Disability Checklist for Authors
This checklist should be used in conjunction with the resource
“Guidance on the Positive Portrayal of People with a Disability”.
Select Y or N for each point listed in the table. Add a comment if
necessary.
If you have marked ‘N’ for any of the questions, please review
the publication as it may negatively portray disabled people.
This checklist is intended to ensure where possible that
information provided and developed by HSC organisations
portrays people with disabilities in a positive manner; this means
ensuring that disabled people are recognised and valued as
contributing individuals in the same manner as everyone in the
target audience.
Y N N/A Comments
Language
Does the narrative focus on
the person, not the disability?
Does the narrative
emphasise abilities rather
than limitations?
Does the narrative avoid
making references that may
dehumanise disabled people,
for example using terms like
‘a victim of’ or ‘suffers from’?
Does the narrative avoid
portraying disabled people
as a ‘hero’ or ‘victim’?
Does the publication avoid
equating disability with
illness?
Images
Does the publication include
positive images and
representations of disabled
people that show disabled
and non-disabled people
interacting on equal terms?
Does the publication include
people with disabilities as
those providing services, not
just as users of services?
Does the publication portray
people with disabilities as
integrated and integral
members of the community
and not as set apart and
segregated by their apparent
difference?
Y N N/A Comments
Does the publication avoid
using images which may be
considered patronising,
tokenistic or which may label
people with disabilities?
Does the publication portray
disabled people in all their
diversity and not limit images
as only wheelchair or white
stick users?
Does the publication portray
disabled people as
independent and not
dependent upon others?