Portrayals of disability : exploring the perceptions of young adults with a physical disability

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to explore how Maltese media representation of disability is perceived by young adults who themselves have a disability. Along with general perceptions this study also investigates how that media effects participants and what they would change if they could. The participants of this study all had a physical disability themselves and were under the age of 25. This is arguably the biggest strength of this study, as the perspective of local persons with a disability was previously scarce. Given this study’s explorative purpose, a qualitative method of research was used utilizing homogenous purposeful sampling, semi-structured interviews, the showing of two video clips and an analysis of data through thematic analysis. The themes which were elicited via thematic analysis are: (1) Responses to Media, (2) Tricks of the Trade, (3) Disability: Part of Me Yet All of Me (4) Different Soul Different Goal and (5) Looking Ahead. This study suggests that persons with a physical disability (PPDs) want to be seen in different ways and consequently desire different things from the media that represents them. However, all participants described room for improvement in local media, including increased visibility, increased holism, more emphasis on daily activities and more emphasis on the benefits of fundraisers. This study also illustrates the effectiveness of media ‘tools of the trade’ in eliciting desired responses. Lastly, this study suggests that contested narratives such as charity or supercrip narratives have their uses in specific situations, questioning the idea of ‘good’ or ‘bad’ narratives, whilst acknowledging that the dominance of specific narratives over others increases misrepresentation and its harmful effects.