Alice Wong recognizes the need for disability visibility in advertising and beyond. She is a strong presence in the disability community whether at the White House meeting with President Obama or on social media with her always visible, passionate and unique spin on topics. Not only is Alice a storyteller herself, but she is a conduit for people with disabilities and their own storytelling through the Disability Visibility Project. Continue reading
Author Archives: jloebner
We Can Change Attitudes With Disability In Advertising
My industry gets alot of flack, and some of it is well deserved. Picture that annoying ad or jingle that gets stuck in your head from used car dealers. But some of the most powerful and connective advertising goes beyond a product’s features and benefits to brands recognizing, incorporating and advocating for societal shifts. Many advertisers are now weaving people with disabilities into brand narratives.
Do these advertising images that use people with disabilities help change attitudes? This was the central question of a talk held at the University of Texas, Arlington, by disability studies and media scholar Dr. Beth Haller. Continue reading
What label are you advertising?
In the logo saturated world of advertising, labels are everywhere, but in 2015 the Ad Council and R/GA teamed up to share stories that have no labels. This video shows a live crowd’s reactions to a giant, ersatz X-ray installation where two people are initially seen behind the X-ray and as they emerge…the unexpected happens. Continue reading
Advertising, Disability & Super Bowl 50 are a Winning Combo
What’s my favorite Super Bowl ad? If I had to pick, there are more than a thousand options over the course of the game’s 50 years. But what’s my favorite Super Bowl ad inclusive of people with disabilities? Now the options shrink dramatically down to a handful. Continue reading
ABILITY Magazine – Celebrating 25 Years
It’s rare, at least for me, to say that I talked with an iconoclast, but recently I had the good fortune to interview the founder of ABILITY Magazine, Chet Cooper, who truly is just that. Continue reading
What One Lego Minifig Did To Ignite a Media Frenzy
I’m 42-years old and proud to say I still love Legos; they’re on my bedside table, on my desk at my office, and I once even created customized minifigs of all my coworkers. Today, because of the first-ever* minifig with a disability released by the brickmaker, I love Lego even more. Continue reading
Axing Stereotypes With The First Disability Inclusive Ad of 2016
You might say New Year’s resolutions are about axing old, misguided habits and Unilever’s newest TV commercial for Axe body spray does just that by shifting away from stereotypical machismo to feature a broader interpretation of masculinity. Continue reading
Disability on the Main Stage for the Association of National Advertisers’ Multicultural Marketing & Diversity Conference.
Among advertising and marketing professional organizations the Association of National Advertisers, ANA, is taking the lead in recognizing inclusion of people with disabilities. In 2014 the ANA introduced the Multicultural Excellence Award in the People with Disabilities category, the first of its kind in the industry, honoring outstanding work in the disability sector. Continue reading
Shifting Perceptions & Shaping The PWD Story Around Profitability
In advertising, everyone wants to connect with Millennials – it’s the customer group to engage with. And why not? Dozens of industry reports point to this youth market as one of the most influential, largest groups with the most disposable income. Where do you think people with disability, as a minority group would rank? Continue reading
Celebrating Entry Into The American Advertising Federation’s Hall of Fame
The week was filled with celebrations, honors and insights, with the biggest surprise for me at the American Advertising Federation’s awards gala. In ball gowns and black tie, hundreds from our industry came together to recognize the best creative advertising our market has and toast individuals who’ve achieved the highest of accolades. I had the amazing honor of being inducted into the Knoxville Chapter of the American Advertising Federation’s Hall of Fame. Continue reading