Communicating Disability: Expanding Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in Health Communication and Mass Media

This book enables readers to confidently discuss and understand disability as part of the broader societal conversation on diversity, equity, and inclusion.

The influence of mass media can raise awareness, educate, reduce stigma, facilitate advocacy related to disability, and activate attitude and behavior change. Recognizing that disability is a complex, multi-dimensional topic, this book presents case studies, original research, and practical applications related to society and cultural events about disability to highlight prominent issues related to diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives. While previous work examined disability through activism or historical lenses, this book explores contemporary industry practices and how current conversations are driving trends in the field. Divided into three parts related to journalism and news reporting, strategic communication, and health communication, the book provides readers with the knowledge and skills to create conversation that gives space to disability and facilitates advancement in inclusion.

Filling a void in disability literature, this book will be of interest to scholars as well as undergraduate and graduate students in the fields of health communication, journalism, strategic communication, media studies, disability studies, public health, and medical sociology.

Erin Willis is an Associate Professor in Advertising, Public Relations, and Media Design at the University of Colorado Boulder, USA.

Chad Painter is the Department Chair and an Associate Professor of Communication at the University of Dayton, USA.