Impaired thinking

I AM disturbed by the overtly disablist tone in The Scotsman’s reporting on the case of the paedophile Brian Porter.

In both the headline and the opening paragraph (10 December), he was described as “wheelchair-bound”.

First, this is, in itself, an ineffectual term that fails to understand how wheelchair users are only restricted in their mobility by the lack of their “wheels”.

Why was his use of a wheelchair highlighted at all? There is no indication, anywhere in the story, that his physical impairment was any more connected with his crime than the colour of his skin, his religious beliefs (if he has any) or his age.

By choosing to emphasise his use of a wheelchair, however, you would seem – consciously or not – to be linking his crime with his impairment.

Disabled people have enough to worry about.

PAUL F COCKBURN

Easter Road

Edinburgh