used.
To support the campaign and sign the petition, watch the video hearing what people with learning disabilities themselves feel, or to read our tips for broadcasters visit www.learningdisabilities.org.uk
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