1. British Institute of Learning Disabilities
Evaluation of
The Real Life Media Project

2. Real Life Media Project: Objectives
to counter the portrayal of people with learning disabilities in the media as objects of charity or pity
to challenge the perception that people with an intellectual learning disability are only newsworthy when something sensational occurs
to redress the under representation of people with learning disabilities in the media
to overcome the discrimination practiced by some leading professionals
to create an environment where the media can promote a progressive vision of people with an intellectual disability.

3. Outputs:
to produce an accredited toolkit for training media professionals;
to produce a toolkit to assist people with a learning disability to engage more effectively the media
to produce model materials (video clips for screening on TV, etc.) which portray a positive image of people with learning disabilities
to establish networks for sharing information and resources on media work with people with a learning disability
to make the accredited toolkit available online
to increase the extent to which positive images of people with a learning disability are used in the media

4. Theory of Change Project activity Learning Quality factors Outputs
Change in public attitudes and behaviour
Outputs
Learning

5. Evidence for the Evaluation
a semi-structured questionnaire was developed and circulated via the main project partners by
documents used during the project to record project meetings, etc. and draft versions of the output materials were examined
participation at the European seminar in Lisbon.

6. Real Life Media Project
Toolkit for media professionals
Toolkit for self advocates
Materials portraying positive images
The website

7. Networks What people said:
better understanding of each other’s needs/time pressures
increased awareness about specific problem of representation of people with an intellectual disability
emphasis on encouraging respect for people with a learning disability and media professionals

8. Networks What people said:
encouraging active participation of people with a learning disability in the media
disability organisations and self advocates have made links with journalists – while journalists have contact points for finding information or seeking an interview

9. Quality Measures Gender balance
Active participation by media professionals
Active participation by people with a learning disability

10. Active Involvement What people said:
organised a seminar for media professionals and self-advocates;
producing an accessible toolkit;
helped produce a newsletter for service users including a CD about the project;
developing the content of the toolkits and video clips;
consulted on the website;
provided French translation for the project;
disseminating information about the project;

11. Active Involvement What people said: preparation of the seminar;
information about how journalists think;
participation on a meeting between journalists and self-advocates;
submitted application for the project to the European Commission;
responsibility for outputs – logo, layouts, story boards, graphic representation, creation of the website;
advisor with the expertise on media and changing disability representation.

12. What have you learned from your involvement in the project?
Learning 1
What have you learned from your
involvement in the project?
how the media operates:
media networks in Europe;
importance of conveying an honest but positive image;
awareness of the lack of access people with learning disabilities have in the media;

13. What have you learned from your involvement in the project?
Learning 1
What have you learned from your
involvement in the project?
how the media professionals operate;
the importance of the contact with the media;
that disability organisations and the media are two worlds;
disability organisations must be realistic regarding the interest they can raise with their life stories;

14. What have you learned from your involvement in the project?
Learning 1
What have you learned from your
involvement in the project?
it has allowed both parts (i.e. professionals and people with a learning disability) to show us how we are and to know us better;
I learned about the media and how to deal with this;
images go further than words;
in different countries and cultures attitude and knowledge towards people with learning disabilities are more or less the same;

15. What have you learned from your involvement in the project?
Learning 1
What have you learned from your
involvement in the project?
there is need to work with media professionals on the basis of trust and equal understanding;
it is necessary and possible to involve people with learning disabilities
people with learning disabilities and their expectations of the media
the media does not always show and adequate image of persons with disabilities- the media professionals should get training in this area.

16. Learning 2
What advice would you give to the colleagues planning a project similar to this one?
don’t be too ambitious with the amount of money and time available;
spend less time in preparing the deliverables and more time in dissemination;
organise more seminars and networking at local level;
encourage wide participation and different opinions – be open to criticism;

17. Learning 2
What advice would you give to the colleagues planning a project similar to this one?
share expertise with organisations with knowledge in the field – develop involvement right from the start so that target groups (people with learning disabilities) lead the process;
investigate what has been done in the past about the portrayal of people with learning disabilities;

18. Learning 2
What advice would you give to the colleagues planning a project similar to this one?
think about how the issues addressed in the project can be relevant to communication, schools/courses, books about the media and for the general public
involve media professionals and self advocates from the beginning
meet with people with learning disabilities and listen to their opinions, ideas and suggestions so that the project could really meet their real needs.

19. What has been the most important outcome of the project?
Outcomes
What has been the most important outcome of the project?
a better understanding of different needs and context
the views of the media and what they would want from the toolkit
it will depend very much on success of disseminating materials
the development of materials that can be used in the future ….we started to raise awareness in the media… but it was the first steps…

20. What has been the most important outcome of the project?
Outcomes
What has been the most important outcome of the project?
website because it gathers all materials produced
raising awareness and the development of networks and contacts
knowing that the media wanted to broadcast more information about people with disabilities.

21. Benefits
From your point of view, what have been the main benefits of the project?
strength in creating networks
specific ideas about contact with the media
some good materials for self-advocates but these need to be used (translated) and used in seminars and training
networking with media professionals;
the direct contact with people with an intellectual disability…. we have got to know their problems and they know our limitations;

22. Benefits
From your point of view, what have been the main benefits of the project?
the respect and active participation that people with learning disabilities may have in the society
the opportunity for self advocates to be positive portrayed by the media
informing self-advocates about their rights and how they should deal with the media;
development of know-how between countries;
the dissemination of products at the European level

23. Benefits
From your point of view, what have been the main benefits of the project?
the implementation of the toolkits in the social communication schools
concrete products which are easy to use and adaptable to use in other countries and languages
the value of shared experience between journalists and people with learning disabilities in workshops
the conclusion that the media should show what people with disabilities are really able to do

24. Theory of Change Project activity Learning Quality factors Outputs
Change in public attitudes and behaviour
Outputs
Learning