„The man next to us” – the potential of the transmission of texts on the blog of the mother of a child with Down syndrome in weakening practices discriminating against people with disabilities

Abstract

The article deals with the potential of the transmission of texts on the blog of the mother of a child with Down's syndrome in the context of weakening discriminatory practices against people with disabilities. The phenomenon of discrimination, discriminatory practices, their sources and effects and the possibility of eliminating them are presented, with particular emphasis on the media message in this context. The research conducted in order to test the blog's potential consisted of a semiological analysis of the entries posted on it. Its result was the distinction of three thematic groups that are significant for the weakening of discriminatory practices against people with disabilities. They were: subjective treatment, recognition of diversity and treatment of people with disabilities as active actors of social life. It was shown how the message of the mother - the author of the blog - differs from social agreements regarding the understanding of disability, what discriminatory practices may be weakened thanks to such a message, and whether, and if so, how it can serve social change.