Writing Disability

Representing Disability Storylines

Summary

Representation is important. Disability is a part of the extensive array of human diversity, and a natural part existence for many people.

When Writing Disability...

• Do not make a character solely the negative aspects of their disability
  • People with disabilities are just that, people. With both positive and negative aspects of their lives
  • Disability contains a wide array of different conditions
    • Some of those conditions have positive aspects, like deafness and the Deaf Community. Other conditions, like cancer or epilepsy, are predominantly negative
    • Even if the disability aspect of someone's life is primarily a negative experience, that does not make the entirety of their life a negative experience


• Do not write characters that fake or exaggerate their disability
  • Faking disability is very rare and a harmful stereotype to the community
  • People with dynamic disabilities, for example people who need a wheelchair some days and a cane other days, are not faking or exaggerating their disability


• Make sure to research the disability experience you are writing about
  • Do not just research the experience of those who interact with those who have the disability (ex. caretakers and doctors)
  • Disability intersects with several other cultural and minority experiences, so make sure your research is intersectional and represents the people you are writing about

Why?

How?