Using disability to encourage non-disabled persons is degrading, says Diethono Nakhro

KOHIMA — Nagaland State Commissioner for Persons with Disabilities (PwDs) Diethono Nakhro on Wednesday said that using disability to encourage non-disabled persons is “so degrading”.

Speaking at a workshop on ‘media and disability’ organised by the office of State Commissioner for Persons with Disabilities at Hotel Japfü, Kohima, she argued that persons with disabilities are not put on this earth solely to inspire others, adding that disabled people are same as everyone else.

She said the term “inspiration porn” describes how disabled people are often portrayed as objects of inspiration mainly to make non-disabled people feel good. People with disabilities are often portrayed as superheroes, brave or inspirational when that same story would not be inspiring if the subject was not disabled, she added.

“Just because someone has a disability, it doesn’t mean he/she is courageous, brave, special or superhuman,” said Nakhro, adding that it is not unusual for someone with a disability to have talents, skills and abilities.

‘People with disabilities are often negatively stereotyped and are not appropriately represented. They are treated as objects of pity, charity or medical treatment that have to overcome a tragic and disabling condition,’ she continued.

Speaking about the importance of media, she said it plays a vital role in raising awareness and countering stigma and misinformation; it has the power to change social misconceptions and present people with disabilities as individuals who are part of human diversity.

‘By increasing awareness and understanding of disability issues and the diversity of persons with disabilities and their situations, the media can actively contribute towards an effective and successful integration of PwDs in all aspects of societal life,’ said the official.

She also pointed out that women and girls with disabilities face double the disadvantage due to the intersectionality of gender and disability.

On reporting disability, she said the voice of a relevant person with a disability should be included in the stories and everyday content. This way, media can help break down barriers and open up opportunities for persons with disabilities to be seen as active members of society, and not as passive and dependent citizens, she said.

Phrases such as ‘suffering from’, ‘stricken or afflicted with’, etc. imply that life with a disability is of lower quality, when many people with disability do not feel this way. Avoid portraying disability as something that needs to be “fixed” or “cured”. While certain illnesses can be cured, be careful of using this word around disability, she reminded.

Do not refer to non-disabled people as ‘normal’ or ‘healthy’ or ‘able’ people. This implies that disabled people are ‘abnormal’ or ‘unhealthy’ or ‘unable’, she added.

Nakhro went on to say that the disabled community and movements have rejected some words like handicapped, differently abled, special people, special needs, abnormal, crippled, physically challenged, lame, spastic, blind person, sightless, deaf and dumb, mentally retarded, mad, psycho, crazy, insane, confined to wheelchair or wheelchair-bound.

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