Journalists urged on correct language while reporting on people with disability

Activists for rights of people with disabilities have cautioned media practitioners to desist from usage of some jargons which they consider derogatory.

The concerned activists say the continuous usage of some words jargons which were prohibited under the inclusive  communication guidelines by United Nations Convention on Persons with Disabilities 2022 in print and electronic media to describe certain categories of persons with disabilities has prompted them to weigh in.

Led by Triumph Uganda, and Uganda Mental Health Fellowship- Atanekontola in partnership with Disabilities Rights Fund the activists have embarked on a drive to train journalists to demystify usage of certain words.

During a media personnel training for  journalists from Kampala and Jinja, the activists emphasized that usage of words like, disabled people or acronym PWDs should be stopped and instead adapt usage of persons with disabilities.

Other words which are considered derogatory include the deaf, the blind, the mad people should be substituted with descriptions like people with visual or hearing impairments or the mentally challenged people.

Oscar Walukhu Wakhooli a lawyer who has a visual impairments says persons with disabilities feel offended when some words are used.

"Even in local languages like Luganda they use derogatory words while referring to us, like Kasiru to describe a person with hearing impairments, at least let them use Kiggala. They call us muzibe meaning a person with visual impairments."

Robinah Nakanwagi Alambuya who sits on the Africa Disability Forum also the Executive Director Truimph Mental Health Support says they want media to champion advocacy for community inclusion especially for persons with psychosocial disabilities who are at times denied certain rights.

"Ee also want to enjoy equal rights with others especially sexual reproductive rights. We also need to marry people of our choice, right to raise our children, right to own homes, conjugal rights among others, at times we are denied to do that on our own," Nakanwagi said.

Joel Ssemwanga, the  Executive Director Uganda Mental Health Fellowship -Atanekontola emphasised the need for members of the media to fight the stereotypes, myths and stigmas in society especially against people with psychosocial disabilities.

"We believe journalists are influential in society hence let them start highlighting the challenges and also use proper language then society shall be influenced," he said.

Goretti Namwanje, a person with psychosocial disability says some men decide to use them sexually and abandon them because of their disabilities.

"They call us names like mad people, yet we also need to engage in decision making," she said.