Introduction

The public and popular media are struggling to find subjective models of language and images of disability to move perception of disability forward. UCEDDs have an opportunity to help infuse a new representation of disability in communication/ rhetoric and create a fresh, current image of disability through our marketing materials and writing. UCEDDs can use their positions as experts and models of bestpractice on disability to forward a new public lexicon and portrayal of disability through enhancing representations in their marketing materials.

Sara DiRienzo, B.A. Wyoming Institute for Disabilities (WIND) University of Wyoming

Subjects of representation

Objects of representation

Methods
Evaluated a community-focused, main product representing the whole center and programs for all UCEDDs available online. A UCEDDs website was evaluated if program brochure or program report was unavailable for download. The photos and accompanying language was evaluated. Each UCEDD was classified to represent individuals with disabilities through their main product as subjects, objects, a combination of subjects/objects, limited subjects (few photos), limited objects (few photos), or not applicable, if no photos were used.

This examples features a diverse group of individuals with disabilities with a focus on people enjoying life. The text forwards a subjective approach ensuring that the voice of people with disabilities is heard and matters in their work. These photos only represent children with mothers in a clinical setting. The collage could depict a more diverse approach to representation of a disability.

Based on the theoretical frameworks of representation and staring by Geyla Frank, Ph.D. and Rosemarie Garland-Thomson, Ph.D. People with disabilities should be subjects of representation, depicted as: Multi-dimensional Diverse Pursuing independence Empowered, others play supporting roles (Frank 20) People with disabilities should not be objects of representation, depicted as: Singular Dependent Medicalized Secondary Products should show awareness of: The image-making process (Frank 22) How meaning translates to practice (Garland-Thomson 13) Power in hierarchical relationships The clinical gaze where it is asymmetrical, impersonal, scripted, and all-knowing (Garland-Thomson 28)

Approach

This report highlights people of a variety of genders, ages, disabilities, and backgrounds. Each model is independent. Staff and faculty assume a supporting role as absent or secondary in the photos. On behalf of a collective unit, these frequently-used photos are the sole representation of disability and do no reflect the multidimensional aspects and diversity of disability or locations outside of recreation.

Continue to feature individuals with disabilities primarily. Use staff in supporting roles. Strive for gender, age, cultural, and racial balance reflective of the populations served. Avoid only featuring children to represent disability. Use more photos of a variety of activities: work, daily life, medical, home, day programs, recreation, and activism, for example. Be aware of only featuring portrayals of a top-down helping model of services. Focus on empowerment, independence, and enhancing life through services. Recycle old euphemisms for disability in favor of person-first language. Include more voices of people with disabilities in products and websites. Limit use of stock photos in place of real photos of activities and services. Use photos! Show the diversity and value of bodies and minds with disabilities in products to further public perception. Absence of photos is an absence of representation.

Recommendations

21 UCEDDs represented individuals with disability as subjects of representation 7 UCEDDs represented individuals with disability as objects of representation 8 UCEDDs represented individuals with disability as subjects/objects of representation 11 UCEDDs represented individuals with disability limited subjects of representation 6 UCEDDs represented individuals with disability as limited objects of representation 14 UCEDDs did not use photos to represent individuals with disability in their main product.

Results

References
Association of University Centers on Disabilities. AUCD. Directory. 2011. Web. September 2012. Frank, Gelya. Venus on Wheels: Two Decades of Dialogue on Disability, Biography, and Being Female in America. Berkley: University of California Press, 2000. Print. Garland-Thomson, Rosemarie. Staring: How We Look. Oxford: Oxford University Press, Inc., 2009. Print.