Invitation to ILMI Webinar “Media + Me: Representation of Disabled People in the Media”, 2 Feb

Invitation to ILMI Webinar “Media + Me: Representation of Disabled People in the Media”

When: Wednesday, 2 February 2022, 7pm to 8pm (GMT)

Location: Zoom

Registration: Please register on this link  After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.

Independent Living Movement Ireland (ILMI) are a campaigning, national representative Disabled Persons Organisation (DPO) that promotes the philosophy of independent living and works to build an inclusive society. Central to the way we work is to ensure that policy decisions that impact on the lives of disabled people have to be directly influenced by those whose lives are directly affected.

ILMI philosophy can be summed up as: ‘Nothing about us without us!’ and ‘Rights Not Charity’. Our vision is an Ireland where disabled persons have freedom, choice and control over all aspects of their lives and can fully participate in an inclusive society as equals.

Webinar “Media + Me: Representation of Disabled People in the Media” which takes place on 2 February 2022, 7pm to 8pm (GMT). We all know how crucial media (broadcast, print and online) is for framing how we think and shaping our understanding. The  webinar presents a unique opportunity to hear directly from disabled activists for the change that is needed in Irish media to reflect the diversity in society and make media inclusive of disabled people.

The webinar will feature a panel discussion with James LeBrecht (Oscar nominated film maker, director of Crip Camp and disabled activist), Selina Bonnie (ILMI Vice Chair), and Mik Scarlet (UK broadcaster and disabled activist).

Claire Kenny (ILMI member and participant on our Strategies for Change project) will give her own insights into how the absence of disabled people in the media impacted on her growing up and Páraic Kerrigan (Assistant Professor in the School of Information and Communication Studies at University College Dublin) will present some of his research on diversity in Irish media.

The event will close with a brief presentation of the core findings of the ILMI position paper “Our Lives, Our Voice” based on discussions held with disabled activists in Ireland and how they want disabled people involved in the creation of media.

This webinar is important for anyone who is genuinely interested in making Ireland more inclusive. Sadly few policy makers, funders, politicians and community groups talk to or directly hear from disabled people on this issue. The ILMI “Media + Me” event is a genuinely unique opportunity to spend an hour to hear about the practical change that is necessary to ensure disabled people are accurately represented in media and broadcasting in Ireland.