UNICEF Media Award Winner Amplifies the Voices of Children with Disabilities and their Families
Radio feature highlights the transformative power of inclusive storytelling
Disabilities Awareness Week was observed this year from December 1 to 7 under the theme ‘Inclusion in Action: Connecting Communities for a Better Tomorrow’. This annual observance celebrates the achievements of people with disabilities, addresses existing challenges, and promotes accessibility in key areas such as education, employment, healthcare, and community engagement.
For Disabilities Awareness Week, we highlighted the winner of the 2024 UNICEF Award for Excellence in Reporting on Children’s Rights, Sheryl Johnson Hamilton, writer, presenter and producer at the Jamaica Information Service (JIS). She was presented with her trophy at the Press Association of Jamaica (PAJ) National Journalism Awards on November 23.
Aired on more than 20 radio stations across Jamaica, the compelling radio feature, titled "Children Navigating Disabilities," delves into the lives of children with disabilities in rural Jamaica and highlights the challenges these children and their families face. Sheryl examines the resources available to them, and the progress made by the government and organizations such as the Jamaica Council for Persons with Disabilities and Community Based Rehabilitation Jamaica. Through heartfelt interviews with parents and children, Sheryl brings to light the struggles and triumphs of navigating life with a disability, emphasizing the importance of inclusion and accessibility.
Let’s hear more from Sheryl about why she decided to focus on this topic and what it means to have walked away with the 2024 UNICEF Award for Excellence in Reporting on Children’s Rights.
What inspired you to produce the feature?
I was airing a series of features on persons with disabilities, focusing on the issues they face, the resources available to them, and the strides made by the government, including the passage of the Disabilities Act and the disability checklist. The work of Community Based Rehabilitation Jamaica in supporting children with disabilities and their families in rural Jamaica also stood out. It then occurred to me that I hadn't heard from the children themselves. Speaking with parents and hearing their stories deeply moved me, inspiring a comprehensive feature on how children navigate life with a disability.
As a journalist, I hold a unique position to tell the stories of the voiceless and highlight underreported issues. Rarely do we hear about the realities of children with disabilities and their families. As a longtime advocate for children's rights, I felt compelled to tell their story.
How do you feel having won the award?
I'm grateful to God for His wisdom, guidance, and favour. I'm honoured to have won the prestigious UNICEF Award for Excellence in Reporting on Children's Rights. This win is not only for me and the JIS but also for children with disabilities and their families. It's crucial that these children's voices are heard, and the public is reminded of their rights and encouraged to uphold them. Society has a responsibility to include persons with disabilities in every sphere of life and treat them as equals, including our children.
To listen to the 4-part feature on Children Navigating Disabilities, visit the JIS website at the links below:
Children Navigating Disabilities Pt1 – Jamaica Information Service
Children Navigating Disabilities Pt2 – Jamaica Information Service
Children Navigating Disabilities Pt3 – Jamaica Information Service
Children Navigating Disabilities Pt 4 – Jamaica Information Service
UNICEF and PAJ Partnership
UNICEF partners with the Press Association of Jamaica to present the annual Award for Excellence in Reporting on Children’s Rights to journalists whose work highlights issues affecting children. This is part of UNICEF’s broader efforts to strengthen reporting on children’s issues.
