POLITICAL COMMUNICATION AND INDIVIDUALS WITH MOBILITY DISABILITIES IN GREECE
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.46827/ejsss.v12i5.2299Paraules clau:
political communication, mobility disability, accessibility, inclusion, political participationResum
Political communication constitutes a decisive factor in shaping democratic societies and ensuring the participation of all citizens in public and political life. However, persons with disabilities—and in particular those with mobility disabilities—continue to face significant barriers in accessing political information and in participating equally in the public sphere. This empirical study, which forms part of a doctoral dissertation dedicated to the development of a communication model of political communication targeting individuals with disabilities, investigates the attitudes, experiences and expectations of persons with mobility disabilities in Greece regarding their participation in political affairs. The research was conducted in October 2025 via a structured questionnaire distributed to a sample of 80 individuals with mobility disabilities using the snowball sampling method. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, analysis of variance (ANOVA, MANOVA), and Principal Component Analysis (PCA). The findings reveal a high level of interest in current political affairs among individuals with mobility disabilities. At the same time, low trust toward traditional mass media was observed, accompanied by a clear preference for digital and online media as the dominant channels of political information. Family and immediate social environments function as the primary sources of political influence, while significant obstacles were identified in the exercise of voting rights and in the existence of institutional policies that promote accessibility and inclusive participation. Additionally, participants underscored the need for training political party officials, establishing institutional guarantees for accessible practices, and integrating individuals with disabilities into communication teams. This study contributes to a deeper understanding of the specific needs of individuals with mobility disabilities and provides useful guidance for developing political communication strategies that strengthen equal participation and social inclusion.Referències
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