I Call Upon the Power of The Internets!

[alianora]

Hi, my favorite people! I need some help, please.

As a special ed teacher, I get rather..irrationally excited when I come across a story, book, tv show, or movie where there is a major character with a disability. I would really love to find more, but to do so, I need your help.

If you happen to know of a book - kid's book, picture book, novel, whatever - a tv show, asian drama, movie, pamphlet, song, WHATEVER - that has a person with a disability as a MAJOR CHARACTER (not main, necessarily, just major), would you please tell me about it?

Now, to clarify: I'm not looking for things like "Radio," or "Riding the Bus with My Sister," so much as I'm looking for things like "Sue Thomas, F.B.EYE," or "What's Eating Gilbert Grape." But whatever you can think of, please share.



Here's my very partial list, which I hope you will help me add to:

Deaf:
Sue Thomas, F.B.EYE - tv - main character
Summer Snow - jdrama - brother
She's All That - tv - brother
Hear No Evil, See No Evil - movie - main
Orange Days - jdrama - main


Blindness:
Hear No Evil, See No Evil - movie - main
Wild Hearts Can't Be Broken - movie - main
Blade Trinity - movie - major character


Emotional/Behavioral:
Torey L Hayden books


Autism:
The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time - book - main
Kristy and the Secret of Susan - book - main
Marathon - jmovie - main


Developmental:
What's Eating Gilbert Grape - movie - brother
The Other Sister - movie - main
South Park - tv - Timmy
I Am Sam - movie - main


Downs Syndrome:
Life Goes On - tv - main

Physical:
Vorkosigan novels - Bujold - main - dwarfism, brittle bones, possible bipolar
South Park - tv - Jimmy
Summer Snow - jdrama - main - medical heart condition
The Station Agent - movie - main - dwarfism
Joan of Arcadia - tv - brother - paraplegic



Drama people, I would LOVE to know of more dramas with people with disabilities.

Comments

[aliaspiral.livejournal.com]

you are AWESOME. thank you so much! *rubs hands together greedily*

have you see Daisuki!? i have an ep downloaded, but i get a little nervous watching shows about "special people" sometimes. because they get rather preachy and annoying, instead of showing the public how people with disabilities are just NORMAL PEOPLE. ahem. sorry, off the soapbox.

[walkwithheroes.livejournal.com]

I'm just sorry I could only give you Asian films/dramas. And, I'm sure that some weren't what you were looking for, but I would rec them all for a good drama/film.


I have seen Daisuki! and yes, it can get a bit preachy. But, I think all jdramas that deal with the disabled/those with diseases can get a bit preachy. Which is odd considering how many of the older people in Japanese society view the disabled/those with diseases. But, it is a good show. The woman who is disabled is shown being taught by her mom and at the center she goes to. She is shown as a good mother, who is willing to learn. She's show to have friends, a loving family, even a job toward the middle of the series.


instead of showing the public how people with disabilities are just NORMAL PEOPLE.

Speaking as someone who is disabled, I am right there with you. However, I have to say that jdramas,kdramas, their films do do a good job (usually) of showing the disabled characters as regular people.


Oh, another rec:


Oasis - kfilm; the female lead has severe cerebral palsy. (I think she's meant to have Spastic quadriplegia) The film won many awards and is a beautiful love story.


I am sure there are more, and may be back later with others.