Osogbo: A non-governmental organisation, Community Advancement Initiative for Self Reliance (CAI4SR), has called on the media to adopt disability-inclusive language and adhere to ethical reporting standards to safeguard persons with disabilities from discrimination and misrepresentation. The organisation has also warned against depicting persons with disabilities as vulnerable, less human, or burdensome in news reports.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, speaking at a one-day media engagement and training on disability inclusion in Osogbo, the Executive Director of CAI4SR, Mrs. Eni Ayeni, highlighted the importance for journalists and other stakeholders to refrain from using degrading language when referring to persons with disabilities. Ayeni stressed that persons with disabilities are primarily human beings and their conditions should not define them within society.
She urged the media to employ appropriate and respectful language, considering it a crucial tool for advancing human rights, equity, and dignity. Ayeni advocated for the adoption of person-first language in journalistic reporting, suggesting the use of ‘person with a disability’ rather than ‘disabled person’ to acknowledge the individual before the condition.
Ayeni further cautioned against employing passive, pity-driven expressions such as ‘suffers from,’ ‘afflicted by,’ or ‘wheelchair-bound.’ She recommended terms like ‘person with a disability’ over ‘disabled’ or ‘handicapped,’ and ‘person with visual impairment’ or ‘person who is blind’ instead of ‘the blind,’ ‘visionless,’ or ‘sightless.’ Ayeni emphasized affirming individual personhood first and avoiding the grouping of unique individuals under generic labels.
She noted that using appropriate language in reporting would enhance the dignity of persons with disabilities and promote their inclusion in society. The training aimed to equip participants with a robust understanding of ethical considerations in reporting disability-related issues, enabling them to produce accurate and ethical reports on disability rights.
In his presentation, legal practitioner Oluwafemi Balogun highlighted the Osun State Discrimination Against Persons with Disabilities (Prohibition) Law, 2024, which offers a legal framework for protecting the rights of persons with disabilities. Balogun pointed out that Section 2 of the law prohibits discrimination against persons with disabilities and shields them from harmful practices based on their condition. Violations by corporate bodies result in a fine of N500,000 upon conviction, while individuals face a fine of N50,000 or six months’ imprisonment, or both. Balogun urged individuals and organisations to contribute to the eradication of discrimination against persons with disabilities.