Three shortlisted for government's disability campaign

by Sam Matthews, Brand Republic 19-Oct-05, 08:40

LONDON - The Central Office of Information has shortlisted three agencies for its Disability Rights Commission campaign, including Bartle Bogle Hegary.

BBH has been shortlisted alongside DDB London and McCann Erickson. The agencies will pitch later this month with a decision expected by the end of November.

Manchester BDH/TBWA created the last campaign for the Disability Rights Commission in 2002.

The winning agency will create a spring 2006 campaign, aimed at raising awareness of discrimination on disabled people and people with long-term health conditions.

Agnes Fletcher, assistant director of communications at the DRC, said: "In finding work, getting an education or getting a service, disabled people and people with long-term health conditions are at the receiving end of worse outcomes. They're twice as likely to have no qualifications and be out of work, have poorer health and confront constant barriers using services," she said.

She added that if such unfairness was the experience of any other groups in society there would be more outrage and action.

"But with disabled people, second-class treatment and low expectations are seen as a given. As well as shifting attitudes, we want the campaign to show that tackling unfairness has, as its end result, disabled people being active and participating citizens in society," she said.

The COI is expected to announce the appointment of a new media agency in November.

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