Union chiefs have urged journalists to think about the language they use to describe disabled people, saying the issue has become “polarised”.

The National Union of Journalists’ disabled members’ council says the increasing politicisation of disability benefits by the government has led to a “prevalence of suspicious and negative discourse about disabled people” in the media.

According to the council, disabled people have been increasingly reconstructed as benefit frauds or a burden on the state, and this has influenced public perception and attitudes about disability.

The council wants to raise more awareness of the issue to mark UK disability history month 2016, which began on 22 November and runs until 22 December.

Ann Galpin, chair of the council, said: “In one breath we are apparently malingerers and fraudsters and in the next, an inspiration to all.

“Such a highly polarised view of disability consistently misrepresents the disabling barriers we deal with on a day to day basis.

“The language used to talk about disabled people has the ability to oppress or empower a significant proportion of the population.

“As journalists, we are responsible for reporting fairly and accurately on disability; and as NUJ members to adhere to our ethical code of conduct and reporting guidelines.”

The NUJ has further called for employers to recruit more disabled journalists, claiming that 5pc of the workforce in creative industries currently describe themselves as disabled.

Natasha Hirst, disabled members’ representative on the NUJ’s National Executive Council, said: “As journalists, it is incumbent upon us to be a voice for people who otherwise may not be heard.

“In order to fairly and accurately present the issues affecting different groups of people, we must embrace diversity in journalism itself. We need more disabled journalists contributing to mainstream reporting.”