Credit: Voello, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
In the US, one in four people have some form of disability. According to the CDC, that’s around 61 million people. Even with such a large chunk of the US population having a disability, representation on TV and other media is still lacking. 3.1% of characters on-screen have a disability, and this number is shockingly even lower for children’s media at less than 1%.
The current representation is needed, but it doesn’t even begin to cover the diverse experiences of the disabled population. Most representation in media and film involves wheelchair users, although only 12% of disabled Americans have a mobility disorder. These stories often present a single narrative that focuses on acquired paraplegia (becoming paralyzed in the legs). The focus on this one narrative excludes the many individuals who are ambulatory wheelchair users (needing mobility aids occasionally due to flare ups or for ease of movement). This can lead to misconceptions of mobility aids and their users, such as that all people who use a wheelchair are paralyzed.
Representation Is Not One-Size-Fits-All
Because media tends to portray one type of disability, only 23% of people with disabilities feel represented by what they see on TV or in films. I participated in a lovely creative writing workshop, hosted by Freddie Barker of Speaks Volume Festival and DK of AccessAbility, where the discussion of representation was the main focus. Each participant was a creative person who had some form of disability, and while most said representation was getting better, there is still so much to improve upon. The two biggest qualms were how these stories are often portrayed and the lack of intersectionality.
Existence Does Not Need to Be Justified
Many stories show the disabled character as someone to be pitied or saved by the protagonist, who often isn’t disabled. The disability is used to further the plot or add drama. This topic was brought up when I said I didn’t think my dysautonomia disorder, POTS, was very well represented. After all, how exciting would it even be to watch a character drink more water, eat more salt, or need to sit down because they feel dizzy often? But Freddie made a good point. Why couldn’t a character like that just exist in a story? Why did every disability on screen need to be entertainment?
The Importance of Recognizing Intersections of Oppression
Intersectionality was another big topic because it has the power to break down societal barriers and misconceptions. Intersectionality is vital, according to Kimberlé Crenshaw, because if a person exists in more than one marginalized group, they will experience all the difficulties that come with existing in each of those groups. People of color and LGBTQ+ individuals with disabilities often face other barriers, such as language barriers and lack of cultural awareness that impede their ability to access the care they need. Adding an intersectional viewpoint when discussing disabilities can lead to a better understanding of these experiences and potentially better access.
Increasing representation and exposing audiences to stories about all forms of disabilities can massively impact how society perceives disabled people. A study from “Research in Developmental Disabilities” found that contact with people with intellectual and developmental disabilities improved attitudes and helped combat implicit and explicit biases. Representation is needed more than ever when areas of the world still deem people with disabilities as “bad” or when workplaces still refuse to hire disabled talent due to myths about their work ethic. Just seeing representation on screen has the power to educate and tear down harmful misconceptions.
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