To say the disability community is poorly covered is an understatement. Far too often, people with disabilities are pitied, ignored, or painted as “inspirational” for doing things anyone else does. People with disabilities deserve the same serious attention from investigative journalists as any other group.
Ten investigations and stories tackling disability issues around the world to inspire your next investigation.
Just as with any other social group or marginalized community, people in the disability community have language that is preferred, or culturally accepted — and language that is not. So how do journalists know the right thing to say?
As in all stories, choosing who your sources are makes a difference. A lot of journalists fail to actually quote a person living with the disabilities they’re writing about, and there are also many disabled and neurodivergent people who are experts in the fields that you might need for your story.
From deinstitutionalization and independent living to community health and caregiving, there are numerous areas to explore when investigating issues related to disability.
What is considered a disability? This is a difficult question to answer — because the definition can vary, depending on the region, country, or culture.
