People with disabilities in the media: Do you feel represented?

Hi and happy weekend. Somya, quite a question. This is my 2 cents. I guess I've often been viewed as a fragile victim. Sadly. Have I ever felt "heard"? No, not really. FYI, I'm in process of writing book about treating mentally ill people humanely. I've written 1 book, diff subject, yet, feel compelled to write this 1. Not author by profession, just a hobby. Unsure when actual printing will happen. Still a work in progress. Once published, I hope to finally be heard. It is a very timely & prudent subject, needing to be put out there. I use research & experience to pen said book. Any thoughts here, which will be documented, appreciated. For example, having had shock treatments, ECT, despite being super helpful for myself, are among the most inhumane kinds of therapy. Primarily due to way administered. Very One Flew Over Cuckoos Nest. Have good weekend.

I’ve noticed the same issue — portrayals often swing between extremes. Either someone is shown as completely helpless or turned into a symbol of “inspiration,” and both can feel disconnected from real life.The moments that stand out to me in a positive way are the ones where a character with a disability is simply part of the story without being defined only by their condition. Shows like Atypical helped move things forward, but I’ve also appreciated smaller examples where a disabled person appears in a scene doing something ordinary, without the scene needing to make a big statement about it.What I’d like to see more of is everyday representation where people with disabilities can exist as full characters — with hobbies, flaws, relationships, work, humor — the same way anyone else would be shown. And I’d like to see fewer “inspiration-only” narratives that flatten someone’s whole identity into one message.The shift is happening, slowly, but conversations like this help keep it moving.

One movie I know that the main character has a disability is Rain Man

I feel representation has improved, but it’s still far from realistic. Too often, disability is shown as either tragic or inspiring, with little in-between. What I want to see are everyday stories created with disabled people, not just about them. Authentic representation helps break stereotypes and lets society see disability as a normal part of human diversity.