Media Guide
The depiction of disabled individuals, fictional or otherwise, influences the way that society views disability. Therefore, the representation of disabled individuals is incredibly important, not only for the disability community, but for society as a whole. Research shows that:
- Members of marginalized communities “can easily internalize dominant representations and see themselves as inferior.” [22]
- For too long, disabled individuals have been used to fill the role of the villain, often using their visible differences to illicit fear or using a tragic backstory to fuel their “villain origin story”.[9]
- “Only 1 in 5 people with a visible difference have seen a character who looks like them cast as the hero in a film or on TV” and “even fewer (15%) have seen someone with a visible difference playing the love interest on screen.”[9]
- “Increased exposure to characters with disabilities can lead to more positive interactions between students with and without disabilities…and will encourage students to challenge stereotypes about disability that they encounter intexts, media, and the world.”[35]
If pop culture can affect us in negative ways, it goes without saying that it can have an especially positive impact as well.
Please use this media guide for positive representations in media, including picture books, fiction, non-fiction, television, and movies.
It is so important to showcase people with disabilities with intersectional identities because that allows viewers to see beyond disability….People with disabilities are multilayered—we are complex breathing human beings defined by more than just what we lack.
TV & Movies
Books
THOUGHTS?
We would like to hear from you! What resources have you found helpful in your journey? What would you like added?
