Disabled People on Television

I have spoken often about disability within media, particularly the near non-existence of disabled people on television. Over the past few months it has been encouraging to see a few characters appearing in our popular soaps such as Eastenders and Emmerdale. However, on many occasions, TV production companies lean towards employing non-disabled people to take on disabled roles.

Why?

Surely the best person for such a role would be a disabled actor – and rest assured, there are many out there. By employing a non-disabled actor in a disabled role the TV companies are in some way hoodwinking the general public and we are often left with the stereo-typical portrayal of disability. A non-disabled actor can never inject the true emotion and understanding of living with a disability no matter how good an actor they are.

Entertainment has come a long way over the decades and mindless stereotyping and discrimination are, on the large part, unacceptable to the viewers. Whilst in the 1920s and 1930s the public were willing to watch Al Jolson playing a “black” character in the film The Jazz Singer, it would most definitely be scorned upon now. Similarly, the public are no longer willing to accept the stereo-typical characters seen in the 1970s in shows such as Mind Your Language. Therefore, this attitude must now also be adopted for disabled roles and it can no longer be acceptable to push disabled people’s involvement to the background.


Research conducted by the Independent Television Commission showed that 79% of TV viewers would not mind if a disabled person read the evening news. In addition, six in every 10 viewers stated that disabled people should be seen in a wider variety of roles including that of presenters. Many viewers would also welcome better inclusion of disabled people within television advertising, particularly where it actively promotes positive images of disabled people.

Whilst these statistics indicate that the television audience show a very high and real acceptance of disabled people on screen, it would seem that the broadcasters must shed aside their shackles that make them more cautious and must be less concerned with the perceived audience prejudices, ratings and other constraints.

A sensible approach would not only give a fairer reflection of today’s society but also help educate on the real issues faced by disabled people in everyday life.