Some Examples of How to Use the Videos
Briefing and influencing media professionals. Many of us cannot produce videos and films ourselves. We commission them to professionals. Or, we work in countries where broadcast television and cable are just beginning to reach the mass public. Or, we want to make an in-road into the very important area of children's television programming and videos. In each of these cases, it can be assumed that many of the media people we work with will have little or no knowledge, first, of children and adults with disability and second, of qualities that ensure positive and sensitive media portrayals. Choose a few of the videos to brief them and to provide them with creative alternative and innovative media, whether these are innovative approaches to a documentary or suggesting that they experiment with other formats for getting across the same message. These different formats include: public service announcements (PSAs), dramas, puppet shows or serials that integrate children or adults with disability naturally into their storylines, etc. Become part of a critical viewing public. Most of us spend little time critically viewing what we see on videos or films. We either like something or we do not. But once we learn how to see things from either a quality production or a disability-sensitive point-of-view, how we live and work can be influenced. Gather community members and/or members of your organisation together and ask basic questions after viewing. Was the production sensitive to people with disabilities? Did people with disabilities speak on their own behalf? Was there practical information shared which would help non-disabled persons the next time they meet someone who is disabled? Were people with disabilities stereotyped as dependent, pitiful, superheroes, saintly or asexual (you can add other qualities unique to your culture). Is the language used positive or negative? Are people with disabilities included in creating solutions, not only to their problems but as leadership in their own communities? Are there positive messages aimed at children so as to help prevent negative stereotypes and behaviour? Always include people with disabilities in critical viewing activities. And ensure that critical viewing also takes into account stereotypes with regard to gender, age, ethnicity, etc. Specialised Training. Videos can be used very effectively to train people, especially where there are no qualified trainers or where the cost to get someone is prohibitive. We do not have to re-invent the wheel. Many before us have made mistakes, solved problems and achieved success. We can learn from them by watching stories about their work. And there are some excellent training videos in their own right. Some of the areas of particular importance where videos can be used for training are:
- community-based rehabilitation projects (CBR);
- parental education or education of caregivers of infants and young children (early intervention);
- sensitisation of non-disabled school children before integration or mainstreaming takes place;
- training for persons involved in prevention and/or fund-raising campaigns and;
- training managers and field workers of employees who are disabled.
Film Festivals and Competitions. These type of activities can serve many purposes. When public screenings of award-winning films and videos are held, they educate the public about disability in a way that public education campaigns cannot. They encourage competition for prizes and prestige among local or national media - this coverage itself is public education. And they also sensitise judges. Choose judges who are well-known media figures and have a great deal of influence. Also include leaders in the community who are disabled. As they view videos and judge together, they learn a great deal from each other that they will take back to their on-going work. And almost always, some judges will begin to be advocates and produce influential works afterward. Whenever possible, when the public is viewing award winners, have discussions afterwards, led by persons who are disabled and media producers. And, in addition to the traditional documentaries, encourage and give awards for dramas, integration of people with disabilities into serials, children's programming, advertising commercials and public service announcements.