GUMC Update

Judy Woodruff Speaks at Georgetown's "Framing Disability: The Influence of the Media."

August 13, 2009

GUMC’s Center for Child and Human Development and Georgetown’s School of Continuing Studies, Journalism Program recently sponsored, “Framing Disability: The Influence of Media Representation” to over 150 guests in the Copley Formal Lounge. The dialogue was made possible by Georgetown’s Reflective Engagement Initiative, enacted by President Jack DeGoia. The Reflective Engagement Initiative is designed to engage Georgetown into the public arena by offering forums for authentic dialogue, helpful methodologies, and bringing multiple perspectives to bear on issues that could be of benefit to policy makers and practitioners in the nation and in Washington.

This year’s plenary speaker was Judy Woodruff, senior correspondent for the PBS News Hour. Woodruff, who has a son with a disability, spoke about the importance in the awareness of people with disabilities and the need for the media to perpetuate these individuals positively.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, 54 million Americans have a disability, representing 18% of the population. The media, including news organizations, have the ability to raise awareness, clarify information and educate the public. While media can portray people with disabilities in an uplifting manner, it often stereotypes people with disabilities by making them be seen as dependent, helpless, burdensome or a threat to society. The symposium also explored issues surrounding the representation of people with disabilities and how this can influence the public’s attitude.

Additional speakers and panelists included:

• Leon Dash, Swanlund Chair and Professor of Journalism, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
• Tawara Goode, Director, National Center for Cultural Competence
• Beth Haller, Professor, Mass Communication & Communication Studies, Towson University
• Deborah Perry, Associate Professor, Department of Pediatrics, Georgetown University
• Nolana Yip, Lecturer, Department of English, Georgetown University
• Jody Wildly, Diversity Program Manager at the Office of Diversity, Management and Equal Opportunity at the Department of Health and Human Services

"When President DeGoia began the Reflective Engagement Initiative I would like to think this is the kind of program he was envisioning: An opportunity for the community to engage in a conversation that will help the academy explore issues richer, more comprehensively, and more sensitively to meet the needs, concerns and interests of the community. It is obvious that our discussion during the symposium was only the beginning. I would like to think that my colleagues throughout Georgetown will continue to help facilitate the continuation of the discussion," said Toby Long, associate professor at the Center for Child and Human Development.

For more information on the Reflective Engagement Initiative, please click here.

Submit your news at any time to the GUMC Office of Communications at gumccomm@georgetown.edu.

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