Children with Disabilities in Kenyan Media: Lessons from the Abled Differently Programme

Abstract

The chapter explores how the national broadcaster Kenya Broadcasting Corporation Television (KBC TV), through its premier programme, Abled Differently, represents children with disabilities. Using media representation theory and a mixed methods design that incorporated both quantitative and qualitative approaches, they find that while KBC TV tended to produce content for persons with disabilities that involved collaboration and dialogue with various disability stakeholders, there was insufficient coverage of content related to children with disabilities in educational contexts. They conclude with several recommendations for improving the representation of children with disabilities on television, including portraying them in inclusive learning environments and protecting their identities to avoid stigmatization and victimization. Because Abled Differently is the only disability-specific programme in Kenya, they further recommend that more disability-specific programmes featuring children with disabilities be produced by other media organizations in Kenya as well.