Access Media: A Series on Disabled Representation in the Irish Media
A Disability Participation News Hub and Disabled Women Ireland collaboration.
![[Image: a graphic with a dark and light purple background featuring images associated with media, including an illuminated “On Air” sign, microphones, television cameras, a newspaper, and a camera operator. Text reads: “Access Media. A series on disabled representation in the Irish Media.” Logos for Coimisiún na Meán , Disability Participation News Hub and Disabled Women Ireland are along the bottom of the image.]](https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!94jg!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F8e701626-c696-426a-a4db-71b3d424b81b_1200x1200.png "[Image: a graphic with a dark and light purple background featuring images associated with media, including an illuminated “On Air” sign, microphones, television cameras, a newspaper, and a camera operator. Text reads: “Access Media. A series on disabled representation in the Irish Media.” Logos for Coimisiún na Meán , Disability Participation News Hub and Disabled Women Ireland are along the bottom of the image.]")
[Image: a graphic with a dark and light purple background featuring images associated with media, including an illuminated “On Air” sign, microphones, television cameras, a newspaper, and a camera operator. Text reads: “Access Media. A series on disabled representation in the Irish Media.” Logos for Coimisiún na Meán , Disability Participation News Hub and Disabled Women Ireland are along the bottom of the image.]
Access Media: A series on Disabled Representation in the Irish Media
Calling all media and communications professionals!
Would you like to learn more about how you can make Irish media more inclusive when it comes to the representation of disabled people?
We are delighted to once again join forces with Disabled Women Ireland, with the support of Coimisiún na Meán, to raise awareness about how disabled people are represented in Irish media, and how we can all play a part in creating change.
Our Access Media Series aims to connect you with disabled people working behind the scenes, on our screens, and across all forms of media, on the challenges and opportunities in accessing and working in these spaces, and what can be done to further inclusion and representation.
Sessions will take place online from July to November 2026, featuring webinars and panels where you can learn more on the following topics:
Session 1: Language and Ethical Storytelling
Session 2: Accessing Production Spaces in Ireland as a Disabled Person
Session 3: Representation of Disabled People in Irish Journalism
Session 4: Representation of Disabled People in Irish Film, TV and Broadcast Media
Session 5: Misinformation and Disinformation in the Media – The Impact on Disabled People
ISL interpretation will be available for each session.
Register via Eventbrite and spread the word with your networks!
Keep an eye on our social media for speaker updates and highlights.
This series is supported by Coimisiún na Meán.
[Image: a graphic with a dark and light purple background with text reading: “Access Media. Language and Ethical Storytelling. Date: 21st July. Time: 7pm–8pm. Venue: Zoom. Registration via Eventbrite. ISL interpretation available. Speakers include: Dr. Amy Hassett, Gillian Kearns, Nem Kearns and Nicole Lonican.” Images of each speaker line the right hand side of the image. Logos for Coimisiún na Meán, Disability Participation News Hub and Disabled Women Ireland are along the bottom of the image. A QR code linking to the eventbrite for this event is in the bottom right hand corner]
Access Media: Session #1 - Language and Ethical Storytelling
Language shapes how we see the world and how we see each other. The words and frames used to describe disabled people in the media have a profound impact on public understanding, on policy, and on the ability of disabled people to assert and realise their rights.
In this session, we explore how language and framing around disability in the media can either reinforce harmful stereotypes or become a powerful tool for change. We’ll examine what ethical storytelling looks like in practice: how disabled people’s stories and experiences can be shared in ways that are honest and compelling without being reductive, patronising, or demeaning.
We’ll hear from disabled people who have engaged extensively with the media about the real challenges of navigating media spaces as a disabled person, and we’ll showcase examples of good practice - meaningful collaborations between disabled people and media makers where the interests of both are genuinely served. These are stories that draw attention to important issues while preserving the dignity and complexity of the people at their centre.
This session is an invitation to rethink what responsible, rights-affirming media coverage of disability looks like - and to explore what becomes possible when disabled people and the media work together, not around each other.
Details:
Date: 21st July 2026
Time: 7pm -8pm
Venue: Zoom
Register for Access Media: Session #1 here.
This series is supported by Coimisiún na Meán.
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