‘Speechless’ Just Schooled Everyone On Disability 'Inspiration Porn'

ABC’s “Speechless,” a sitcom about a family with a son who has a disability, tackled why it’s often offensive to call people with disabilities “inspirational.” And it’s done so, so well. “Inspiration porn” is a term used to describe a common tendency in which able-bodied people condescend to those with disabilities by suggesting they are brave or special just for living. Ray DiMeo, a character in “Speechless” who is the younger brother of a teen with cerebral palsy, explained it perfectly in Wednesday night’s episode: “It’s a portrayal of people with disabilities as one-dimensional saints who only exist to warm the hearts and open the minds of able-bodied people,” he said.  To which his brother, JJ, who has cerebral palsy, hilariously adds: “I blame Tiny Tim.” Not your inspiration porn, thank you very much. #Speechless pic.twitter.com/1cbjm92BDx— Speechless (@Speechless_ABC) January 12, 2017 Examples of inspiration porn include, but are not limited to, stories like a high-school wrestler who is heralded as a hero for giving up his shot at a perfect season to allow an opponent with Down syndrome, to win and “make his dream come true.” It’s also in features like the homecoming queen who gave up her crown to a student with cerebral palsy simply because she has cerebral palsy. Or, as this comic — created by Jessica Oddi and Lianna Oddi of ...
Source: Healthy Living - The Huffington Post - Category: Consumer Health News Source Type: news