Image from BBC Press Office
I came across this story early this week and I wish I had seen it sooner. Cerrie Burnell one of the new BBC Ceebeebies presenters who was born with only one arm has been the victim of a disturbing campaign by viewers parents who think that Cerrie will ‘Scare their Children’ because she has only one arm.
This really shocked me because I thought we had got past this type of discrimination, but it just goes too show that Disability Education at grassroots level is needed as soon as possible. Children indeed can be scared of seeing something unfamiliar but if you talk to them they are very open for discussion. I myself have proved this from personal experience.
A child is open too new things when they are younger, they accept things on face value. This can be applied to Disabilities so that when they are older, it becomes second nature.
Unfortunately it seems the parents of these children cannot see that, they are worried that the someone with a Disability such as Cerrie will cause them too have nightmares.
I dont believe that for a second. Some children are scared of Santa, but it doesn’t mean they stop getting presents from the big man in a red suit.
One parent is quoted“This new presenter is c*** – face facts – but because she has a disability then she was given a job. [It is] positive discrimination in my books.” (Excerpt from Daily Mail). Its not the children that need educated, its the parents.
That is blatant disability discrimination! She was given the job because she was capable of doing the job, and what I have seen (yes I did watch Cbeebies) she does it very well. I can only congratulate the BBC on hiring her for the position. How many other disabled presenters do you see? Of course one comes along and people have to complain about it. It undoubtedly will have positive affects in making children more aware by encouraging them to ask questions about Disability. My whole ethos for creating the Disability Heroes
Disability Education at grassroots level, lets embrace it. Not complain about it because its scary.
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Yeh i remember when this first happened. Having a 2year old is a great excuse to watch cbeebies. As a parent i’m glad my son has a chance to be familiar with disabilities both on tv with presenters such as Cerrie and at church etc