The public association the “League of the Strong” invites journalists to participate in the training “Words Matter: How to Report on People with Disabilities”, aimed at transforming the approach to covering disability-related topics in the media. The training focuses on understanding how language shapes public opinion and breaking down stereotypes.
“Journalists play a crucial role in shaping public opinion. It’s important to talk about people with disabilities not through the lens of pity or stereotypes, but with respect for their rights and dignity. This training will help journalists gain deeper insight into how language can either build or break down barriers,” emphasized David Davtian, project manager for the “League of the Strong.”
The training will be led by Olesia Yaskevych, founder and head of the NGO “Seeing with the Heart”, board member of the public association the “League of the Strong”, public activist, special educator, and consultant on the sexual development of children and adolescents with complex developmental disorders. She is also an expert in proper communication with people with disabilities.
Key topics to be addressed:
- How does language shape reality and reinforce stereotypes?
- What should journalists know about disability to promote inclusion?
- How to ethically interact with people with different types of disabilities during interviews?
The training will take place online on November 7 at 4:00 PM. Journalists from across Ukraine are invited to participate. To register, please fill out the form here: https://forms.gle/RFHo8Y7v4BwFh7GDA
Active participants from the Ternopil, Ivano-Frankivsk, and Cherkasy regions will have the opportunity to create materials on the rights of people with disabilities in their region with support from the public union “League of the Strong.”
This event is part of the *Empower Ukraine* project, funded by the German Federal Foreign Office (GFFO), CBM, and the European Disability Forum.