Handicapped Does not Mean Handi-can’t
Media Portrayals of disabled Americans
Monica Franklin
University of the Rockies

Abstract
This paper will discuss the way the media portrays people with disabilities. One aspect of our culture that has been misrepresented in the media is the portrayal of people with handicaps or disabilities. Unfortunately people with disabilities have been given a bad rap due to negative images displayed by the media, thus leading to negative perceptions. These perceptions lead to isolation and ridicule. The paper will also focus on the negative effects of stereotypes used to describe this group. Images will also be displayed throughout the paper that represents what the media would like society to see as disabled in America.
Key Words: Disability, isolation, perceptions, misrepresentation, negative , images disabled.

Handicapped Does not Mean Handi-cant
Media Portrayals of disabled Americans
Television has been a part of our lives since the early 1920’s and mass media has been instrumental in the portrayals of American culture, but what do you envision when you hear the word disabled? What do you envision when you hear handicap? One aspect of our culture that has been misrepresented in the media is the portrayal of people with handicaps or disabilities. According to the portrayal in the media, rumor has it that people with disabilities are needy, dependant, submissive and always the center of distasteful jokes.
Disability by definition means inability to perform some or all of the tasks of daily life, therefore a disability can mean a array of things such as inability to walk, talk, breathe, read, write or think on one’s own. But thanks to the media when most people think of person with disability they see a person in a wheelchair, on crutches,.
In image 1 what is the first thought? What do you see? As depicted in the media