Language and Representation of Disability in the Media: Study of College Students’ Perceptions

This undergraduate thesis by Kelsey Nolan (’23) studied the relationship between the media and opinions about people with disabilities. She found that students who viewed more negative representations of people with disabilities had more negative views about disability. Nolan writes “This study helps to show that society mistreats people with disabilities and in turn the media perpetuates these stereotypes. Education on disabilities is extremely important and can help to decrease stigma and discrimination towards disabilities.”