Category Media Diversity Australia   Show all

  • Celebrating Lisa Cox OAM: Advocate, Changemaker, and Trailblazer

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    A professional portrait of Lisa Cox OAM, a Caucasian woman with long, wavy blonde hair and glasses, seated and smiling confidently. She is wearing a black outfit with silver jewellery and has her chin resting on her hand in a poised manner. The background is dark, creating a striking contrast. In the bottom left corner, the Griffith University logo is visible, along with the text 'Inclusive Futures: Reimagining Disability’.

    Lisa Cox, a dedicated advocate for disability inclusion and a member of Griffith University’s Inclusive Futures: Reimagining Disability Engagement Council, has been awarded a Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) in the General Division. This prestigious recognition honours her outstanding contributions to improving the lives of people with disability and advancing societal understanding of inclusion.

    A Journey of Advocacy and Resilience

    Lisa’s journey as an advocate began after experiencing a severe stroke in her early 20s, which led to multiple complications, including amputations and an acquired brain injury. These life-altering events became the foundation for her mission to challenge stereotypes about disability and promote awareness of the realities faced by people with disability.

    Through her work, Lisa has tirelessly campaigned for better representation of disability in media and advertising, accessibility improvements, and the breakdown of societal barriers. Her efforts aim to shift perceptions and create systemic change to ensure that individuals with disability are valued and included in all aspects of life.

    Championing Inclusion at Griffith University

    Since joining Griffith University’s Inclusive Futures Engagement Council in 2021, Lisa has played a pivotal role in advancing accessibility across the university. Her contributions include improving physical access, enhancing digital inclusivity, and fostering equitable learning environments for students with disability. Lisa’s involvement exemplifies the council’s mission of working alongside individuals with disability, researchers, industry leaders, and health practitioners to create a more inclusive society.

    Driving Change in Media and Advertising

    A trailblazer in inclusive media, Lisa is also a model and advocate for authentic representation of people with disability. Her work on the Media Diversity Australia Disability Reporting Handbook has set a new benchmark for respectful and accurate reporting, equipping media professionals with the tools to tell stories that reflect the diversity of our society.

    Researching Disability Representation

    Lisa’s dedication to disability advocacy extends to her academic pursuits. She is currently undertaking a PhD with Griffith University, exploring the topic: "Visibility of Disability: Exploring how the representation of disability in advertising impacts employment outcomes for people with disability." Supervised by Dr. Monique Lewis, Prof. Elizabeth Kendall AM and Dr. Marita Heck, her research seeks to uncover the influence of media portrayals on employment opportunities and societal perceptions.

    TEDx Speaker and Thought Leader

    As a TEDx speaker, Lisa has shared her insights and experiences on global platforms, inspiring audiences to reconsider preconceived notions about disability and inclusion. Her ability to connect with diverse audiences highlights her impact as a thought leader and changemaker.

    A Well-Deserved Recognition

    Lisa’s OAM is a testament to her unwavering commitment to reimagining disability and promoting inclusion in every space she touches. This award not only celebrates her tireless advocacy but also underscores the importance of her work in creating a more inclusive future for all.

    Congratulations to Lisa Cox OAM on this remarkable achievement. Her efforts continue to pave the way for a society where everyone, regardless of ability, can thrive and be represented authentically.

    Read more in the Griffith News: https://news.griffith.edu.au/2025/01/25/australia-day-honours-awarded/

    Find out more on Lisa’s website: https://lisacox.co


  • ICA Preconference: Dignified Representation of Disability and Diversity in the Media

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    EVENT RECAP:
    Dignified Representation of Disability and Diversity in the Media

    Presented by: Inclusive Futures: Reimagining Disability, Griffith University

    Last week’s ICA preconference, "The Inaugural Disability Communications and Media Preconference 2024: Emerging or Emerged?", brought together scholars from 17 countries to delve into media discourse, participatory research, and disability representation.

    On Friday, we were inspired by a roundtable led by Dr. Monique Lewis from Inclusive Futures: Reimagining Disability at Griffith University. Monique's skillful moderation highlighted critical issues, fostering meaningful change in inclusive media representation.

    In this roundtable discussion, we contemplated the overarching landscape of disability representations in news and popular media forms, and how these portrayals work to construct notions of ‘disability’ and the ‘disabled person’. Invisibility and erasure of disability have been ongoing concerns for everyone involved in advocacy work, activism, community engagement and academic scholarship, with dignity as a paramount focus. We heard from panel members about their lived experiences of both invisibility and visibility in the media context, as well as insights into their own perspectives, advocacy, and contributions to disrupting, creating, and producing media content about disability.

    The session also unpacked some of the broader social, cultural, political, and economic implications of ableism and disablism in the media, as well as the wealth of creative opportunities for social transformation, with inclusivity at its heart.

    Dr Faith Valencia-Forrester, Lisa Cox, Sara Shams, Tina (Captioner) and Dr Monique Lewis.


    PANELISTS

    Dr. Monique Lewis: A senior lecturer in media and communication and a member of Inclusive Futures at Griffith University. Her research spans media, health and medicine, and risk sociologies, with a particular interest in news media landscapes, framing, and practice. She is the lead editor of Communicating COVID-19: Interdisciplinary Perspectives (2021) and Communicating COVID-19: Media, Trust and Public Engagement (2024) published by Palgrave.

    Sara Shams: A pharmacist, model, speaker, creator, actor and formidable disability advocate. As a bilateral above knee amputee, her mission is to raise awareness on what it takes to be truly and authentically inclusive within the fashion and media industry, and beyond.

    Lisa Cox: A TEDx speaker and internationally acclaimed disability advocate, and co-author of Media Diversity Australia’s ‘Disability Reporting Handbook’. Combining her professional background in advertising and media, with a lived experience of disability, Lisa is committed to changing public perceptions of disability by empowering professionals in some of the world’s most influential industries, like media. Her solutions-focused approach is helping professionals better navigate the nuances of disability inclusion through their content and workplace practices.

    Dr. Faith Valencia Forrester: An expert in work-integrated learning and social change initiatives like Project Open Doors. Faith has combined her media experience, degrees in Arts, Law and Business, and completed her PhD in inclusive work-integrated learning with a view to developing an inclusive and diverse media cohort capable of changing the media landscape for the better.

    Dr Maretta Mann (Strategic Development Manager, Inclusive Futures: Reimagining Disability) together with Lisa Cox, Dr Faith Valencia-Forrester and Sara Shams; Panel Dr Faith Valencia-Forrester and Sara Shams; Moderator Dr Monique Lewis.

    WHY MEDIA REPRESENTATION MATTERS

    Media representation of people with disability fosters more inclusive societies. As Mark Deuze noted in 2011, we live in media, not just with it. Our panellists discussed how media often portrays disability, along with its influence on societal perceptions, and the power relations involved.

    PERSONAL STORIES AND PROFESSIONAL INSIGHTS

    Sara Shams shared a poignant story illustrating misconceptions about disability. A public bathroom encounter highlighted how deeply ingrained biases and microaggressions are, stressing the need to normalise disability and break down societal and self-imposed barriers.

    Lisa Cox and Monique Lewis discussed the impact of media representations on education and employment. Lisa’s experiences after acquiring her disabilities highlighted the social attitudes that hinder employment opportunities, despite unchanged qualifications and experience.

    Dr. Faith Valencia Forrester's contribution was a profound exploration of the intersection between work-integrated learning (WIL), social change initiatives like Project Open Doors, and media representation of disability. She emphasised the transformative impact of WIL in enhancing employment opportunities for individuals with disability, bridging the gap between education and workplace readiness. Dr. Forrester highlighted Project Open Doors as a pioneering effort to foster inclusive work environments through collaborative partnerships with businesses. Her discussion underscored the crucial role of media in shaping perceptions of disability, advocating for dignified and respectful portrayals to promote societal inclusion. Dr. Forrester championed the importance of inclusive practices across sectors to drive meaningful social change and create more equitable opportunities for people with disability.

    Dr Faith Valencia-Forrester; Professor Kuansong Victor Zhuang and Professor Katie Ellis; Attendees at the event listen to the panel discussion.


    MEDIA DIVERSITY AUSTRALIA DISABILITY REPORTING HANDBOOK

    The discussion on the Disability Reporting Handbook, led by co-authors Lisa Cox and Faith Valencia Forrester, highlighted its pivotal role in guiding journalists towards more accurate and respectful reporting on disability issues. Developed in collaboration with Griffith University's Inclusive Futures, the handbook stands as a comprehensive resource shaped by input from individuals with lived experiences of disability and disability advocates. Lisa emphasised the handbook's practical utility in newsrooms, providing clear guidelines to counter prevailing biases and misconceptions in media representations of disability. Faith underscored the importance of inclusive language and perspectives in journalistic practices, urging newsrooms to adopt these principles to foster a more inclusive media landscape. The handbook's development process and its potential impact in reshaping media narratives were central to their discussion, reflecting a collective effort to promote greater understanding and sensitivity towards disability in journalism.

    The addition of a marketing and advertising section within the Disability Reporting Handbook represents a pivotal enhancement aimed at extending its influence beyond traditional journalism. Led by Lisa Cox and designed by Jo Kek-Pamenter, this chapter addresses a crucial void by embedding disability perspectives into media and communication strategies. It equips journalists, advertising professionals, government entities, businesses, and individuals alike with the tools needed to communicate inclusively. By furnishing practical guidance on language use and sensitivity, this section empowers stakeholders to authentically engage with the diverse experiences within the disability community, thereby catalysing significant social change and nurturing a more inclusive media environment.

    Download a copy: https://www.mediadiversityaustralia.org/disability-reporting-handbook/

    THE FUTURE

    Katie Ellis warned against the pitfalls of "inspiration porn," advocating for normalised, diverse representation of the disability community. The panel called for increased visibility and representation to drive social change and create inclusive media landscapes.

    The roundtable’s rich discussion, led by the the passionate moderation by Monique, showcased the transformative power of inclusive dialogue and the necessity of dignified media representation.

    ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

    The Inclusive Futures team would like to thank our hosts, the International Communications Association (ICA), Professor Kuansong Victor Zhuang, Professor Katie Ellis and Professor Gerard Goggin organisers for inviting us to participate in this impactful event.

    #InclusiveFutures #DisabilityRepresentation #MediaMatters #ICAPreconference2024 #InclusiveDialogue #DisabilityInMedia

    Lisa Cox together with Sara Shams; Pallav Pant; Professor Kuansong Victor Zhuang and Professor Katie Ellis; Professor Gerard Goggin.