Disability Representation

Disability is the consequence of an impairment that may be physical, cognitive, mental, sensory, emotional, developmental, or some combination of these. A disability may be present from birth, or occur during a person's lifetime.

Branston and Stafford (2001) - soaps rely on archetypal characters and stereotypes - ensure ready accessibility because stories have universal appeal about families and communities. 

Paul Hunt (1966) expressed the views of many when he wrote "we are tired of being statistics, cases, wonderfully courageous examples to the world, pitiable objects to stimulate funding."

5 roles in films/dramas/the news:

The Undateable's

A Touch of Frost - Billy 

Soaps (Eastenders - Donna)

Glee - Artie

Paralympics

The disabled are mediated through programmes such as Children in Need and other Charities. They are always conveyed as having a smile on their face, being fighters, no matter what their condition is. This relates to Paul Hunt's theory of "we are tired of being wonderfully courageous examples to the world" - as this isn't always a reality. Being disabled can be mentally draining and tiring and you can often feel inferior to everyone around you that has the ability to walk when you're in a wheelchair. An example of this situation would be Will Traynor's condition in the book Me Before You by Jojo Moyes. Children In Need rarely portray these feelings, as the young people are seen to be "wonderfully courageous examples"- influencing an audience to send in money to keep these children courageous. Whereas in Me Before You, Will wanted to end his life. 

James Bond movies (where disability is portayed as sinister/evil)

Bond series producer Michael:  The idea that physical deformity and personality deformity go hand in hand in some of these villains. Sometimes it’s a motivating factor in their life and what makes them who they are. 

The Disabled Person as Atmosphere or Curio 

The atmosphere created through 300 with disabled people is that they are portrayed as being vulnerable  and inferior to an able bodied person such as the master in the Xerxes Meets Ephialtes scene. He orders women to flaunt their near to naked bodies in front of this disabled man to get him to say "I Want It All".

Life's Too Short
The disabled people are viewed as being an object of ridicule in the series Life's Too Short which features a dwarf, who is the size of a 5 year old, yet tries to achieve the things that the normal sized adult can. For example, getting something off of a high shelf, doing their shopping in a supermarket, and buying condoms. They are presented as being sexually abnormal, a burden, and their own worst enemy.