The Persons with Disabilities community joined with the National
Commission on Disability to host a media summit on October 27, to
familiarise media personnel with disability etiquette.
This included the basic forms of interacting with persons with
disabilities, how to communicate with the Deaf and hearing-impaired,
communicating with blind and visually-impaired, describing disabled
persons along with what words to use and what words to avoid.
Outlining the dos and don’t’s was, person with a disability, Simone
Poole, who underscored the importance of the media be continually
engaged in applying the correct terms and phrases when interacting
with and addressing persons with disabilities.
Legal Advisor to Prime Minister, Moses Nagamootoo Tamara Khan,
addressed the media operatives who were attending the training on his
behalf. Khan said the media has a significant responsibility as part
of the commission’s objective of strategic and effective advocacy.
Khan explained that “This can to be one of the most effective ways to
advocate for the rights of persons with disabilities. Training
provided by the National Commission on Disability can equip and
empower media personnel and wider society with the tools needed for a
better engagement.”
She added that this process is likely to facilitate a more sensitive
manner for reporting and storytelling from the media’s perspective.
“Media reach, in particular, as is the focus today, would aid in
dispelling myths and reveal that persons with disabilities have
feelings, needs and problems like any other person. There are persons
who were born with their disabilities, and there are others who
acquired disabilities by accidents, violence, or the simple business
of living (and ageing).” She said.
The Commission’s chairperson, Evelyn Hamilton said that the hosting of
such an event is part of the commission’s advocacy for stricter
enforcement of the Guyana Persons with Disabilities Act of 2010.
She indicated that this way of reaching out to the media is intended
to foster closer relations that will help to “change the image of
persons living with disabilities in Guyana.”
