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Love on the Spectrum U.S. | Official Trailer | Netflix

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I know that this particular show his face criticism about whether it is actually representation, or exploitation. Although I have not watched all episodes yet, from what I have seen the casting of the show represents a wide range of individuals with ASD which I feel will help dismantle stereotypes, or any preconceived notion held by the viewer.

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0:00 / 2:06•Watch full video

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Love on the Spectrum U.S. | Official Trailer | Netflix

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"Arthur" Series Creator Marc Brown Jumps Back into Children's Programming with "Hop," A New Preschool Animated Series Greenlit at Max | Warner Bros. Discovery

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This is an animated series from the creator of the show Arthur. This is the first children’s story that I’ve seen where the main character has a disability. I think this will be a wonderful conversation around empathy with younger students. Not to mention I’m slightly biased as one of the characters share the same name as me and that’s always been some thing that I rarely see, so there you go with more representation.

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Burbank, CA, June 12, 2023-Following last year's momentous finale of the beloved "Arthur " series, creator Marc Brown is beginning his next chapter in the world of children's television with "Hop," a new preschool animated series greenlit today by Max. The series marks Brown's first television show since "Arthur ' s" staggering 25-year run, where he began telling children's stories. Co-creators and fellow "Arthur" alums, Peter K. Hirsch and Tolon Brown, will join Marc in bringing his beloved children's book illustrations to life on "Hop," produced by Epic Story Media and animated by Loomi Animation.

Epic has engaged RespectAbility - the esteemed advocacy nonprofit organization fighting stigma and advancing opportunity for people with disabilities - to consult on the series. "Hop" follows an eclectic group of besties whose comedic adventures teach preschoolers about embracing their own uniqueness. Led by Hop, an enthusiastic, empathetic frog with one leg shorter than the other, he and his quirky friends address kid-relatable problems with a healthy dose of laughter, silliness, and adventure.

Set in the aspirational community of Fair Village, every episode is grounded in emotional reality but soars into the world of fantasy, populated by dragons, trolls, talking banjos, and magic crayons. With a gentle balance of humor and heart, our heroes go on fun escapades to discover that they can overcome any obstacle with perseverance, creativity, and teamwork. Together, they show us the power of friendship and kindness as they navigate the mud puddles of life.

"Even before 'Arthur' ended, I was nurturing a new project about a little frog named Hop, for a younger audience," said Brown. "As Hop's world grew in my imagination, I drew inspiration from the great work my friend Fred Rogers had done. With 'Arthur,' we occasionally introduced characters with disabilities, but they never became part of the ensemble cast in any meaningful way. But the characters in "Hop" reflect many kids who are underrepresented in the media. Some of our characters have disabilities but they never define who they are or what they can achieve. Kids are kids and each one is unique and filled with potential. And kids love to have fun, that's what 'Hop' is all about!"

Ken Faier of Epic Story Media adds, "We're extremely proud of our work and collaboration with industry experts on representing characters in an inclusive way. It is an honor to have developed 'Hop' with Marc, Peter and Tolon who know how to engage not only today's youth but parents looking for quality content. We believe 'Hop' will have longevity in the marketplace for many years to come."

Michael Ouweleen, president of Adult Swim, Cartoon Network, and Boomerang added: "Marc is a legend in children's programming, having created one of the most iconic television shows that has garnered almost every honor imaginable. 'Hop' exudes everything families love about 'Arthur,' but with a fresh cast of modern characters that authentically represent the sundry of little eyes watching TV."

The series stars:

Hop (voiced by David Connolly) - Hop is an outgoing six-year-old frog with one leg shorter than the other, whose superpower is empathy. He lives on a houseboat with Penny and runs a retro-diner called the Lilypad that also functions as the gang's clubhouse. A natural-born leader, Hop spearheads the group on their zany adventures and embodies what it means to be an accepting, caring and supportive friend. Broadway actor and disability advocate David Connolly voices Hop. Connolly is a recipient of the Premier of Ontario's Award of Excellence in Applied Arts and happens to be a double below-knee amputee. He is the first amputee to have performed on Broadway.

Penny (voiced by Moneesha "Misha" Bakshi) - Penny is Hop's slightly older sibling. Silly, goofy and bubbling with enthusiastic energy, Penny often seems like they're spinning out of the control. Penny is a source of broad physical comedy and with their quirky sense of humor and talking banjo, Penny is the lovable clown of the group.

Hoot (voiced by Makeda Bromfield) - Like her name suggests, Hoot is the life of the party. Charming, scatterbrained, and a bit of a diva, Hoot is the character with BIG dreams and an even bigger heart. She lives on an organic farm with several disobedient chickens, a playful cow and an erudite talking car named Jinx. Hoot is an affectionate, whimsical spirit with a sixth sense for finding the fun in any task.

Filipa (voiced by Charlotte Walker) - Filipa is a fiercely intelligent squirrel who lives in the woods in an elaborate treehouse which she built herself with the help of her magical crayon Grape Lightning. She is precise, honest, and always says exactly what's on her mind. Although no one has ever diagnosed her, Filipa is neuro-divergent; a disdain for loud noises and big crowds comes along with her passionate creativity. However, the Hoppers accept her just the way she is, and in return she is the most loyal friend they could ever ask for. Filipa is voiced by Charlotte Walker, a new voice actor and current student at George Brown College in Toronto who also happens to be autistic.

Benny (voiced by Jake Shannon) - Benny is an alligator who may look fearsome, but is the sweetest, shyest - and most neurotic - one of the group. He's afraid of spiders, mayonnaise, small spaces, wide spaces, and all spaces in between. But with the help of his friends, along with his knight-doll Brave Sir Ben, there's no fear Benny cannot face - and even have fun while facing it! Benny loves reading and he's a gifted inventor and storyteller, which is why he runs the local book-toy-and-game library.

Alfred (voiced by Makeda Bromfield) - Alfred Beaver is the youngest member of the group and even though his snooty older brother and sister (Ronny & Lonny) disapprove of him associating with such frivolous characters, Alfred takes every opportunity he can to hang out with the Hoppers. Alfred is wide-eyed, open-hearted, and irrepressibly eager to learn from Hop and try to do things on his own. Even though he's very innocent, he's no pushover and Alfred takes on challenges with a heaping dose of grit and determination.
Hi-Res Images Available HERE
About Max
, which launched May 23, 2023, is an enhanced streaming platform from Warner Bros. Discovery, delivering unparalleled quality content for everyone in the household. With a personalized user experience that brings unique and unexpected stories ranging from the best of unscripted to the highest quality in scripted programming, Max is the destination for HBO Originals, Warner Bros. films, Max Originals, the DC universe, the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, an expansive offering of kids and family content, and best-in-class programing across food, home, reality, lifestyle, and documentaries from leading brands like HGTV, Food Network, Adult Swim, Cartoon Network, Discovery Channel, TLC, ID and more, all in one place.

About Epic Story Media
Founded by Ken Faier, Epic Story Media launched in 2018 to put creators at the center of compelling and engaging franchises for kids. ESM now has an active and growing slate of IPs as well as representing third-party content and licensing and merchandising rights around the world.

ESM is a 360° company with a joint venture with IP kid creators Epic Storyworlds, which also includes 2D animation studio Loomi Animation, and the recently launched Roblox™ game development studio, FreeGround, led by Steve Couture. Faier also has a mobile game development studio in Vancouver called Epic Story Interactive.
www.epicstorymedia.com

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"Arthur" Series Creator Marc Brown Jumps Back into Children's Programming with "Hop," A New Preschool Animated Series Greenlit at Max | Warner Bros. Discovery

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Epic Story Media Produces Heartwarming Comedy About Embracing People's Differences Burbank, CA, June 12, 2023-Following last year's momentous finale of the beloved "Arthur" series, creator Marc Brown is beginning his next chapter in the world of children's television with "Hop," a new preschool animated series greenlit today by Max.

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I thought this was an interesting example of a disability represented in the media in a positive light. This movie portrays a main character, the daughter in the family who is deaf, which has led to the entire family’s ability to communicate silently through ASL. The actress playing the part is deaf in real life.

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John Krasinski and Emily Blunt Through the Years

This movie stars actors like Emily blunt. It perfectly captures the essence of the concept of the writers. This is an intelligently made sci-fi horror, where the whole world is invaded by the creatures unknown to our civilization. As they take over earth ,the humans struggle for survival where one sound could cost them their lives. This movie is about a family who figure out their survival in a smart way and they would fight anything for their life.

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A Quiet Place: Directed by John Krasinski. With Emily Blunt, John Krasinski, Millicent Simmonds, Noah Jupe. A family struggles for survival in a world where most humans have been killed by blind but noise-sensitive creatures. They are forced to communicate in sign language to keep the creatures at bay.

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Problematic Representation of People with Disabilities in the Media - Hand in Hand

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Such a great article that speaks to the core idea behind this assignment, where we explore perceptions of people with disabilities in the media. I believe that sometimes we take for granted the importance of using people first language, when talking to individuals with disabilities.  This article sheds a light on accessibility and media representation, but also reinforces the idea that always showing feel good stories and videos is not an equal representation but simply “inspiration 🤬.”

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At Hand-in-Hand, we often find ourselves reminding people that words matter. The way we talk about or describe someone can change the way they're perceived entirely. Something we talk about less often, that is just as important, is how people are represented in pop culture. Disability representation in fictional characters and famous figures influences society's views on individuals with disabilities in our everyday lives. By having more accurate portrayals in movies and pop culture, the stigma surrounding disability may start to dissolve.

Annie Segarra is an advocate for disability rights, using her social media following to start discussions about accessibility and media representation of people with disabilities. She has Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (a connective tissue disorder) which results in her sometimes using a wheelchair. Recently, she was a guest on the podcast Stuff Mom Never Told You with hosts Anney Reese and Bridget Todd. In the episode "Disabled Isn't a Dirty Word" , she discussed the problematic way people with disabilities are represented in the media today.

Disability Representation In Fictional Characterization

Segarra argues that mainstream movie characters with disabilities are either portrayed as being tragic and depressed, or they exist only to further the narrative of the (typically able-bodied) main character. She cites several examples, including , a movie about a quirky woman who becomes the caretaker (and love interest) of a wealthy banker paralyzed in an accident. The wealthy banker is portrayed as a bitter, miserable man because he has a disability - sending a message that people with disabilities are incapable of living happy and successful lives.

Another example is , which stars Johnny Knoxville as an able-bodied and typically developing individual who poses as a contestant in the Special Olympics in order to pay off a debt with the prize money. This comedy uses crude humor and plays off of stereotypes of people with disabilities to entertain the audience. While the message in the film may be less than stellar, The Ringer (as well as Johnny Knoxville) have received praise for ensuring that every character is accurately portrayed by an actor with a disability in real life.

While Hollywood has a long way to go in the way of disability representation, there are some films that feature more positive representation. , , and the series all feature main characters with disabilities. Forrest Gump and Avatar use disability as a way for their audience to feel compassion toward these characters and realize they're capable of significant accomplishments. The X-Men movies use both real disability (as Professor X's paraplegia and Wolverine's post-traumatic stress disorder) and metaphorical disability in their stories. The "mutant" X-Men are stigmatized by the general public because their powers make them different. However, the message expressed in every movie can be summed up best by Storm in , "They can't cure us. You want to know why? Because there's nothin' to cure. Nothing's wrong with you. Or any of us, for that matter." Similarly, there's nothing wrong with individuals with disabilities or different needs. Some may need adaptations or assistive devices to successfully navigate their daily tasks, but that's true of people of all abilities!

Portrayal In Pop Culture Relating to People of Color and the LGBTQ+ Community

Pop culture has been problematic in their portrayal of people with disabilities beyond fictional characters in movies. Segarra shared an example of a book which went unpublished because the main character, who had a disability, was deemed "too happy" by the publishing company. The company didn't believe that a character with a disability would be relatable to their audience, so they wanted the disability to be connected to a supporting character instead.

Segarra furthers her argument by pointing out that this mindset was (and sometimes still is!) the norm regarding people of color and those in the LGBTQ+ community. Particularly in page-to-screen adaptations, filmmakers have come under fire in recent years for casting white or cis-gender actors in roles that represent characters of color, or able-bodied actors to represent people with disabilities.

Amid this controversy, films such as Netflix's To All the Boys I've Loved Before offer a breath of fresh air with its casting of an Asian-American lead actress at the insistence of the director and the writer of the book the film is based on. Other examples of Hollywood and pop culture getting it right are:

R.J. Mitte, who has Cerebral Palsy, portrayed a character with the same diagnosis on the show Breaking Bad

Lauren Potter, who has Down syndrome, played a fun and energetic character on Glee

Briony Williams has, what she calls, a "little hand", but the Great British Bake Off didn't draw attention to it and only focused on her baking abilities

As we become more aware of the lack of media representation in all aspects of life, content creators are pushed to create more diverse stories and characters for society's consumption.

Attempts to Erase or Downplay Disabilities in Celebrities' Lives

By having adequate media representation of fictional characters, we will start seeing a change in the depictions of people in the real world. In particular, people with disabilities should be seen as people first and foremost, and their disabilities should not encompass their entire persona.

As an example of negative stigma surrounding disability, Segarra points out that Stephen Hawking was depicted as being "free" from his disability after his death. People saw Hawking's wheelchair as a cage that restricted him from living a full life. One of the many issues with this mindset is that it goes against Hawking's personal views and experience with disability.

Stephen Hawking was an accomplished physicist, author, and cosmologist. Hawking also had a disability, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) or Lou Gehrig's disease, which is a progressive neurological disorder that affects voluntary muscle movement. While many people felt that his disability was restricting, Hawking viewed it as a positive characteristic . He didn't see his wheelchair and communication device as a burden, but as a tool to improve the quality of his life. These tools allowed Hawking to travel, write, and lecture independently.

After Hawking passed, there was made depicting him as being free of his wheelchair in the afterlife. This is troubling because it conveys the idea that the only way individuals with disabilities can be truly free or happy is when they no longer have their disability, which is exactly the opposite of what Hawking asserted throughout his life.

Another example is Frida Kahlo, whose disability was erased from her legacy. Unknown to many, she contracted polio at a young age and had lifelong implications because of it. She laid in bed often and her father helped her find an accessible way to paint from her bed. However, the stigma surrounding disability has prevented a major experience in her life from being included in her life story.

Imagine how society's views on disabilities might positively change if we stopped eliminating disabilities from people's experiences. If we showed people of all abilities from history accomplishing great things with accommodations or adaptations, instead of hiding away the challenges they may have experienced to accomplish those great things.

The Representation of Everyday People With Disabilities

Finally, Segarra focuses on the people with disabilities we see or interact with in our everyday lives. One of her first targets are the ever popular "promposals" that plague our social media feeds.

According to her, promposals featuring people with disabilities are seen as an act of charity toward the individual with disabilities, and they focus on the "goodness" of the able-bodied person performing the charitable act. "It almost invalidates the agency of the other person," said Segarra, of the concept of filming someone for a feel-good moment on the internet.

(There are lots of other examples of exploiting individuals with disabilities for the benefit of able-bodied individuals, including labeling everyday things that individuals are perfectly capable of doing as "inspirational", or using the phrase, "What's your excuse?" when an individual with different abilities accomplishes a goal or physical/sports feat.)

These feel-good stories and videos are considered "inspiration porn," a term coined by Stella Young . Viewers react emotionally because it makes them feel something - either pity for the subject of the video, or joy for themselves because it makes them feel good for reacting positively toward a charitable act.

Instead, stories should focus on spotlighting inequalities in our schools, workplaces, and society rather than rewarding people for doing something that should already be normalized-- including individuals of all abilities and treating others with decency, kindness, and empathy. We shouldn't sensationalize the person who hired a person with disabilities or asked them on a date; we should strive to humanize and respect people who may be different than we are.

How Can We Positively Move Forward?

Use your critical eye! What message does a character with disabilities send about people with disabilities in general? Before you share a "heartwarming" video, ask yourself: am I celebrating someone's accomplishments, or am I pitying this person?

Finally, we can encourage news outlets and local journalism to use people-first language and to allow people with disabilities to define themselves as individuals first and foremost. As an able-bodied individual, I wouldn't want someone to define me with words I don't associate with myself or my abilities, so why do we assume we know the words others want associated with them? If society is going to make a shift towards being more inclusive, we need to pay attention to and try to eliminate divisive or degrading language, and allow individuals with disabilities to determine if and how they'd like people to identify their abilities.

Tackling the negative perceptions of individuals with disabilities in the media and pop culture can feel very overwhelming, but luckily for you, I don't want you to tackle that big issue! I just want you to work on yourself and the people around you.

Start using a critical eye when consuming content which features individuals with disabilities or information about experiences with disabilities. Then start advocating for people-first language, discussing people's experiences with them (instead of assuming to know everything about their experience simply because they have a disability diagnosis), and encouraging your family and friends to use correct language in regards to disabilities. By questioning the world around us and pushing for change, we can evolve into a better functioning and more accessible world.

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Problematic Representation of People with Disabilities in the Media - Hand in Hand

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At Hand-in-Hand, we often find ourselves reminding people that words matter. The way we talk about or describe someone can change the way they're perceived entirely. Something we talk about less often, that is just as important, is how people are represented in pop culture. Disability representation

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I really enjoyed this humorously enlightening conversation with two influential youth leaders, living with disabilities, Red Nicholson and Muskaan Devta. This is a casual and accessible conversation geared towards teenagers. I enjoyed this particular clip because it didn’t come off as patronizing rather an easy going and fun conversation that address is difficult topics common to most teenagers.

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Disability Visibility: First-Person Stories from the Twenty-First Century

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I’m really interested in reading first person accounts from individuals with varying  disabilities. What got my attention about this particular book is Alice Wong’s way of shining a spotlight on individuals with disabilities and showcasing the joy and fullness of their lives, in addition to the struggles and challenges.

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Disability Visibility: First-Person Stories from the Twenty-First Century

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Disability Visibility: First-Person Stories from the Twenty-First Century [Wong, Alice] on Amazon.com. *FREE* shipping on qualifying offers. Disability Visibility: First-Person Stories from the Twenty-First Century

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Eradicating ableism with disability-positive K-12 education

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Qudsiya Naqui has such a powerful voice and this particular article inspired me, and led me to her podcast "Down to the struts". I'm looking forward to learning more about her views on intersectionality in harmony with disability civil rights and disability justice.

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Eradicating ableism with disability-positive K-12 education

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More than half a century ago, powerful civil rights laws brought disabled children into American school systems, breaking down the physical barriers that held these young people at the margins of society. But attitudes towards disability as a devalued limitation persisted, holding social and cultura…

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In researching a project for a previous class on Haben Girma, I came across this podcast. It is a fascinating exploration of various topics related to disabilities and disability advocates and a lot of the featured guests were discussed in class.

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Listen to this episode from Down to the Struts on Spotify. The conversation continues on social media. Follow us @downtothestruts on Twitter and Instagram, and join our Facebook discussion group.Transcript available here.

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All You Hear is Noise | 2023 Tribeca Festival | Tribeca

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I have not yet seen this film, but I’ve heard many wonderful things about it. This is a contribution to the Tribeca film festival that focuses on athletes in Special Olympics.

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All You Hear is Noise | 2023 Tribeca Festival | Tribeca

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A fearless documentary portrait of three athletes with intellectual disabilities navigating life beyond the international spotlight of the Special Olympics World Games

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Such a great NYT article that illuminates the history of disability laws and how important representation (or lack thereof) plays a part in legislation.

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‘Nothing About Us Without Us’: 16 Moments in the Fight for Disability Rights (Published 2020)

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The disability civil rights movement has many distinct narratives, but the prevailing themes are of community, justice and equity.

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Sitting Pretty: The View from My Ordinary Resilient Disabled Body

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I was interested in reading Rebekah Taussig's personal story. Her instagram account @sittingpretty is inspiring and thought provoking.

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Sitting Pretty: The View from My Ordinary Resilient Disabled Body

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Amazon.com: Sitting Pretty: The View from My Ordinary Resilient Disabled Body: 9780062936806: Taussig, Rebekah: Books

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How Hannah Gadsby's High-Functioning Autism Works | Netflix Is A Joke

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I’m a huge fan of  Hannah Gadsby and have watched all of her specials. This particular clip I found interesting because it gives a very hilarious but eye-opening look at ASD from a students perspective.

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How Hannah Gadsby's High-Functioning Autism Works | Netflix Is A Joke

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I actually had the great joy of meeting Josh Blue many years ago. I’ve always enjoyed his comedy and his disarming approach when talking about cerebral palsy. I think his comedy special is a great way to start the conversation and allow people opportunity to ask questions.

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I was somewhat torn with this selection as I had mixed emotions about including it in my media journal. At first, I was concerned by Ricky Gervais and his portrayal of a young man with an intellectual disability. After watching the entire series, I have to say that I enjoyed the program as it did not focus on, nor mention his disability, rather portrayed him as an individual who lives a full and happy life.

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The truth about special education | Suzanne Carrington | TEDxYouth@GrahamSt

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I have previously read an article by Suzanne Carrington entitled Two steps forward one step back and wanted to learn more about her. I really enjoy her take on inclusive education in Australia.

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The truth about special education | Suzanne Carrington | TEDxYouth@GrahamSt