Hi. I, quite literally, found this during a Google search on 'disability in fanfiction.' Somewhat random, I know, but I just wanted to express appreciation for what you've written here and the perspective it offers. I'm doing research for a paper on the portrayals of disability in fiction (and soon, writing a piece from the POV of a recently blinded character), and posts like this are invaluable to me. I was called out for unintentional ablism by a reader of mine once, and I hope not to make that mistake again.
In terms of fandoms with awesome portrayals of disabled characters, might I recommend 'Covert Affairs?' Auggie Anderson is one of the main characters, a CIA analyst who was blinded before the start of the series. He is, at no point, plucky, stoic, or god forbid, inspirational. He *is,* however, snarky, funny, charming, cocky, and occasionally kind of a dick. The characters around him do not doubt his competence. He is, occasionally, denied field work, but this is a limitation imposed by his bosses which he constantly works to rectify or subvert.
The actor who portrays him, Chris Gorham, *is* sighted, and I know able-bodied actors portraying disabled characters is a bit of a bugbear of its own. But Chris insists on accuracy, both in his own performance and in the show's handling of his character's condition. He spent time with the Canadian Institute for the Blind to prepare for the role, learning the skills and habits that blind people use to navigate the world, and he portrays them well. Auggie uses real products available to the blind-- a talking watch, a Braille line for his keyboard, specialized stove-tops, an iPhone (Apple's products are apparently very good about accessibility), and more. Even minor things like the ways his hands trace objects and interact with his environment are, to borrow the words of Annie, the main character, "oddly mesmerizing."
And the best part about all of that is that it is simply worked into the background of the show. The other characters treat it as routine. Annie and Auggie walk into the office around the same time. She touches her hand to the back of his, he recognizes her perfume, grabs her arm, and they walk and chat. It's a regular thing. Auggie is brought in for an interrogation by his boss; he enters the unfamiliar room, boss says "You'll never guess what I found today. Chair's right in front of you," Auggie sits down, interrogation continues.
Sorry, I know I gushed a bit there, but as you can probably tell, I *really* like the character, and I think his portrayal is just flat-out awesome. One of a small (but growing!) number of examples of doin' it right. (TOPH!)
Thanks again for writing and sharing this! I hope more and more people starting reading things like this and checking their assumptions at the door.
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branchandroot
Clear out of the blue...
Date: 2011-09-29 02:35 am (UTC)In terms of fandoms with awesome portrayals of disabled characters, might I recommend 'Covert Affairs?' Auggie Anderson is one of the main characters, a CIA analyst who was blinded before the start of the series. He is, at no point, plucky, stoic, or god forbid, inspirational. He *is,* however, snarky, funny, charming, cocky, and occasionally kind of a dick. The characters around him do not doubt his competence. He is, occasionally, denied field work, but this is a limitation imposed by his bosses which he constantly works to rectify or subvert.
The actor who portrays him, Chris Gorham, *is* sighted, and I know able-bodied actors portraying disabled characters is a bit of a bugbear of its own. But Chris insists on accuracy, both in his own performance and in the show's handling of his character's condition. He spent time with the Canadian Institute for the Blind to prepare for the role, learning the skills and habits that blind people use to navigate the world, and he portrays them well. Auggie uses real products available to the blind-- a talking watch, a Braille line for his keyboard, specialized stove-tops, an iPhone (Apple's products are apparently very good about accessibility), and more. Even minor things like the ways his hands trace objects and interact with his environment are, to borrow the words of Annie, the main character, "oddly mesmerizing."
And the best part about all of that is that it is simply worked into the background of the show. The other characters treat it as routine. Annie and Auggie walk into the office around the same time. She touches her hand to the back of his, he recognizes her perfume, grabs her arm, and they walk and chat. It's a regular thing. Auggie is brought in for an interrogation by his boss; he enters the unfamiliar room, boss says "You'll never guess what I found today. Chair's right in front of you," Auggie sits down, interrogation continues.
Sorry, I know I gushed a bit there, but as you can probably tell, I *really* like the character, and I think his portrayal is just flat-out awesome. One of a small (but growing!) number of examples of doin' it right. (TOPH!)
Thanks again for writing and sharing this! I hope more and more people starting reading things like this and checking their assumptions at the door.