23 February 2009 Disabled presenter 'scares' children

I came across a news item about a Cbeebies presenter called Cerrie Burnell who has a disability.  The BBC have received complaints from parents who say that their children will be scared to see someone with a disability on TV.

Here is the link to the item:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1152466/One-armed-presenter-scaring-children-parents-tell-BBC.html

There is a Facebook group in protest to this:

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=51841632298

I was really shocked when I read this; people can be so ridiculous!

Tags: East Midlands, East of England, Jagdeep Kaur Sehmbi, London, North East, North West, Northern Ireland, Scotland, South East, South West, Wales, West Midlands, Yorkshire and the Humber, campaiging

1 Comment

• Bobby Ancil replied on 24 Feb 2009 at 14:36
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  Well done for putting this one up, Jagz.

  I think it's essential that we take the intellectual high ground on this and argue clearly and calmly that it is important for society that disabled people are visible in public life. The mere fact that a disabled woman is on children's TV is part of the solution to the perceived problem for the parents.

  I don't know enough about the background to this story to comment with any certainty, but as at the time of publication there were just 9 official complaints, I would guess that there is perhaps an element of whipping a story up out of nothing as far as these journalists are concerned.

  All the same let's make sure that Carrie knows she has our support.

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