Longford woman addresses Oireachtas committee

The media has a big part to play in how non-disabled people see disability and how disabled people see themselves was the message a young Longford woman delivered to a Joint Oireachtas Committee.

Claire Kenny from Carrickedmond representing ILMI (Independent Living Movement Ireland) recently addressed the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Arts, Culture, Media, Sports and Tourism.

Ms Kenny told the committee that the media have a role to play in public perception: "Meaningful representation is everything. If I cannot see myself represented in the media and the media represents society, I cannot see myself in society. As a young disabled person, a typical question your parents ask you is what do you want to be when you grow up.

"As a young disabled person, my answer straight away is, "A librarian", and my mother says, "But Claire, you do not even like reading". I say that because I can sit down at a desk and no-one will see that I am different. There are three ways that disabled people are always portrayed. They are portrayed as superhuman, as needing to overcome their impairment or as needing to be cured. That is really harmful and it needs to change."

Senator Micheal Carrigy welcomed Ms Kenny and praised her for the very good work she has done with the Independent Living Movement Ireland over the past could of years. "To me she has hit the nail on the head in her last statement that the media represents society and unfortunately we have to change society's view of people with disabilities. There is a lot to do and that is something the media need to step up to."