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A thesis submitted in partial fulfilment of - Etheses - Queen Margaret ...

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Given that Cumberbatch and Negr<strong>in</strong>e‟s 1992 Images <strong>of</strong> Disability on Television report states<br />

that not one <strong>of</strong> 44 game shows watched conta<strong>in</strong>ed a disabled contestant (Cumberbatch and<br />

Negr<strong>in</strong>e, 1992), it might be argued that it is good to see more disabled people on<br />

programmes like Deal Or No Deal. The cultural message be<strong>in</strong>g broadcast, however, is far<br />

from suggest<strong>in</strong>g that impairment is a valid experience. Rhys is be<strong>in</strong>g exhibited as a cripple<br />

with the right attitude, as somebody who will not just passively accept his lot. This is not just<br />

enterta<strong>in</strong>ment, but a valuable learn<strong>in</strong>g experience.<br />

As Sarah remarked:<br />

212<br />

perseverance, determ<strong>in</strong>ation and guts... they‟re all the words that are associated with<br />

be<strong>in</strong>g disabled... cos you‟ve got to live up to that and if you don‟t live up to that then<br />

you‟re not... you‟re not striv<strong>in</strong>g to be better... and it pisses me <strong>of</strong>f... cos sometimes<br />

it‟s okay just to be like... you know what... I‟m happy liv<strong>in</strong>g my life the way I live it...<br />

if you say that people are like oh, you gave up... gave up what... because I‟m happy<br />

with my situation... this programme... it‟s like seen to be chang<strong>in</strong>g people‟s lives...<br />

but it‟s like chang<strong>in</strong>g what some people would never be able to change... so they<br />

might sit and watch this and go so if I‟m not striv<strong>in</strong>g to like get treatment... if I don‟t<br />

th<strong>in</strong>k like that then what... am I less <strong>of</strong> a person... (l.3.283ff.)<br />

Ash‟s prediction that we would hear the word „<strong>in</strong>spiration‟ was soon fulfilled. Open<strong>in</strong>g box<br />

number 7, fellow contestant Leon said:<br />

As Ash put it:<br />

You‟ve been an <strong>in</strong>spiration, Rhys, you really have...<br />

What‟s he done... he‟s just sat there... how can he be an <strong>in</strong>spiration... they d<strong>in</strong>nae<br />

know what he does... they never asked what he does dur<strong>in</strong>g the week... he probably<br />

does some voluntary work or someth<strong>in</strong>g... he‟s just sat there and spoke... (l.3:314ff.)<br />

Another contestant, Sandie, open<strong>in</strong>g box 12, made a statement presumably <strong>in</strong>tended to<br />

encourage:<br />

The Rhys I‟ve met will walk aga<strong>in</strong>...<br />

Sarah wondered what this tells people.<br />

I th<strong>in</strong>k it‟s really confus<strong>in</strong>g if you‟re like... young and you‟re try<strong>in</strong>g to work out<br />

what you feel about these th<strong>in</strong>gs... if that‟s all you‟re see<strong>in</strong>g... (l.3:406ff.)

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