The Invisible People: A Practical Guide for Journalists on How to Include Persons with Disabilities

This Guide aims to provide guidelines for journalists who wish to support and promote the human rights of persons with disabilities. It was developed for use in workshops held for journalists by the Secretariat of the African Decade of Persons with Disabilities (SADPD), an organisation working to promote the rights of the disabled in Africa.

According to the publishers, the media is in a unique position to shape the public image of persons with disabilities. The words and images they use can either create a positive view of persons with disabilities or it can reinforce common myths and stereotypes and in that way discriminate against them.

The manual provides background information on disability in Africa, looks at disability as a rights issue, and provides information on the main issues affecting persons with disabilities such as access to buildings, employment, and poverty. In addition, the document outlines key messages and principles for journalists who want to support the human rights of Africans with disabilities. The guide also offers a list of correct terminology around disability to ensure that journalists use words that do not offend or discriminate.