Media portray disabled poorly

The media tend to exclude, misrepresent or reinforce stereotypical images of disabled members of society, said actor, comedian and activist Henry Holden in a presentation given Wednesday in the Union Auditorium.

"The non-disabled community doesn't know how to deal with people who have disabilities," Holden said to an audience of about 40 people.

Holden, who contracted polio at age four and uses crutches to walk, said that the media are often successful in influencing people, opinions and attitudes about the disabled. He said they try to create a passive, helpless, object-like image of them. Newspapers use photographs of empty wheelchairs and tend to cover only the problems of the disabled. They convey a sense of weakness, of being bound to wheelchairs and "damaged" in some way.

"I'm not damaged. There's nothing wrong with me," said Holden, an avid skier, bowler and scuba diver.

He said that people are often manipulated by feelings of pity and sorrow toward the disabled, but there's no reason to be. Disabled people can and do live fulfilling lives and want to make the most of their situation, he said. While there used to be a stigma associated with having a disability, today, the disabled are proud of who they are.

"My disability is not the essence of me. It's only one aspect of me," he said.

Holden equated the media's treatment of those with disabilities to women and minorities by saying that their exclusion from television and the media in general reflects an inaccurate picture of society. Rather than associating the disabled solely with health care issues, the media should depict them as teachers, doctors and others working and contributing to society, he said.

He emphasized the importance of including the disabled in advertising and said there are too few images in print media. There are 53 million disabled Americans, yet the market is often ignored.

"The only way we're going to be included is through opportunity," he said.

More exposure of the disabled in advertising will help dispel old stereotypes that they are inactive, undesirable objects, he said. Some companies have begun to include disabled people in their catalogs and print advertisements. Holden said he hopes to see more positive images such as these.

According to Holden, 60 percent of the population will face a disability, either temporary or permanent. He hopes that society will be more conscious and less easily manipulated by feelings of pity.

As an activist, Holden supports every disability, including those developmental in nature. He believes what benefits one group will usually benefit the others. "We're all in the same boat," he said.

Holden admits that he has a lot of confidence but said that self-esteem is something that must be worked on. When asked if he should be called physically-challenged, handicapped or disabled, Holden said he usually replies, "Just call me stud."