The Representation of Disabled People

The Representation of Disabled People in an Age of Austerity
A celebration of the ‘International Day of Persons with Disabilities’ with invited speakers and public discussion
A collaboration between the MeCCSA (Media, Communication and Cultural Studies Association) Disability Studies Network and the Disability Equality Research Network
Saturday 3rd December 11.45-15.30
Venue: Rooms 2 & 3, RNIB, 105 Judd Street London WC1 9NE (Nearest tube is Kings Cross/St Pancras)

Speakers

*Professor Nick Watson: 'Bad news for disabled people: Changes in the way newspapers report disability

*Allan Sutherland: Title tbc

*Deborah Williams: The Good, The Bad and The Disabled!

* Nicola Martin: Disability Identity: Disability Pride

Video: Re-framing Disability: Portraits from the Royal College of Physicians (with thanks to Bridget Telfor)
This event is based around a new study of how the media is reporting and misrepresenting disability in the context of government spending cuts. Bringing together a recognition of the ‘International day of persons with disabilities’ with an exploration of the major shifts in the portrayal of disabled people, leading voices on the topics of disability, media and identity have been invited to examine the impact recent media coverage is having on both public attitudes and on disabled people themselves.

Refreshments will be provided. Discussion and networking will be welcomed.

This is a free event, open to all. However places are limited so you are encouraged to reserve a place by emailing Alison Wilde at alison.wilde@bangor.ac.uk

For more information on the MeCCSA Disability Studies Network or DERN see
http://www.meccsa.org.uk/networks/disability-studies-network/, and
http://disabilityequalityresearchnetwork.wordpress.com/

Speaker biographies:

*Nicola Martin is currently the Director of Wellbeing and Disability Services at The LSE, taking a strategic lead in embedding disability equality into the culture of the organisation. Currently she is leading on two STEM funded projects which consider the HE experience of students with visual impairment and AS. She has lectured in Australia, New Zealand, USA, Europe and many UK universities. Nicola is Chair of The National Association of Disability Practitioners and Editor of The Journal of Inclusive Practice in Further and Higher Education.


*Allan Sutherland, once described as 'the first political stand-up on the disability arts circuit', has for thirty years been exploring ways of making heard the voices of disabled people, including stand-up comedy, performance poetry, radio and television scriptwriting and journalism. His book ‘Disabled We Stand’ (1981) helped many people to identify as disabled. His current work explores transcription poetry, creating sets of poems from oral history interviews with disabled people. He is Director of the Edward Lear Foundation, a disability arts think-tank and research organisation, who recently ran one of the focus groups held as part of Glasgow University's research for Inclusion London on media, disability and the cuts.
Allan has recently been writer in residence at the Centre for Citizen Participation, Brunel University, where he produced 'Neglected Voices', a set of four cycles of poems crafted from life history interviews with disabled people. This work can be read at http://www.disabilityartsonline.org.uk/Neglected-Voices.

Professor Nick Watson is Professor of Disability Research and Director of the Strathclyde Centre for Disability Research at the University of Glasgow .His previous research has included work on disabled children and disabled childhoods, disability and technology, disability theory and disability history.

Deborah Williams is a writer, theatre-maker, producer, digital composer and accredited coach. She runs Reality Productions, an independent production company based in London. With over thirty years experience working across the sector as an artist, consultant and manager Deborah is known as leader in disability arts, playing a significant role in the implementation of the Disability Discrimination Act in the cultural sector for the past 15 years.

Deborah is known in her own right as an artist provocateur having won awards and nominations nationally and internationally. Her work in theatre is acknowledged as a catalyst for challenge and change in perceptions of disability and difference, they are used as examples of how to develop work with a social model sensibility which has quality at its centre and is accessible to a wide audience.