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natalyadTo: reader@theguardian.com
Subject: Poor language about disabled person in article
Dear Editor,
I noticed in the Guardian's reporting of http://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2014/feb/13/ten-level-wheelchair-ramps-shocks-clydebank-family the term "wheelchair bound" and "confined to a wheelchair" are used about the child in the article Katy.
This is not the first time I have complained to the guardian about using rubbish language about disabled people so I am frustrated that the same old poor language is used over and over again. It lets down an otherwise good article.
I recommend guidance at http://www.mediawise.org.uk/diversity/people-with-disabilities/ and http://www.paralympics.org.uk/shared/get-file.ashx?id=3795&itemtype=document for how to write about disabled people.
Please can your journalists and editors educate themselves and improve the language used about disabled people. Wheelchair users are not bound or confined by their wheelchairs, they are often freed, enabled and empowered by the mobility a wheelchair allows them.
It is society who confines and binds people by being inaccessible and not building sufficient or appropriate housing stock for disabled people's needs. I recommend reading about The Social Model of Disability at Scope's website at http://www.scope.org.uk/about-us/our-brand/talking-about-disability/social-model-disability as well.
I hope the Guardian will update the online version of this article and acknowledge the edit has been made to poor use of language around disability.
Many thanks,
Subject: Poor language about disabled person in article
Dear Editor,
I noticed in the Guardian's reporting of http://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2014/feb/13/ten-level-wheelchair-ramps-shocks-clydebank-family the term "wheelchair bound" and "confined to a wheelchair" are used about the child in the article Katy.
This is not the first time I have complained to the guardian about using rubbish language about disabled people so I am frustrated that the same old poor language is used over and over again. It lets down an otherwise good article.
I recommend guidance at http://www.mediawise.org.uk/diversity/people-with-disabilities/ and http://www.paralympics.org.uk/shared/get-file.ashx?id=3795&itemtype=document for how to write about disabled people.
Please can your journalists and editors educate themselves and improve the language used about disabled people. Wheelchair users are not bound or confined by their wheelchairs, they are often freed, enabled and empowered by the mobility a wheelchair allows them.
It is society who confines and binds people by being inaccessible and not building sufficient or appropriate housing stock for disabled people's needs. I recommend reading about The Social Model of Disability at Scope's website at http://www.scope.org.uk/about-us/our-brand/talking-about-disability/social-model-disability as well.
I hope the Guardian will update the online version of this article and acknowledge the edit has been made to poor use of language around disability.
Many thanks,
no subject
Date: 2014-02-14 09:18 am (UTC)