How to be inclusive

REPORTERS

DOs	DON’TS
“Wheelchair user” or “person who uses a wheelchair”: remember that a wheelchair represents freedom to its user.	Do not say: “Wheelchair bound” or describe someone as “confined to a wheelchair”.
‘Would you like to talk about your journey to wheelchair basketball?’: It should be up to the athlete to decide how much they want to share about their disability.	Do not ask about the disability in an overly private or pitiful way: a no-go is e.g. ‘what happened to you?’ or ‘How bad is your disability?’
Focus on the special features of the sport: ‘What fascinates you most about wheelchair basketball?’ or ‘Which tactics are particularly important in wheelchair basketball?’	Avoid over-emphasising the disability: No-go: ‘How can you do sport despite your disability?’
Instead of comparing wheelchair basketball to “normal” basketball you could ask: ‘What are the biggest challenges or special features of wheelchair basketball?’	Do not constantly compare with non-disabled sports: e.g. ‘How difficult is it compared to “normal” basketball?’
Always communicate directly with the interviewee.	Don’t talk to an accompanying person instead of the interviewee.
‘Has a disability following an accident’ (if relevant).	Avoid patronising or overly admiring tones: No-go: ‘It’s so inspiring that you do sport despite everything!’
Show appreciation for specific achievements or abilities: e.g. ‘Your sporting performance impresses me’ or ‘Your performance in wheelchair basketball is impressive. What does your training look like?’	No excessive emphasis on ‘courage’ or ‘heroism’: People with disabilities often do not want to be portrayed as ‘heroes’ for everyday activities.
If possible, sit down or make sure that eye contact is at eye level: This creates a more pleasant conversation atmosphere and conveys respect.