- The Tragic Soul: Life with a disability is presented as endless sorrow. Cue soft piano music, longing stares and a storyline soaked in misery.
- The Inspirational Machine: A disabled character who exists solely to make others feel good about themselves. “If they can do it, what’s your excuse?” Exhausting!
- The Evil Cripple Trope: A scar, a limp, or a wheelchair—voilà, instant villain. Because apparently, a physical disability equals moral corruption?
- Disabled Actors Playing Disabled Roles: Shocking, right? No more able bodied actors winning awards for pretending to struggle with something they’ve never lived.
- Stories That Aren’t Just About the Disability: Complex, messy, interesting characters whose disabilities are part of their lives, not their entire identity.
- Authentic Writing Teams: Because lived experience can’t be faked. More disabled writers and consultants means fewer cringe-worthy missteps.
Why this matters
Representation isn’t just about seeing oneself reflected on screen. It shapes how society treats disabled people, how laws are written, and how kids grow up viewing the world. The more authentic and layered these portrayals, the harder it becomes for ignorance to thrive. It’s about getting rid of outdated, patronizing nonsense and embracing the fact that disability is part of human diversity—not a plot twist, not a punishment, not a tragedy waiting to be fixed.
Where do we go from here?
The industry has started moving, but the road ahead is long. More disabled storytellers need to be in charge. More networks and studios need to do more. Audiences need to demand better and reject the same old tired tropes.
It’s happening. Slowly, loudly, irreversibly. The script is being rewritten, and this time, the disabled community is holding the pen.