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Note that the links are active; however, you might need to refresh the padlet page and select this PDF each time you want to follow a different link. All links are also included below within the different days.

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July 2:  Learn about the Disability Pride flag.

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July 2:  Learn about the Disability Pride flag.

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July 3: Seek perspectives on Disability Pride.

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July 3: Seek perspectives on Disability Pride.

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Embracing Disability with Pride - YouTube

https://www.tiktok.com/@leftyonhardmode/video/6986322554067766533

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cEAe-LLX-X0

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July 4: Disability History in 15 minutes

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July 4: Disability History in 15 minutes

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Read Transcript...
So I think this podcast, for me is particularly timely, because as I am sure you know (but for our viewers) the Paralympic Games are currently taking place in Rio. This involves athletes with a range of disabilities including impaired muscle power, impaired range of motion, visual impairments and intellectual impairment. The Paralympics were originally started by a small group of British World War II Veterans in 1948, and is now it is one of the biggest sporting events of the 21st century. While this is true, there are also huge problems with recognition, respect, and funding for these events. This is largely indicative of the historical record of people with disabilities, whose history often never makes it into the public memory, and yet has been one of the most marginalized groups historically in society. So, John, why don't you start off with telling us about what is disability history?
Disability history is actually an all-encompassing term, so it means a lot of different things. What we look at as historians of disability is pretty much physical and mental disabilities is usually how we characterize it. What we are looking specifically is the body, so the body becomes a site for how we can interpret disability. There is really a lot of aspects to disability history: it's a story about independence but it is also a story about dependence. It is temporary in a lot of instances disability, sometimes people can move in and out of disability, while for a lot of other people, it's permanent, and they usually require lifelong assistance of some sort. And it is also essentially a demand for rights, so it's a movement, it has evolved into a movement, in which now people with disabilities are trying to get more rights within American society.
Framing in the context of American society, what are some key moments that you would point to as essential for understanding the history of disabled people in the United States?
In the United States, there are a ton. There is actually a really good survey history of disability history by Professor Kim Nielsen, and it is called A Disability History of the United States. She traces disability pretty much from the time of the Native Americans, up to now. But some of the ones that really define American society and disability would be Ellis Island, so when we get the large scale movement of immigrants coming into the United States. When a lot of these immigrants are coming in, we see that they have to undergo a series of tests, and they are short tests. These inspectors don't take too much time actually inspecting them, but what they are looking for is any sort of hint of these immigrants possibly having some sort of illness or disability that would require them to use a lot of American resources. They were really trying to avoid that. We want individuals to come in that can be pretty independent and self-sufficient. In terms of Ellis Island again, they would check for homosexuality, so it is at this time that we see homosexuality as being a disability. They would be asked a series of questions like are you interested in the opposite sex, do you have friends of the opposite sex? So they are trying to screen for all of that.

Another good pivotal moment and monumental figure is Franklin Delano Roosevelt. He was one of our great American presidents who served several terms, and he was actually diagnosed with polio at the age of 39. So in 1921 he contracted polio and as a result of having polio that left him with a pretty severe disability, where he was not able to walk or stand for long periods of time. And so as a result, he needed a lot of assistance, and he wore leg braces to help him get around. But what is important about FDR, is we have this figure coming in around the time of the Great Depression, and he is going to act like a sort of savior figure. What is interesting is that FDR, even though he is disabled, he still stands as this huge monument to American history, and he is this great leader that leads us through the Depression. He helps pivot the New Deal through Congress, and he also sees us through part of World War II. At that time, his disability was pretty well known in American society, and a lot of Americans really accepted that, and so I think that it is kind of interesting to look at FDR and his tenure as president, and compare it to our politics today, where we see any sort of disability or illness within our presidential candidates as being disqualifying. He stands as this kind of one great figure.

Finally, I guess a third great moment was the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990. It was signed into law by George H.W. Bush. This is sort of a culmination of a lot of different efforts by people with disabilities trying to agitate for more rights, more inclusion, more accessibility in American society. Really what the ADA does is it gives us a lot of what we are familiar with today, so now we know that all buildings have to be accessible to people with disabilities. I don't know if you've ever seen but there are telephones with braille and specialized telephones now where people with speech or hearing disabilities can now communicate. State and local governments also had to be readily accessible as well. So the ADA is the culmination of a disability rights movement that began pretty much around the time of FDR, when people were out of work and they started demanding work, because oftentimes they were precluded from the New Deal. So that way those jobs were given to "able bodied" individuals.
So when you are looking at the Americans with Disabilities Act or FDR's tenure as president, how is research in this particular field usually done? Is it archival or is it oral histories?
Disability history is interesting because it's everywhere, but then it is kind of nowhere, all at the same time. Two professors who have worked on disability history, Paul Longmore and Lauri Umansky have come with this idea that a lot of researchers might believe that there aren't any sources. And really, Longmore and Umansky, as well as Kim Nielsen, they kind of delve into the archives and they are able to find a lot of these good examples of disability. The answer to your question is a lot of primary source documents, so maybe some of the more traditional documents. We would look at maybe diaries, letters, some medical records if they are old enough. I think nowadays, we are more concerned with people's privacy, so we destroy a lot of medical records, but definitely those pictures, letters have also been used to construct disability history, to get what these people were maybe experiencing in the past.
So correct me if I'm wrong, but individuals with disabilities is actually considered the largest minority group in the United States, so when you're talking about this rich primary source base for you all to work with, why is disability as a historical subject not been widely studied?
I think that also has a lot to do with a misconception that there are not sources. I think a lot of researchers are used to being able to go somewhere and find something very easily, find documents very easily. I think with disability history it requires just a little bit more digging into personal lives and backgrounds, to construct this history. I also think a lot of it is personal, so researchers tend to focus on what they are familiar with, what their personal likes are, maybe if they have personal attachments to a region or a group of people they focus on that. Possibly that might be one of the reasons why we don't really study disability history as much as maybe some of the other regions or minority groups.
Can you talk about how people with disabilities have been traditionally represented? You mention these groundbreaking works that have really transformed our understanding of disability history, but what is the historical representation of people with disabilities?
It hasn't been very good. People with disabilities have oftentimes been categorized by a variety of different terms and phrases, we see "idiocy" and "imbecile", just a couple of examples used to describe people with mental disabilities. We also see "defectives" is also another good example. They are really not depicted very well, so in the 19 th and the beginning of the 20 th century, they are oftentimes viewed as tragic and pitiful, and usually a strain on society because oftentimes who is going to take care of these individuals who have these disabilities if their families can't? Really they are pushed to the margins of society, so they are usually represented in that way. In the 1840s, people with disabilities end up joining freak shows and circuses, and these traveling vaudeville shows, so these people that are already living on the margins of society, and sometimes even further marginalized to a certain degree, because now they are living in these institutions where people can now go and view them as some sort of "other," some sort of distant freak, essentially. That is what these freak shows were. And so for a lot of these, particularly P.T. Barnum had his own show where he had people with differing body types, people would join these and to some degree, they would become moderately successful. Even though they had disabilities, a lot of people were paying to go see them, so they made money off their disability so to speak.
It goes back to the point you made about independence versus dependence at the beginning and this structure in place.
Right, and we see a lot of that. There were actually conjoined twins, and they were from Southeast Asia. They were the "Bunker Twins," they had been adopted, so they went and they worked with P.T. Barnum, and they were able to live some pretty successful lives. After they left the P.T. Barnum show, they ended up opening their own plantation, they married a couple of other sisters, and so they had pretty prosperous lives. In these freak shows, we still see them as these tragic figures because they have different bodies from us, but yet we pay to see them. They are still able to support themselves. It is pretty interesting because we see that sort of representation today, so if you watch American Horror Story, they had one particular part that was on the freak show. A lot of the freaks on American Horror Story, were actually pretty representative of the freaks of the past. It is just unfortunate that on the show they all meet tragic ends, so in this instance we don't really have them becoming independent and becoming successful. Instead, it ends in tragedy, which is one way that disability is often characterized in American society.

Another way that people have been represented in the past has to do with people with intellectual disabilities, so what was formally known as mental retardation. Have you seen One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest or read the book?
Yep.
So we know that asylum where they were staying was pretty oppressive because we had Nurse Ratched. We have this authority figure that runs this regimented schedule, and she keeps them all on track, so they are not able to make decisions for themselves until Randal Patrick McMurphy comes in. But when he comes in, he tries to upset the system, and in that instance, we start seeing these patients try and demand their own independence. However, this was another instance where we see it meets a tragic fate, where we have a suicide, and then McMurphy gets a lobotomy. These are the different sorts of representations, and there are several other ones as well. But for the most part, they often are tragic individuals that don't really rise above their disability, per say.
Does this come into your motivations for studying disability history, in dealing with these false constructions and representations of disabled people? What other personal motivations do you have for studying this subject?
For me, it is pretty personal. I got my undergraduate degree at the University of the Incarnate Word and I got my masters at the University of Texas at San Antonio. During that time period while I was going to school and studying history, I actually worked in a group home with people with intellectual disabilities as well as other physical disabilities. What I saw was very interesting. I had been in the field for about ten years, and so in that time I was able to get to know a lot of these individuals. What you see is not how they are often characterized in regular society. What I saw were a lot of individuals who were pretty much like you and I. They had their hopes and dreams, many of them wanted to move out of their group home. There were some that had boyfriends or girlfriends and they wanted to get married just like you or I possibly could. They wanted to have jobs. They just wanted to be included, and they didn't really for the most part, see themselves as being outside of society, although society tends to construct that around them. Personally, they became my friends: I had a lot of fun working with them. When I graduated with my masters, I didn't really know what I was going to do. I had my humanities degree but I also had a lot of this other outside work. It wasn't until I actually read A Disability History of the United States by Professor Kim Nielsen that I realized maybe I can take this route where I can combine my humanities as well as my own personal experiences and make it into a work of history and explore how people with disabilities have been portrayed, and have been included or not included in society over time.
How do you think our understanding of disability can be taken in a global context, in understanding societies in worldwide portrayal of disability?
I think disability in general is worldwide. All across the world, people have bodies, and peoples' bodies tend to break down, or they are born with disabilities. I think it adds a lot of value to begin to learn in an increasingly globalizing society how other cultures treat individuals with disabilities. It is important to have that comparative aspect, especially in the United States, where we are proud to be an immigrant nation, where we bring people in. I think, for example, if we look at some place like Nigeria and the way they address children with disabilities, they often see that child having a disability for different reasons. That child has gotten a disability for a number of possible reasons, some of which might include a curse from God, which would have been a consequence of someone being disobedient, or breaking God's commandments. It could have been a cause of witches or wizards, adultery or arguing and fighting with elders: there are a variety of different reasons. I think that it if we come back to the United States and we have a Nigerian family with a child with a disability, and they are still very connected to their home country, it is important to understand those different societal aspects so that we begin to formulate plans on how to help the child with the disability.

Another way that look at disability in the global context is, and we can actually refer to a very current global health situation, and that is the Zika virus. We know that it is spreading pretty rapidly. It has been determined that the Zika virus tends to cause fetal abnormalities such as microcephaly, which means a smaller head size. That in itself can lead to a variety of different complications such as seizures, developmental delay, not meeting all your developmental milestones. As a result of not tackling Zika, women possibly contracting the Zika virus and possibly having babies with microcephaly, this creates a problem because now with babies born with microcephaly it becomes an enormous public health concern, and it becomes very financially draining, not just on the parents, but also on our political system and any sort of programs that are there to help. Not to mention emotionally draining as well.
And it disproportionately effects low income families and non-white families, so that is a huge factor that plays into this cycle. Can you talk to us a little bit about some of the movements that are going on with disability rights right now? I know when I was an undergraduate student one of the big movements that one of our disability advocacy groups did was the use of the "r-word," the use of the word "retarded" in everyday speech. Are there similar movements like that, are there ones focused on more policy based? From your experience what have you seen?
I think right now, the movement to remove the r-word is still very much a big part of the movement. It still hasn't been completely eradicated, and going into that, it has been determined that the use of "retarded" to describe something negative, is falling by the wayside, much like other words in our society have. I think there is also a move to ensure that people with disabilities still have access to everything around them in the community, different resources, and rehabilitative therapies and medicine. A big part of the movement, I would say, is political, so we want to ensure that our lawmakers are providing enough funds and programs such as Medicaid that help to cover such therapies such as speech therapy, physical therapy, occupational therapy, as well as a variety of other necessities for people with disabilities.

Spread the word to end the word, slogan and campaign created by Special Olympics and Best Buddies International.
As a former teacher, you used to work with students, how would you like to see disability taught in the American public classroom?
It would be great to see people with disabilities included a little bit more. There has been a great move towards inclusion, so we include a lot of minorities in our curriculum. I think it would be great to begin to focus on people with disabilities, and really when you think about it, it tends to tie into a variety of the other minorities, so African-Americans with disabilities can be discriminated against, much like a member of the LGBTQ community can be discriminated against.
There is an intersectionality of a lot of these issues.
Yes, there is a lot of intersection, especially with women and a variety of different minorities. So, I think it would be great if we begin to work in disability in a manner, in which maybe it can align with some of the other minority groups, and even we can begin to focus on the actual disability movement that began in the 50s and 60s. But a lot of it is political. We tend to hear arguments about political correctness, and I think if we are looking at a public school textbook, maybe there is a lot more work to be done in terms of education and inclusion. In terms of the college American history courses, I would say, again building on this literature and trying to bring recognition to disability history, and maybe we can teach more of that alongside the textbook or within the textbook, instead of talking about Americans with Disabilities Act and leaving it at that.

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Episode 92: Disability History in the United States

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Read Transcript... So I think this podcast, for me is particularly timely, because as I am sure you know (but for our viewers) the Paralympic Games are currently taking place in Rio. This involves athletes with a range of disabilities including impaired muscle power, impaired range of motion, visual impairments and intellectual impairment.

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To request a free copy of Disability Visibility or information about our discussion groups, email mallbritton@sdsu.edu.

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https://ndss.org/ndss-advocacy-alerts?vvsrc=/Campaigns/106287/Respond

https://action.thearc.org/HjW4N0I?p2asource=email-2023-0623

https://www.disabilityrightsca.org/public-policy/sponsored-legislation

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Human Rights Organization for Individuals with Down syndrome

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July 7:  Share your disability story (or help someone else share their story).  And tag #efrcpride please!

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July 7:  Share your disability story (or help someone else share their story).  And tag #efrcpride please!

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EFRConline - The Exceptional Family Resource Center is one... | Facebook.

Exceptional Family Resource Center (@efrc_online) • Instagram photos and videos

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Shelley Moore: Transforming Inclusive Education

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I'm not your inspiration, thank you very much | Stella Young

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July 11:  Attend a workshop like In-Home Supportive Services July 11 at 6 pm (Zoom)

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July 11:  Attend a workshop like In-Home Supportive Services July 11 at 6 pm (Zoom)

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Register here: Meeting Registration - Zoom

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Welcome! You are invited to join a meeting: Parenting Hacks: In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS) / "Trucos" para Padres: Servicios de apoyo en el hogar (IHSS). After registering, you will receive a confirmation email about joining the meeting.

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Spanish below / español abajo The In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS) program provides in-home assistance to eligible aged, blind and disabled individuals as an alternative to out-of-home care and enables recipients to remain safely in their own homes.

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July 12:  Like/follow/support local artists.

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July 12:  Like/follow/support local artists.

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Creative Arts Program | Revision (revisionsandiego.com)

Music And Art Are Vital Tools | Able ARTS Work | United States

A Reason To Survive (ARTS)

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July 13:  Like/follow/support local sports.

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July 13:  Like/follow/support local sports.

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Home | Sports 4 EA

About Us | My Site (beststepforward.org)

trscalendarsummer.pdf (sandiego.gov)

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All Inclusive Day of Play & Resource Fair | Special Needs Resource Foundation of San Diego

Register for free tickets here: https://inclusivedayofplay2023.eventbrite.com

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CRIP CAMP: A DISABILITY REVOLUTION | Full Feature | Netflix - YouTube

And more from Judy Heumann:
A Brief But Spectacular take on the disability rights movement - YouTube

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CRIP CAMP: A DISABILITY REVOLUTION | Full Feature | Netflix

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July 16:  Looking for an organization to contribute time or treasure?  Click here.

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July 16:  Looking for an organization to contribute time or treasure?  Click here.

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Resources In Imperial Valley | Special Needs Resource Foundation of San Diego

Resources In San Diego | Special Needs Resource Foundation of San Diego

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Special Needs Resource Foundation of San Diego

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The Moth | The Art and Craft of Storytelling

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The Moth is a nonprofit organization that builds empathy through live and virtual storytelling shows, open-mic storytelling events, The Moth Radio Hour, The Moth Podcast and storytelling workshops.

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Year of the Tiger | San Diego County Library | BiblioCommons

Year of the Tiger | San Diego Public Library | BiblioCommons

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The Disability Visibility Project is an online community dedicated to creating, sharing, and amplifying disability media and culture.

What does the DVP do?

Believes that disabled narratives matter and that they belong to us

Encourages people with disabilities to go to StoryCorps or use the StoryCorps app and record their oral histories with the option of having them archived at the Library of Congress

Publishes original essays, reports, and blog posts about ableism, intersectionality, culture, media, and politics from the perspective of disabled people

Builds online spaces for people to share, organize, and connect

Champions disability culture and history

Organizes and facilitates events, gives presentations, participates on panels

Supports and amplifies the work of other disabled people and organizations in the community using social media

and Partners and collaborates with other activists and organizations in various campaigns such as #CripTheVote, #CripLit, Access Is Love, DisabledWriters.com

Consults and provides professional services through Disability Visibility LLC

does not represent or speak for StoryCorps in any way. The DVP did not create the NOTE: The Disability Visibility Project#CripTheVote campaign but is a co-partner in that movement.

Also: the usage of the word 'visibility' in the project name is metaphorical. It is not meant to privilege one sensory experience over others.

Disability Visibility Project® is a trademark of Alice Wong. All rights reserved. (c) Alice Wong 2016.

ABOUT

Alice Wong (she/her) is a disabled activist, writer, editor, media maker, and consultant. Alice is the founder and director of the Disability Visibility Project , an online community dedicated to creating, sharing, and amplifying disability media and culture.

Alice is a co-partner in four projects: DisabledWriters.com , a resource to help editors connect with disabled writers and journalists, (no longer active),a series of Twitter chats for disabled writers with novelist Nicola Griffith , #CripTheVote , a nonpartisan online movement encouraging the political participation of disabled people with co-partners Andrew Pulrang and Gregg Beratan, and Access Is Love with co-partners Mia Mingus and Sandy Ho , a campaign that aims to help build a world where accessibility is understood as an act of love instead of a burden or an afterthought.

Alice's areas of interest are popular culture, media, politics, disability representation, Medicaid policies and programs, storytelling, social media, and activism.

In 1997 she graduated with degrees in English and sociology from Indiana University at Indianapolis. She has a MS in medical sociology and worked at the University of California, San Francisco as a Staff Research Associate for over 10 years. During that time she worked on various qualitative research projects and co-authored online curricula for the Community Living Policy Center , a Rehabilitation Research and Training Center funded by the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research .

Recognized for her service to the community and activism at the local and national level, Alice received the Beacon Award by the San Francisco Mayor's Disability Council in 2010 and the Disability Service Award by the University of California, San Francisco in 2011. From 2013 to 2015 Alice served as a member of the National Council on Disability , an independent federal agency charged with advising the President, Congress, and other federal agencies regarding policies, programs, practices, and procedures that affect people with disabilities, appointed by President Barack Obama . Alice was the recipient of the 2016 AAPD Paul G. Hearne Leadership Award , an award for emerging leaders with disabilities who exemplify leadership, advocacy, and dedication to the broader cross-disability community.

Alice launched the Disability Visibility podcast in September 2017 as host, co-audio producer, and writer. She edited and self-published Resistance and Hope: Essays by Disabled People in October 2018.

In 2018 Alice was featured in the , a list recognizing the most impactful creators, artists, and activists in pop culture by Bitch Media and Colorline's 20 X 20 , a group of transformative leaders reimagining what it means to advance racial justice.

In 2020 Alice was named by Time magazine as one of 16 people fighting for equality in America. Alice self-published and edited #ADA30InColor , a series of essays by disabled people of color in July. Alice was featured with activists such as Angela Davis and Dr. Bernice A. King on the cover of British Vogue's September issue . For the Pop Culture Collaborative, she guest edited Break The Story Volume IV: Disability Visibility , a snapshot of disability. Along with 19 other disabled artists, Alice was named a Disability Futures fellow , a grant by the Ford Foundation and the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation administered by United States Artists. Alice also received the Indiana University Bicentennial Medal for her contributions to disability justice and broadening the reach of IU around the world.

In 2021, Alice was named a changemaker by Marie Claire magazine. She co-edited a digital issue that year, The Access Series with Bitch Media that expands the meaning of access in everyday life. Alice's first role as a voice actor was in Someone Dies In This Elevator podcast, season 1, episode 11, "Hot Wheels," as Waverly.

In 2022, Alice was included in Gold House's A100 List, a list honoring 100 Asians and Pacific Islanders who had the most impact on culture and society over the past year. She created the Society of Disabled Oracles with co-partners Aimi Hamraie and Jen White-Johnson.

Alice is the editor of an anthology of essays by disabled people and Disability Visibility: First-Person Stories from the Twenty-First Century (Vintage Books, 2020) , Disability Visibility: 17 First-Person Stories for Today, an adapted version for young adults (Delacorte Press 2021).

Her debut memoir, Year of the Tiger: An Activist's Life is available now from Vintage Books. Disability Intimacy , her next anthology, will be out in 2024.

In 2023, Alice became a , a series of food writing by disabled people. columnist for Teen Vogue and recipient of the Community Award from the Asian Pacific American Institute for Congressional Studies . She also was a voice actor portraying Alice, a character loosely based on her, in season two of Human Resources , an animated series on Netflix. In partnership with Eater, Alice co-edited Low and Slow Year of the Tiger received a Northern California Book Award for creative nonfiction.

Alice also works as an independent research consultant as part of her side hustle with clients such as Netflix, Twitter, and other disability rights organizations. Alice is a public speaker and represented by The Steven Barclay Agency .

For more about her work, you can go to her website or check out the latest on Twitter @SFdirewolf and Instagram @Disability_Visibility .

For headshots and shorter bios of Alice, check out her Media Kit.

Instagram: @disability_visibility

Bluesky: @SFdirewolf.bsky.social

Newsletter: https://disability-visibility-newsletter.ghost.io

Email: DisabilityVisibilityProject@gmail.com
Newsletter: https://disabilityvisibility.substack.com/ Access rider for speaking events (updated September 2023)
Speaking requests: please contact Steven Barclay at Steven Barclay Agency, 707-773-0654; steven@barclayagency.com and Alyssa Jones, 707-773-0654; alyssa@barclayagency.com
Freelance Audio Producers for the Disability Visibility podcast (September 2017- April 2021) Learn more and support these amazing audio producers! Geraldine Ah-Sue, Cheryl Green, and Sarika D. Mehta
Team DVP

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The Disability Visibility Project is an online community dedicated to creating, sharing, and amplifying disability media and culture. What does the DVP do? Believes that disabled narratives matter and that they belong to us Encourages people with disabilities to go to StoryCorps or use the StoryCorps app and record their oral histories with the option of...

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I got 99 problems... palsy is just one | Maysoon Zayid

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July 20: Visit the Smithsonian (from home).

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July 20: Visit the Smithsonian (from home).

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EveryBody: An Artifact History of Disability in America

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Many stories and events related to people with disabilities never make it into the history books or shared public memories. Familiar concepts and events such as citizenship, work, and wars become more complicated, challenge our assumptions about what counts as history, and transform our connection with each other when viewed from the historical perspective of people with disabilities, America's largest minority.

Knowing these histories deepens understanding of the American experience and reveals how complicated history really is. In addition, when history comes through artifacts, distinct themes emerge-for example, the significance of place, relationships, and technology-that are less apparent when only books and words are used.

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EveryBody: An Artifact History of Disability in America

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Many stories and events related to people with disabilities never make it into the history books or shared public memories. Familiar concepts and events such as citizenship, work, and wars become more complicated, challenge our assumptions about what counts as history, and transform our connection with each other when viewed from the historical perspective of people with disabilities, America's largest minority.

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July 21:  Search this curated database of Children's Literature.

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July 21:  Search this curated database of Children's Literature.

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And more from Sally Pla:

Neurodiverse Representation in Children's Literature - YouTube

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Below, you will find our searchable database of more than 1000 traditionally published children's books that touch on neurodiversity and mental health issues.

So, if you want to search for YA books with eating disorders, you can find that. Or picture books with ADHD - you can find that too... You can search by issue, publisher, author, title, whether the issue is in the main character, friend, parent or sibling - and more.

Here's a short, helpful tutorial:

Use the "Group By" and "Filter" tabs to narrow what you're searching for. There are lots of ways to sort, and one has to play around a bit. Please note you can search for books with LGBTQ and BIPOC main characters as well.

Also note the column with our "Brainy" logo. If a book is marked with a Brainy, it means one of us has read and liked it. Not every excellent book is marked. It's like when booksellers put a note on a book they've read and are recommending. Not comprehensive. Just a bit more info.

Anyhow, we hope the database helps you find that perfect book for that special reader. Let us know what you think.

If you know of a book that belongs in the database that isn't listed, please ! If the book was traditionally published, and significantly represents neurodiversity or a diagnosable mental health condition, we'd love to add it.

DISCLAIMER: This database is a work in progress. It is comprehensive not 'qualitative.' While we're always working to improve, update, and maintain it, it may be the case that, particularly in some older titles, there may be content that you don't agree with. Our goal is to help you aggregate a list of possibilities, based on your interests. It is up to you to winnow, explore, focus, or curate as you wish.

Also, don't forget to visit our ! You'll find weekly guest posts by authors of all kinds of recent books.

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Below, you will find our searchable database of more than 1000 traditionally published children's books that touch on neurodiversity and mental health issues. So, if you want to search for YA books with eating disorders, you can find that. Or picture books with ADHD - you can find that too...

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July 22:  Pick a TV show from this list.

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July 22:  Pick a TV show from this list.

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The Ruderman Seal of Approval for Authentic Representation is awarded to television or feature film projects featuring actors with disabilities in substantial speaking roles, and has been conceived as the premier recognition for those in the entertainment creative community who show the commitment toward full inclusiveness in popular culture. The Seal will be awarded when productions meet two simple, specific, highly achievable, criteria:

1. The Seal is awarded to television shows and movies that feature actors with disabilities with a speaking role of at least five lines;

2. These productions must be in, or on the verge of, general release.

Awardees of the Seal are:

1. October 2022: Apple TV'S Cha Cha Real Smooth, Paramount+ series "Star Trek: Strange New Worlds", HBO's "The Sex Lives of College Girls," Hallmark's "Color My World with Love" and the Apple TV+ series "Best Foot Forward."

2. April 2022: Hulu's "Only Murder's in the Building," Marvel's "Eternals" and "Hawkeye," HBO's "And Just Like That," and NBC's "Ordinary Joe"

3. October 2021: Fox's "9-1-1," Apple TV Plus's "Coda," Freeform's "Everything's Gonna Be Okay" and Netflix's "Never Have I Ever" and "The One."

4. June 2021: Paramount Picture's A Quiet Place II, Legendary and Warner Bros.' Godzilla vs. Kong, Digital Ignition Entertainment's Triumph, and Netflix's Ginny & Georgia and Firefly Lane.

5. February 2021: NBC's "Will & Grace", AMC's "Fear the Walking Dead", Netflix's "Sex Education", ITV Studios' "Emmerdale", and BBC and PBS's "Call the Midwife"

6. November 2020: ABC's "Grey's Anatomy", Netflix's "Locke & Key" and "Away", TV+ "s "Little Voice", "Sam & Mattie Make a Zombie Movie,", and the motion picture "Run".

7. June 2020: Apple TV's "See", NBC's "This is Us", Netflix's "Atypical" and "The Politician", and feature film "Spare Room"

8. November 2019: Netflix's "Rasing Dion" and "Tales of the City", ABC's "General Hospital", BBC's/HBO's "Years and Years", and Audience's "Loudermilk

9. July 2019: Hulu's "Ramy", SundanceTV's "This Close", Roadside Attractions' "The Peanut Butter Falcon", and Music Box Films' "Give Me Liberty"

10. May 2019: Netflix's "Special" and "The OA", NBC's "Speechless", CBS' "NCIS: New Orleans"

Stay Included

To stay up to date on our most recent advocacy efforts, events and exciting developments, subscribe to our newsletter and blog!

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The Ruderman Seal of Approval for Authentic Representation is awarded to television or feature film projects featuring actors with disabilities in substantial speaking roles, and has been conceived as the premier recognition for those in the entertainment creative community who show the commitment toward full inclusiveness in popular culture.

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Or support Autism Society San Diego's next "Lights, Camera, Autism!" event.  Lights! Camera! Autism! | Autism Society of San Diego - Autism Society San Diego

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Disability Pride Month is celebrated in July, commemorating the passing of the landmark Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) in July 1990. The act prohibits discrimination against people with disabilities in public services and hiring, and was an effort to break down barriers that prevent disabled people from fully participating in the world. People with disabilities make up the largest minority group in the United States, so it's no surprise that the disability community includes many composers and performers now and throughout history. Read about 5 disabled musicians whose lives remind us that creativity, drive, and talent exist regardless of ability.

Itzhak Perlman

One of world's most famous living musicians, Itzhak Perlman has reached new heights of stardom as a classical musician, conductor, and educator. Perlman is the recipient of 16 Grammy awards and 4 Emmy award, has performed for multiple U.S. presidents, and given concerts all over the world. Born in Tel Aviv, Israel, Perlman contracted polio at the age of four, and has used mobility aids ever since. He moved to the U.S. at age 13 to attend Juilliard, appearing on the Ed Sullivan show as a teenager and making his Carnegie Hall debut at 18 years old. Perlman has been called one of the best violinists of all time, among the ranks of his former teacher Ivan Galamian and Jascha Heifetz. He's appeared with the world's major orchestras, including the New York Philharmonic, Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Berlin Philharmonic, and Boston Symphony Orchestra. The virtuoso spends his summers at the Perlman Music Program teaching young prodigies of the music world. Take a listen to Perlman performing the first movement of Beethoven's String Trio in C minor with Lynn Harrell and Pinchas Zukerman .

Gaelynn Lea

Gaelynn Lea became interested in classical music at an early age and was encouraged by an elementary school teacher to pick up an instrument after earning the only perfect score in her class on a music listening test. Born with the genetic condition osteogenesis imperfecta that causes complications in the development of bones and limbs, she developed a technique for holding the violin in front of her like a cello while using her foot to anchor it in place. She came to national prominence after winning NPR's Tiny Desk Concert competition in 2016 and has toured nationally and internationally since. Lea sings and plays a range of traditional fiddle tunes and haunting original songs. She was recently tapped to compose music for a Tony-nominated Broadway production of Macbeth and is also the founder of the organization RAMPD -Recording Artists and Music Professionals with Disabilities.

Norman Malone

Music has the uncanny ability to thrive under any and all conditions. No matter the circumstance, we've always made music. That is the story of Chicago native, Norman Malone. A budding piano virtuoso since the age of 5, Malone suffered a traumatic childhood injury, paralyzing the right side of his body and preventing the use of his right foot and hand. Not ready to give up on music, Malone taught himself how to play with only his left hand and foot and found pieces for the left hand written by Paul Wittgenstein, a pianist that lost his arm during World War I. Malone went on to earn his undergraduate and master's degree from DePaul University. He taught choral music in CPS schools and kept playing the piano. When a three-part Chicago Tribune series about Malone was published, he suddenly found himself with requests upon requests and an invitation to perform Maurice Ravel's For the Left Hand with the West Hartford Symphony Orchestra. Malone had been practicing the piece for 60 years, and was finally able to perform it with an orchestra and audience at the age of 79. His story was chronicled in an aptly named documentary For the Left Hand. Malone continues to play and appear at events around Chicago.

Django Reinhardt

Listen to a French jazz recording from the 30's or 40's, with an iconic clarinet blowing and soft brush hits on the drum and cymbals, and there's a chance you'll be able to hear Romani-FrenchJean "Django" Reinhardt keeping time with crisp guitar strokes. One of the most prominent and famous European jazz guitarists, Reinhardt was of Romani-French heritage and grew up near Paris playing violin, banjo, and guitar, and by 15 was already busking in cafés, though it wasn't until later in his life that he started playing jazz. His career might have been cut short in 1928 after his right leg and two fingers on his left hand were badly injured in a caravan fire. Needless to say, this would have spelled disaster for most guitarists, but Reinhardt managed to reinvent his entire technique with the use of only two fingers, using the others later on only to bar chords. After hearing a number of jazz records, including some by Louis Armstrong and Duke Ellington, he was inspired to work as a jazz guitarist from 1934 to 1953, introducing to the music his own sound and new styles of playing chords.

Ludwig van Beethoven

If you know of just one disabled musician, it's likely Beethoven. Famous for composing after having lost his hearing, Beethoven is the landmark figure in classical music. His hearing issues, which began in his late 20s, made performing the piano difficult for him, a major source of income at the time. Regardless, he continued to compose and the pieces became much more "Beethoven" in construction-they were sometimes violent, heavily infused with feeling, and much different from his earlier works, which had been influenced by Mozart and Haydn. Having lived during the transition between the Classical and Romantic periods, Beethoven wrote symphonies, chamber pieces, and piano pieces, among other things. Take a listen below to his infamous Symphony No. 5 in C minor.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NL4KNnu02k4

ABOUT THE AUTHORS

Thank you to the three CYSO Social Media Team members who contributed to this blog post: Abigail AuYeung (cellist in Symphony Orchestra), Tom Gotsch (bassist in Jazz Orchestra and Symphony Orchestra), and Alyssa Shih (violinist in Symphony Orchestra).

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Disability Pride Month: 5 Disabled Musicians to Know - Chicago Youth Symphony Orchestras

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Disability Pride Month is celebrated in July, commemorating the passing of the landmark Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) in July 1990. The act prohibits discrimination against people with disabilities in public services...

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July 25:  Meet Larry Bissonette & Tracy Thresher.

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July 25:  Meet Larry Bissonette & Tracy Thresher.

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The documentary is here: https://www.wretchesandjabberers.org/

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Official Wretches & Jabberers Trailer (Captioned)

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July 26:  Support disabled employment.  (Start with SHOPABLE).

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July 26:  Support disabled employment.  (Start with SHOPABLE).

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Purchasing products and services from business owners with disabilities or chronic medical conditions allows them to achieve independence and self-reliance. It also encourages inclusion and people having agency in our community. The more "able" we see people with different abilities, the more common hiring them becomes.

Browse through the exciting variety of products and services and consider supporting these business owners when you shop.
Local to San Diego County

Soaps from Blissful Seeds

Inclusion Art by Katie Flores
www.katieflores.com
Katie Flores, who is autistic, creates beautiful, vibrant artwork on canvas. Shop her art, tote bags, greeting cards and more on her website or Etsy @InclusionArtByKatie.

Jeremy's Vision
www.jeremysvision.com
Artist Jeremy Sicile-Kira (autistic) creates personal portraits and memorial paintings of loved ones passed, using his gift of synesthesia and perceiving auras. Includes written interpretation of the colors.

Reid Moriarty: Man with a Mic
www.ReidMoriarty.com
Musician, front man for the band Jungle Poppins, public speaker, and host of Talk Time, Reid Reads, and Late in the Day with Reid and Friends. For booking, email bookreidnow@gmail.com.

Rolling With Me
I Am All In: A Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion Book Series
www.rollingwithme.org
Author Margarita Elizondo, public speaker and author. Her book series combines disability history, social justice, and disability awareness, to help students understand the real-life experiences of people with disabilities.

Sophie's Too (second Sophie's Gallery location)
www.stmsc.org/programs/specializations/sophies-galleryLocated inside the St. Madeleine Sophie's Center Bldg.
2119 East Madison Ave., El Cajon
619-442-5129
Businesses outside of San Diego County
Collettey's Cookies
www.colletteys.com
Bakes delicious cookies (also available in gift packs), creates jobs for people with disabilities and advocates for fair wages and hiring practices for the disabled. Located in Boston, MA; free shipping available worldwide.
www.johnscrazysocks.comFun and colorful socks, masks and other items from a company started by a man with Down Syndrome. 5 percent of all profits go to the Special Olympics. Located in Melville, New York; free shipping on orders over $50.

Purely Patrick
www.purelypatrick.comPatrick, a nonverbal man with Cerebral Palsy, uses assistive technology to make tasty mixes for soups, baked goods, hot drinks, dog treats and birdseed. Based in Stowe, Vermont; shipping available.

Pretty Sick Supply Co.
www.prettysicksupply.com/shopStarted by two women with chronic illness, this website features a collection of stores that sell medical gear, supplies and accessories.

Special Sparkle
www.specialsparkle.comKelly Neville, who has Down Syndrome, and her mom Karen design and create jewelry. They are also public speakers for the National Association for Down Syndrome.

Stickman Communications
www.stickmancommunications.co.uk
Badges, magnets, keyrings and wearable status squares (tiles informing others how the wearer feels or can participate). Designed by a person with POTS and Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome.

Sweet Heat Jam Company
www.sweetheatjam.com
Hot pepper jelly and condiments created by a young man with Down Syndrome from his homegrown peppers. Based in Leander, TX; shipping available.

www.theunseenbean.comFresh coffee beans in unique blends, including fair trade/organic, created by a blind Master Coffee Roaster. Based in Boulder, CO; free shipping on orders over $50 with code FREE50.
Do you know of a business owned by a person with disabilities or a chronic medical condition that is not on this list? Email information and website to specialneeds@sandiegofamily.com for possible inclusion. Please put "ShopAble business" in the subject line.

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ShopAble: Support Business Owners with Disabilities

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Purchasing products and services from business owners with disabilities or chronic medical conditions allows them to achieve independence and self-reliance. It also encourages inclusion and people having agency in our community. The more "able" we see people with different abilities, the more common hiring them becomes.

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Zach Anner & The Quest for the Rainbow Bagel

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https://efrconline.org/

https://scdd.ca.gov/join-our-mailing-list/

https://www.cdcan.us/contact/

https://dredf.org/subscribe-to-our-newsletters/

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Copyright 2015 Exceptional Family Resource Center

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Artist Christine Sun Kim Rewrites Closed Captions | Pop-Up Magazine

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It's unavoidable. Whether you're watching the evening news, a Saturday morning cartoon, scrolling through your social feeds, or capping off a long day with your favorite reality show, mass media in all shapes and forms, is always around us.
Film and television especially, cast a wider, more influential net. They transport you to another world. They make you forget reality. And in many profound moments, remind you of your own reality. This is why movies and TV shows are critical forms of mainstream media. They can greatly influence the public's perception of disability inclusion based on how accurately characters with disabilities are represented on screen.
For children, what they see on mainstream media can help them discover more about the big, wide world beyond the four walls of their homes and classrooms. In this digital day and age, digital media can be incredibly impactful for children. According to , 39% of children in the US own smartphones. Statista further reports that children in the US ages 5 to 8 years old spend 64 minutes watching TV per day.

Experts, parents, and educators all have different views about children & screentime , but the statistics show that one thing is for certain - children today consume a considerable amount of mass media content.

And while the entertainment industry has made some fairly decent attempts at producing engaging media that accurately portray characters with disabilities, there is still so much room for improvement. One of the more recent ones, however, showed disability inclusion in a refreshing light - Disney/Pixar's "Luca".

One of the characters, Massimo, has one arm. In the film, he freely acknowledges to Luca that he was simply born that way after jokingly saying, "A sea monster ate it." According to an article by RespectAbility , "It is refreshing to see a character with a disability like this and have it be just part of him and not a big plot point. It really hammers home the lesson of acceptance in this movie."

For this article, however, we'll take you beyond animated films. Get ready to take notes for your next movie night as we feature 8 films and TV shows that portray empowering performances by actors with disabilities - and they're all examples of how accurate disability representation can make an impact on society.

These films are recommendations from Charles Mitchell, Assistant City Attorney of the City & County of Denver.

Charles is actively involved in the fine arts community. He has been a board member of the Curious Theatre Company, a member of the Colorado Business Committee for the Arts (CBCA), a graduate of CBCA's Leadership Arts Program, and volunteers his time to the Denver Film Society and Colorado Lawyers for the Arts. Before law school, Charles enjoyed a successful career in New York as a performer and producer, appearing on Broadway and in films, and working with producers of Tony and Pulitzer Prize-winning plays.

We thoroughly enjoyed his email about this same topic and through KIT Inclusionista Melissa Beck , he gave us special permission to share his suggestions in this blog post.

From old Hollywood classics to contemporary film and TV, grab some popcorn and dive into Charles' excellent movie recommendations:
1. HAROLD RUSSELL in the 1946 William Wyler film, THE BEST YEARS OF OUR LIVES
If you have not seen the classic 1946 William Wyler film, do yourself a favor. The film is about three US servicemen re-adjusting to civilian life after coming home from World War II. One of the three, Petty Officer 2nd Class Homer Parrish, had been a high school athlete and was engaged to (literally) the girl-next-door when he left for the war. Upon his return, he had to adjust to his past life and plans for the future after having lost both hands in service to his country.

Russell's performance is not only astonishing for its humanity, but also for its genesis. As an army instructor, Harold Russell lost his hands while making a training film when an explosive went off accidentally. After his accident, he was featured in an Army Signal Corp training film about the rehabilitation of injured veterans, called "Diary of a Sergeant." Director William Wyler saw that war department footage when he was doing research for The Best Years of Our Lives, and decided to cast Russell as returning petty officer Homer Parrish. Russell went on to receive the Academy Award for his performance, a first for any actor with a disability.
2. MARLEE MATLIN in the 1986 film, CHILDREN OF A LESSER GOD.
Marlee Matlin is an award-winning actress and deaf activist. She lost her hearing at the age of 18 months due to illness and fevers. For her portrayal of Sarah Norman, a deaf janitorial employee at a school for the deaf in the 1986 film, CHILDREN OF A LESSER GOD, Matlin won the Academy Award and Golden Globe Award for Best Actress.

Matlin remains the only deaf performer to have won an Oscar (and at then-21 years of age, remains the youngest person to win a "Best Actress" Oscar). The film was based on the 1979 Broadway play of the same name by Mark Medoff, but on stage, Sarah Norman was played by the wonderful actress Phyllis Frelich, who was born to deaf parents and was the oldest of nine siblings, all of whom were deaf. Ironically, Ms. Freilich was replaced by Ms. Matlin when the cameras rolled, perhaps due to Ms. Freilich's age - After all, it is Hollywood.

But credit goes to the directors and producers of both iterations of the film that Sarah Norman was always played by two extremely talented actors, both of whom were deaf. Matlin continues to enjoy a busy career, having appeared in The West Wing, Picket Fences, The Family Guy, and another little film mentioned later on in this post.
3. PETER DINKLAGE in HBO hit series, GAME OF THRONES (first aired in 2011)
Needless to say, Tyrion Lannister, of the epic series GAME OF THRONES, needs no introduction. Now, GOT is not a film, but Dinklage enjoyed a very successful film career before becoming the Hand of the King and highest-paid resident of Westeros.

Dinklage is from New Jersey, the only member of his family born with a common form of dwarfism known as achondroplasia. As a young actor, Dinklage understandably struggled to find work, in large part because he refused to take on the roles typically offered to actors of his stature (4' 5"). In interviews, he explains that he refused to play "elves and leprechauns," and when asked what his ideal role was, he replied "the romantic lead" who gets the girl.

His breakthrough performance came in 2003 with a small film directed by Tom McCarthy called THE STATION AGENT, about a train enthusiast who chooses to isolate himself from the rest of the world. It's a beautiful performance that won him a Screen Actors Guild Award for best actor. The performance is particularly touching given his connection with isolation and the segregation that people with disabilities experience every day.

A few more of the many great Peter Dinklage performances can be found in THREE BILLBOARDS OUTSIDE EBBING, MISSOURI and IN BRUGES, both directed by Martin McDonaugh, and of course, ELF - BUT, true to his promise, he DOES NOT play an elf or leprechaun in ELF.
4. PAULA SAGE in Alison Peeble's 2003 film, AFTERLIFE
Paula Sage is a Scottish actress, a Special Olympics netball player, and an advocate for people with Down syndrome. She was adopted as an infant into a family that nurtured her needs. In 2003, Scottish director Alison Peebles cast Sage in her film, AFTERLIFE, about a Scottish journalist torn between a high-profile career and caring for his younger sister who has Down syndrome.

Think Rain Man, but without the stars, or the budget, or the slick screenplay. Just an honest, beautiful, human journey. Many of the creative staff and crew had personal connections to the syndrome or had personal connections to someone with the genetic disorder. Paula Sage won the BAFTA Scotland Award for a best debut performance, a recognition similar to the Scottish Oscar.

Sage went on to star in the Scottish soap opera RIVER CITY, and became an ambassador for Down syndrome. Unfortunately, even with all the streaming options available, this one is tough to find. All others are easily "streamable".
5. ZACK GOTTSAGEN in the 2019 drama/adventure THE PEANUT BUTTER FALCON
Like Paula Sage, Zack Gottsagen was born with Down syndrome, a genetic disorder caused by the presence of all or part of a third copy of chromosome 21. Film directors Tyler Nilson and Michael Schwartz met Gottsagen at a camp for disabled and non-disabled people, and Zack told them he wanted to be a movie star. The directors decided to write a screenplay for him, using his hopes and dreams to form the basis of what would become THE PEANUT BUTTER FALCON.

The film went on to a successful run and made Zack's dream come true. In 2020, Zack became the first person with Down syndrome to be a presenter at the Academy Awards, when he and co-star Shia LaBeouf presented an Oscar for Best Live Action Short Film at the 92nd Academy Awards ceremony. Zack currently has two new films in production.
6. MILLICENT SIMMONDS in 2017's WONDERSTRUCK
Ms. Simmonds is one of the newest breakout film stars to be featured in roles that mirror her disability. Simmonds lost her hearing at 12 months old due to a medication overdose. While attending a school for the deaf, she began participating in the drama club, playing Puck in A Midsummer Night's Dream. At 12 years old, she was cast in the film WONDERSTRUCK, based on a popular deaf-themed "young adult" novel.

Her performance in WONDERSTRUCK was universally praised as a breakthrough screen debut. Most recently, Simmonds starred in John Krasinski's A QUIET PLACE and A QUIET PLACE, PART II, as the deaf daughter of a hearing couple played by Krasinski and Emily Blunt. While the producers did not intend to cast a deaf actress, Krasinski insisted.

Simmonds and her family even assisted with input on the screenplay. Simmonds has become a vocal advocate for the deaf community, speaking on issues of casting, editing that obscures sign language, and even designing a facial mask for medical professionals that includes a transparent panel to allow lip-reading and facial expressions to be seen by deaf patients. In her upcoming project, Simmonds will star in a film titled HELEN & TEACHER, about Helen Keller's time at Harvard's Radcliffe College in the early 1900s.
7. Deaf actors TROY KOSTUR, DANIEL DURANT & MARLEE MATLIN in the movie CODA, a 2021 Film
Garnering multiple awards in the 94th Academy Awards on March 28, 2022, CODA which stands for "Child of Deaf Adults" from Apple TV+ was honored with wins in all three categories it was nominated for: Best Picture, Best Supporting Actor for Troy Kotsur, and Best Adapted Screenplay for director Siân Heder. It's a coming-of-age story about Ruby Rossi, a hearing teenager, and her family, all of whom are deaf. Her parents and brother run a family fishing business and like many CODAs, her family depends on her to be the link to the hearing world particularly when it comes to running the business.

The story centers on Ruby's struggle to balance her own plans for the future with family responsibilities and her genuine desire to be there for her family. Everyone in Ruby's family is played by deaf actors. Troy Kostur plays Ruby's father. Daniel Durant plays her brother, Leo. And the brilliant, Oscar-winning actress, Marlee Matlin, plays Ruby's mother.

To wrap up this list, here's a special recommendation from KIT that we think you'll love:
8. SOPHIE JAEWON KIM in Netflix Original Series THE HEALING POWERS OF DUDE
14-year-old Korean-American actress Sophie Jaewon Kim is blazing the trail for a new generation of actors with disabilities in her breakthrough role as Amara in the Netflix original series, The Healing Powers of Dude which first made its television debut in January 2020. Sophie was born with Ullrich Congenital Muscular Dystrophy and has been a wheelchair user since she was 4 years old.

She recently participated in a RespectAbility virtual event "Celebrating Representation and Inclusion of Disabled AAPI (Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders) in Media". She answered questions and talked about diversity and disability representation in the entertainment industry. Sophie also said she's received a lot of heartwarming messages of support, both from disabled and non-disabled fans. Her favorite, however, is when fans from the disability community tell her that they are always happily surprised to see an authentic wheelchair user portray a funny, relatable character on screen.

When Netflix announced a worldwide casting call for an authentic wheelchair user for the role of Amara, her parents encouraged her to audition. Although she's never had any professional acting experience, when she was 6 years old, she took to the stage to perform in an elementary school production of Peter Pan and sang her heart out. That experience sparked a light - her childhood dreams of performing on stage and becoming a pop star held steadfast, close to her heart.

Never in her wildest dreams did she ever think that she would be cast out of the hundreds that auditioned, and have the chance to co-star in a TV show that's accessible to millions of viewers. Sophie realized that she probably didn't consider the possibility of acting as a career path because growing up, there weren't many TV shows made for kids or teens that starred actors with disabilities.

Today, Sophie has become the role model she was looking for and is paving the way for many aspiring young, disabled actors like her.

Why Is Accurate Disability Representation Important?

Disability representation is centered around talking about and depicting people with disabilities in a positive, accurate manner. But as simple as it sounds, it remains a complex issue.

The trouble is that representation of disability in the mass media is often inaccurate and typically falls into one of two, overly-simplified categories: the funny disability and the tragic disability. In both cases, there's a lack of complexity. When we only see disabilities represented as a source of humor or sadness, it contributes to an overall lack of understanding about how people with disabilities live.

Another common disability representation issue is the portrayal of disabled characters by able-bodied actors. The reasons for this vary; it could be that an actor is already famous, so they're given the role regardless of their ability to portray the disability accurately.

In the same write-up that included the film recommendations above, Charles wrote, "... there is a rather tasteless saying in Hollywood that if you want to win an Oscar, you should play a character with a disability. There may, however, be some ugly truth to this unfortunate cliché. 61 actors have received Oscar nominations for playing a character with a disability. Of those nominated, 27 have actually won the film industry's highest honor for their performances. BUT, of those 61 nominees and 27 winners, only two winners were actually disabled performers sharing the same disability as their fictional counterparts."

Another possible reason for handing able-bodied actors the role of playing characters with disabilities could be that casting directors and other industry professionals simply lack awareness of disabled actors who would otherwise have been perfect for the role.

Regardless of the reason, the recent numbers show a sharp decline in disability representation in films:

GLAAD's 2021 Where We Are On TV Report states that "Series regular characters with disabilities saw a decrease, down to 2.8 percent (22 of 775) from 3.5 percent last year. This number falls far below the actual number of those with disabilities in the United States."

2021 Nielsen survey findings reveal that when a story or character shows disabilities, audiences who live with disabilities say the portrayal of their identity group is inaccurate.

The glaringly simple solution to changing this problem? More accurate representation! More films, TV shows, movies, plays, or Broadway shows involving people with disabilities in every facet. From production to release, if every other film or TV series we see or grow up around normalizes actors with disabilities in starring roles or involves more crew, writers, makeup artists, costume designers, and staff with disabilities then through the power of mass media, we can create a palpable difference.

There are many reasons to be informed about accurate disability representation in movies or television, but one of the most important is the education aspect.
People with disabilities deserve to be portrayed in a way that's accurate and honest because people without disabilities need to be informed, educated, and respectful of people with disabilities. Young people especially need positive, realistic portrayals of disabilities - and film and television are a great outlet for this.
Disability is a part of everyday life. If entertainment is to be a reflection of the real world, then it should include disability.

Our goal: disability inclusion in all artistic and creative pursuits!

As disability inclusion advocates, we must always be aware of the power of the media and arts, and how they can single-handedly shape perceptions, biases, and stereotypes.

Through their creative prowess and performances, the actors in the films we've highlighted offer a complex view of individuals with disabilities that so often go unseen.

We hope that this article will spur both awareness and action in your organizations to intentionally integrate disability inclusion training in your programming or to start showing and seeing more films where characters with disabilities are accurately represented.
Let's talk about inclusion! We look forward to discussing options that best suit the needs of your organization and the families you serve. Contact KIT today!

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Accurate Disability Representation In Mass Media: 8 Powerful Film and Television Performances By Actors With Disabilities - Kids Included Together

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From the best TV & film portrayals of actors with disabilities, discover the 8 most powerful ones.

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If you don't have a journal, please post on our social media. And let us know how the challenge went for you!!

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A Credo For Support (People 1st version)