Inclusion of Persons Who Use AAC in the Media: A South African Perspective

The media forms part of people’s everyday lives, even more so with the advent of social media and online news and blogs. The power of the media to influence the perceptions and attitudes of people has been highlighted in the literature. Due to obstacles imposed by negative attitudes, the full integration of persons with disabilities in community, education and employment settings poses a challenge. Persons with disabilities continue to be marginalised and discriminated against. The United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities highlights the media as a vital tool for educating society about disability, thereby eradicating stigma and misinformation. The portrayal of persons with disabilities in the media often perpetuates existing stereotypes about disability. What is even more concerning is the limited coverage of various types of disability in the media. This chapter will highlight some of the important issues facing persons with severe communication disabilities who use augmentative and alternative communication (AAC), especially in the South African context, and explore practical methods people in the media can employ to include an otherwise ignored and marginalised group. We base our recommendations on strategies proposed by people in the disability and AAC community, including researchers and AAC self-advocates, as well as on our experience working with youth who use AAC devices.