Representing disability in charity promotions

Social psychological research in relation to charity advertising in the are a of disability has attempted to distinguish between 'positive' and 'negati ve' images and the way in which these are related to their fundraising pote ntial. In the light of the critique of charity advertising offered by a num ber of disability theorists, it is suggested that this perspective would be enhanced by consideration of the attitudes of disabled people to charity a dvertisements. A study is reported that compares the attitudes of disabled and non-disabled people to two charity advertisements. Differences between these two groups are reported and in the light of the nature of these it is suggested that what are considered to constitute 'positive images' is unli kely to be consensual. Copyright (C) 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.