Disability in Media - Lesson 10: Social Change and Moving Forward

Lesson 10: Social Change and Moving Forward

Objectives

This is the final informative lesson in the unit. Lesson 11 has not been included, but it shall be devoted to the powerpoint presentations that students have been working on as part of their assessments. Lesson 9, this final lesson, will have several objectives. It will introduce students to many of the accessibility issues related to media and technology, and the phenomenon of closed-captioning and website accessibility standards. While brief, this introduction shall equip students with an understanding of how the media can exclude persons with disabilities, not only through a lack of inclusion in content, but by designing programs and technology in a way that prevents persons with particular disabilities from accessing them. The lesson will then outline how broadcasters are being called upon to change methodologies to address accessibility issues and to better represent persons with disabilities, a particularly marginalized group within society. Finally, the lesson will conclude by reminding students how they can combat many of the stereotypes and misconceptions about persons with disabilities by using critical media literacy to empower them.

Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of this lesson, students will be able to:

• Demonstrate a basic understanding of the accessibility barriers that exist for specific segments of the disability community in relation to media and technology
• Explain how closed-captioning and accessibility standards for websites work to overcome some of these barriers
• Identify some key ways that television companies? Are called upon to better represent the needs of persons with disabilities
• Thoroughly understand why critical media literacy is crucial to combatting many of the biased messages transmitted through the media

Timeline

1. (15 min.) Open the discussion by asking students for ideas of accessibility barriers that they can envision arising which might prevent people with print disabilities from using web sites. Offer some suggestions if this will facilitate discussion: CAPTCHA, images without text, poor colour contrast, etc. Show examples of accessible and inaccessible sites. Provide a very high level overview of the existing web site accessibility standards.

2. (5 min.) Explain how closed-captioning has been used to overcome some of the barriers faced by persons who are Deaf or hard of hearing: What is it? How does it help? How common is it?

3. (10 min.) Explain some of the ways that advocacy organizations have encouraged changes to minimum programming requirements to include a stipulation that a minimum amount of fully accessible content must also be provided.

4. (15 min.) Conclude the class discussion by asking students why critical media literacy skills are helpful in understanding and combating the many stereotypes traditionally portrayed by media.

Assessment

• Students should focus on completing their PowerPoint presentations for the next class.

© 2009 Natalie Martiniello