Declaration which was drafted during the European Congress on 'Media and Disability', June 2003.

People with disabilities are usually not enough represented in the media. The number of persons with a disability working in mass media sector is also very low.  Therefore, within the framework of the European Year of People with Disabilities 2003 a European Congress on "Media and Disability" took place in Athens, on 13-14 June 2003.  Over 300 participants from different fields - media network, advertising & communication companies, organisations for people with disabilities and representatives of EU Member States – adopted a 'European Declaration on Media and Disability'.

The Declaration underlines the necessity to :

• promote changes in the mainstream media in order to promote the inclusion of people with disabilities;
• increase disability of people with disabilities;
• promote a positive image of people with disabilities, which is not based on charity or medical approach and avoid negative stereotypes;
• encourage close cooperation between people with disabilities and their representative organisations, the disability specific media and the mainstream media industry;
• increase the number of people with disabilities employed throughout the media industry, particularly at professional levels;
• ensure the accessibility for people with disabilities of media services.

The Declaration also suggests way in which the above mentioned aims can be achieved.

Click on the link to read more about the European Congress: www.media-disability.org/

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