1. Inspiration Porn: Wheelchair users are frequently portrayed as inspirational figures who overcome their disability and achieve great things, often presented in an overly sentimental or sensational manner. This can perpetuate the idea that wheelchair users are defined by their disability and exceptional circumstances, rather than as ordinary individuals with the same range of abilities and limitations as anyone else.
2. Pitied and Vulnerable: Wheelchair users are often depicted as helpless and in need of assistance, evoking pity or sympathy. This portrayal reinforces the notion that wheelchair users are incapable of taking care of themselves, neglecting their strength, independence, and agency.
3. Lack of Diversity: Wheelchair users in media are predominantly white, male, and able-bodied actors playing disabled characters. This limited representation excludes the vast diversity of wheelchair users in terms of race, gender, age, and other aspects, leading to an inaccurate portrayal of the wheelchair user community.
4. Overcoming Disability Cliché: Media often features narratives focused on overcoming disability as the primary theme, implying that a person's value is determined solely by their ability to do "normal" things rather than recognizing their unique strengths and contributions. This emphasizes the able-bodied perspective as the norm and undermines the notion of disability as a natural part of human diversity.
5. Supercrip Myth: The supercrip myth portrays wheelchair users as extraordinarily accomplished individuals who must excel beyond expectations to be considered worthy. This creates unrealistic standards and expectations, suggesting that wheelchair users need to overcompensate for their disabilities to be seen as valuable members of society.
6. Lack of Authentic Representation: Wheelchair users are often played by able-bodied actors, leading to inauthentic portrayals that perpetuate stereotypes and hinder empathy. Authentic casting of disabled actors is crucial for breaking down barriers and enabling a more accurate and diverse representation.
Efforts are being made to challenge these stereotypes and promote more inclusive and accurate representations of wheelchair users in the media. Inclusion riders, advocated by actors with disabilities, require film and television productions to hire a certain number of disabled actors and consultants, ensuring authentic representation and combating ableism in the entertainment industry.