Representations of Disability

Oliver's social model of disability

Disability is caused by societal barriers and attitudes, not by the individual's impairment; society disables people by excluding them.

Barnes

Media often portrays disabled people the tragic victim, the super cripple, the burdern, or the evil villain

Shakespeare's critique of disability representation

Media reinforces a “medical model” focusing on impairment and tragedy rather than social barriers and identity.

Watson et al.

Disabled people are given negative press coverage, reinforcing benefit scrounger and undeserving narratives