Real Live Media

The Real Live Media Project aimed to translate article 6 of the Madrid Declaration on non-discrimination and positive action into reality for people with learning disabilities. The strategy was to build on the significant media interest that had been achieved during the European Year of People with Disabilities. By working in collaboration with the media, the project aimed to increase their level of recognition, and respect for people with learning disabilities as equal partners. It also sought to inform and raise awareness about self-advocacy and its fundamental role in empowering people with learning disabilities to live real lives.

In order to achieve these goal, the following activities were undertaken.

• A guide was developed for media professionals that explored techniques and strategies about working with people with learning disabilities. This included advice on how to interact with people with a learning disability and correct terminology.
• There was also a number of workshops for media professionals, which were taped for further training.
• Within the project, two video clips were produced and broadcast on television that portray a positive image of people with learning disabilities. This aimed both to raise awareness among the general public, and to serve as a model for other media of how to portray positive images of people with disabilities.
• To promote the project results and to allow an exchange of experiences between the national and trans-national partners, as well as with the media professionals and self-advocates from different European countries, the "Real Live Media" - European seminar was held in October 2004. This Seminar aimed to "go beyond the awareness of media professionals to a new level of recognition, and respect for people with intellectual disabilities as equal partners, and to ensure they adopt effective ways of working with people with intellectual disabilities, and thus their portrayal to their target audiences. "

The project was implemented jointly by selected media professionals and self- advocates, in collaboration with partner organisations. According to the organisers, the participation of self-advocates is a vital dimension of the project. Through their work, they will become confident, and build up a vital skills base in order to work effectively with the media. Similarly, the projects aims that the media professionals directly involved will acquire specific knowledge and expertise to be able to work effectively with people with intellectual disabilities and share this with peers in the media world.

Click here for the project website.

Disability

Article 6 - "The Media should create and strengthen partnerships with associations of people with disabilities, in order to improve the portrayal of disabled people in mass media. More information on disabled people should be included in the media in recognition of the existence of human diversity…"