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“I wanted to be part of the world, but I didn’t see anyone like me in it.”

– Jim LeBrecht

In the Media

Disability representation in media is a significant aspect of our cultural landscape, influencing societal perceptions and attitudes.

Historical Context

Freak Shows

While initially serving as spectacles to entertain and intrigue, Freak shows perpetuated ableist stereotypes. However, they also provided a platform for early disability culture and paved the way for disabled entertainers to reclaim their narratives in the 20th century.

a vintage sepia image of thin limbed man posing in a studio
a vintage image of an ensemble cast of different sized people of various abilities.

Early Cinema

In the 1920s and 30s, disabled characters appeared in major films like Nosferatu and Freaks. Yet, there is a pattern: these characters often remain isolated, relegated to minor roles, and quickly vanish from the story. This perpetuates disability’s marginalization in early cinema.

image of nosferatu, a dracula with long nails and large ears.
ensemble cast of freaks with little people, large people, and various other disabled figures.
image of the phatom of the opera scaring a women

Telethons

Charity telethon fundraisers often depicted disabled individuals as ‘poster children’ of both resilience and suffering. For hours on end, these TV events, epitomized by the Jerry Lewis Labor Day Telethon, emphasized the challenges of living with disabilities and urged non-disabled viewers to donate in hopes of finding a cure.
disabled people protest telethon theatre

Reflect on these chapters of storytelling in disability history

Do you see a narrative of progress or setbacks? Can you point to moments of visibility gained and autonomy sought?

Archetypes

Stories of Overcoming

One of the most familiar portrayals of disability is the ‘overcomer’—a narrative that paints experiences of disability as epic battles between good and evil. It’s a storyline where characters with disabilities are presented with two paths: conquer their challenges and be hailed as heroes, or fail and be cast as embittered villains. This black-and-white storytelling, often dubbed “the supercrip” trope, is deeply rooted in the medical model of disability, framing the journey of disability as something to ‘overcome.’

“Super Humans”

Consider the “Meet the Superhumans” advertisement for the Paralympic Games in London.

How does this differ from advertisements for the Olympic Games?

A Beautiful Mind

In films like A Beautiful Mind, disability is depicted as the main obstacle to overcome. Characters battle conditions like schizophrenia, framing the struggle as a fight for normalcy and happiness, and reinforcing the notion of the hero as a victim, locked in a battle against their own condition for a chance at a fulfilling life.

Stories of Succumbing

What happens when a character doesn’t ‘overcome’ their disability?
Often, they’re cast as the villain, with their disability seen as the root of their evil actions. Unlike heroes who conquer their challenges, these characters are portrayed as succumbing to theirs, letting it corrupt them. Their physical differences, like a missing limb or wheelchair use, are misleadingly linked to villainous traits—suggesting a twisted or angry mind accompanies a ‘flawed’ body.

Trigger Warning: The videos below contain discussions on suicide and language that some may find offensive.

Captain Hook

Captain Hook embodies the succumbing archetype, seeking vengeance on innocent children after losing his hand, possibly representing the loss of his own innocence. His disability, symbolized by the menacing hook, becomes integral to his villainous persona.

Me Before You

Better dead than disabled: in the controversial Hollywood film Me Before You, troubling messages emerge about masculinity, disability and the value of life. The film seems to directly equate disability with the loss of masculinity.

“Disability is articulated as a struggle, an unnecessary burden that one must overcome to the soundtrack of a string crescendo. But disabled lives are multi-faceted – brimming with personality, pride, ambition, love, empathy, and wit.”

– Sinead Burke

Inspiration Porn

Reflect on examples of disability in pop culture

Who is the narrative serving? Is disability portrayed for a non-disabled gaze? Can you detect when inspiration porn is at work?

Social Media

Zach Anner

Zach Anner, a comedian with a disability, made waves in 2011 on a quest to become a TV personality on Oprah Winfrey’s network. Although he didn’t win, his popularity soared on YouTube, eventually leading to a writing role on ABC’s ‘Speechless.’

Lachi

Lachi is a singer-songwriter, touring performer, producer, actress, author, disability advocate and cultural activist based in New York City. Lachi’s music is often described as Pop or Dance music. Lachi is also the founder of RAMPD.

#DisabledAndCute

The emergence of social media platforms like Instagram and TikTok have been a game-changer, turning them into arenas where voices once marginalized could find resonance, community, and a powerful platform for advocacy.

Activity

E

Discovering Talent

By examining media and social platforms through a lens of disability representation, you’ll discover positive examples that challenge stereotypes and promote inclusivity. These portrayals serve as powerful reminders of the importance of diverse and authentic stories.

Disability Representation

Explore authentic disability representation. It could be a social media influencer, documentary, podcast, disability-owned brand, a commercial featuring disabled actors etc. Find an example that resonates with you and share what you discover on our Discord channel.
image of two people from the show the last of us. one is deaf and black.
images of books by disabled authors
image of interabled barbies including a barbie in a wheellchair

Up Next: Centering Disabled Voices

heather smiles, she has brown long hair and wears a plaid dress

Heather Hutchison

Heather is a Canadian content creator,
musician and mental health advocate.
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