Kids are impressionable, making it important for kids with disabilities to see positive representations of people with disabilities on TV and in movies.

“It gives them models that they can use to think about how they can live a life that is satisfying and full,” says Rosemarie Garland-Thomson, an associate professor of English and women’s studies at Emory University in Atlanta. Garland-Thomson works in the disabilities studies field investigating the cultural aspects of disability.

As teammates in a race against their friends, “Dragon Tales’” Lorca and Enrique modify Lorca’s wheelchair. Photo courtesy of Sesame Workshop

Released in 2000, the Disney Channel’s “Miracle in Lane 2’” is a good example of a movie that positively portrays a character with a disability. Justin Yoder, 13, (played by Frankie Muniz of “Malcolm in the Middle”) uses a wheelchair because of spina bifida and dreams of winning trophies like his older, able-bodied brother.

Because he has faith in himself, Justin talks his parents into letting him participate in a soapbox derby. His family is skeptical of the idea, but Justin does whatever it takes to make his dream a reality and wins the race.

Based on a true story, this movie sends a message that people with disabilities have the strength to accomplish anything they want. All it takes is having faith in themselves and finding others who believe in them.

In “Miracle in Lane 2,” Justin Yoder celebrates his victory with his crew members. Photo courtesy of the Disney Channel

Luke respects the way Kevin from “Joan of Arcadia” stands up for himself and doesn’t let anyone pity him or give him special treatment. One episode in particular raised the issue of pride and self-worth.

Kevin’s parents wanted to buy him a car, but he became angry and reminded them that before his accident, they were going to make him buy it himself. He informed them that he’s no different from the boy he was before the accident, and he’ll work to pay for the car. He gets a job as a writer for a newspaper.

Lauren, a ninth-grader at Morton Ranch High School, says she gets upset when the TV or movie character with a disability is pitied by other characters. She likes the character to be strong and not dwell on his or her disability.

When asked to identify the names of some TV shows that have characters with disabilities, the popular response is, “I know they’re out there, but I can’t think of any names.”

In past years there just haven’t been many shows and movies representing those with disabilities or presenting them in positive ways, says Garland-Thomson.

When images of people with disabilities do occur, they might be harder to recognize, she says.

“If every television show a kid saw had a disabled person in it and that disabled person were doing something that was positive, it would probably be easier cumulatively for kids to identify with that,” she says. “But when the numbers are very small and some of the images aren’t so positive, then it becomes harder.”

Another thing children seldom see is a main character with a disability. Garland-Thomson says that it becomes risky for TV and movie producers to introduce the unexpected image of a character with a disability because it might not sell advertising or be a hit at the box office.

“Often the role of a disabled character has been to make the able-bodied character look better. So to suddenly have a disabled character as a central part of the plot is very bold,” she says. “You want to give people what they are used to but you also want to give them something that might be a little novel.”

A new Muppet character on the French “Sesame Street” is an energetic girl who uses a wheelchair. Photo courtesy of Sesame Workshop

The new French version of “Sesame Street” dares to venture outside the box with one of the six main Muppet characters being a girl who uses a wheelchair. Griotte, who always joins in on the fun, provides positive images of children with disabilities.

Some Suggestions

John Ryan, 17, of Howell, N.J., wishes TV shows and movies would show the difficulty of living with a disability.

“I think that a lot of people aren’t aware of what a person with a disability goes through,” says John, who has Friedreich’s ataxia and uses a walker.

There needs to be a variety of disabilities, says John, who graduates from Howell High School in June.

Movies are better about presenting people with different types of disabilities, but TV shows still need to diversify. When you see TV characters with disabilities, they’re almost always in wheelchairs. These characters are always able-bodied, other than the fact that they sit in wheelchairs, he says.

“If I see a movie or a TV show with a person with a disability in it, I may judge that character more because I myself am in a wheelchair,” Lauren says. “I might be like, ‘He’s doing that wrong or that doesn’t seem real,’ or maybe they could have done something to make that seem a little bit more real.”

Lauren says that because there aren’t many TV and movie characters with disabilities, she’s surprised when she does see them. After the shock wears off, it’s “Wow, there’s a person with a disability on that show. That’s kinda cool.”

If your favorite TV show does or doesn’t do a great job of representing people with disabilities, write the TV network and voice your opinion. Most shows have their own Web sites and tell you how to e-mail your comments.