"Disability" doesn't need to be scary | Finding Nemo & Finding Dory

[@Catlily5]

I am disabled. Disability is not a dirty word. Good points in your video.

[@Emileigggggh]

The word "disability" being more widespread and less stigmatized would have gone such a long way for my younger self - we could have had a better time finding the right resources for me but instead I got this sentiment of "no, you have more potential than that!" and even though I was too sick to go to most days of school I was like "well do I really count as disabled since I don't look like it?" The "I have to apologize for my own disability but would never want others to" is so real and like, I feel it in so many other ways too!!!!! This was great!!!

[@QuestingRefuge]

They act like we won a prize if we can momentarily pass as not disabled and screw all the damage that will do to us mentally and physically. It's exhausting. Thank you so much!

[@ArmednDeadly]

I’m a congenital amputee of the right arm. I pretty much grew up on this film. I’ll admit that there are things Nemo could’ve done differently, but I have to recognize that not every movie can do everything. I love how in this film, Nemo is able to have the little fin but still exist. The film lets a disabled character exist without the disability being the only relevant part about them, and I love being able to see that in a film. Also I will note that there is a bit of a different culture between congenital amputees and those who lost a limb later in life

[@Stain73]

I'm disabled and I absolutely hate the word differently abled or special needs, it sounds patronising. Differently abled also often feels like it's undermining my struggles. Because, yes there are things I can't do/ can't do easily, because of my disability and this is ok, but differently abled has the same vibe as people telling me "But you are not disabled, you can do so much" or "Don't complain, you have different strenghts"

[@Oomles]

As someone with an invisible disability, I loved stumbling upon this. Good stuff

[@packman2321]

Wow! This was excellent and incredibly dense with the topics covered. Dory came out right at the first peak of discovering disability theory, so it was excellent to see it revisited too. I remember reading an essay once which dismissed wording debates like differently-abled, handicapable etc as products of able bodied people debating how to mask their ableism without actually needing change it, and I think you really handly cover that, but with an incredible amount of depth in relation to these ones. I think especially with the first Nemo movie, I really feel that one. I've got cerebral palsy with one leg shorter than the other, so one would expect Nemo to be solid representation, but instead I routinely forget he's disabled. I end up bridging towards characters like Akko in Little Witch Academia, or Oracle in Birds of Prey, characters I have far less in common with on paper, but which actually engage with the mix of success, struggle and failure that actually make up my experience of disability, rather than the story about 'Oh if you just try harder you'll succeed' (which is largely just serving as inspiration for able bodied audiences, rather than actionable stuff, since they rarely allow for the specific kind of joy that comes with finding or making a new ability or support the way the final scenes of Little Witch Academia do for me). I also think it's good to highlight the way that words like 'differently-abled' and 'special educational needs' sort of segment the disabled population into the 'really disabled' and the other. As someone who passes for able bodied (with some help from insoles, making sure I don't walk too far, physio exercises) I've sort of grown up under that label of 'not really disabled' (it was never euphemised that I remember, but they all do the same thing) and I think writers and people in general often miss how painful that is, and how much extra stress that adds to seeking help, because of how we end up tying value as a person to the ability to remain 'Not very disabled' rather than 'really disabled'. It's also nice to re-read these through a disabled lens. While it's unfortunate that Dory's main contribution to the first movie is explicitly 'overcoming' her disability, I really do appreciate that mix of surprise and joy she has around it. When I gained the ability to touch my toes for the first time, I remember telling everyone I met in that week, and similarly realising I could do an hour walk without my legs breaking down on me during Covid felt incredible! Hopefully, if we can remind people that this stuff is better to talk about, we can get all kinds of more nuanced, incredible takes. I'm rambling a bit, but this video is seriously awesome! Wow!

[@QuestingRefuge]

Thank you for such a beautiful comment! You're so right about how these euphemisms and the logic around them gets used to act like someone is not disabled. It's so frustrating! I struggle so often with that internally even as if I'm supposed to just keep up with everything all the time and that stuff just makes it even harder. I have been meaning to check out Little Witch Academia and you have me even more excited to get to it!

[@resourceress7]

Great video essay and the Nemo colored shirt was a nice touch

[@QuestingRefuge]

Haha thanks!

[@nazokashii]

Thank you SO much for this!

[@costelinha1867]

Honestly the dynamic between the overprotective Merlin and his son Nemo is so similar to my mom and I. And I only realized this today as I'm watching this video.

[@framemygaze]

I adore this video essay! Such great arguments around the importance of using the word disability and challenging any stigma of asking for accommodations, support and accessibility. Really good analysis of the representations of disability in Finding Nemo and Finding Dory. Love your use of visuals to match your voiceover, and the time you appeared on screen with the fun pie charts and citations! Excellent editing and voiceover! Happy I’m subbed

[@QuestingRefuge]

thank you! I was worried I'd be a little rusty and being on screen was new for me

[@framemygaze]

@@QuestingRefuge You were very engaging on screen and in your voiceover! Really engaging and well-edited video

[@Zvasha]

Not only I love watching your videos, I also love reading the wholesome comments here ❤️

[@QuestingRefuge]

I am blessed with very nice comment sections it's true

[@bluepotati]

the idea of social source for disabilities is CLEARLY miiiiiles better than the medical centered view, but I think it's important to recognise disabilities are not *just* produced by our environment ? like yeah, my neurodivergences are 100% that, but my degenerative joint pains are not, and no matter how much we change society, I'll still have it, and it'll still make me more and more disabled. What it would make increidbly better though, is how it would make people listen to me and take it seriously, so that I can get help way earlier. It would allow me to receive the aids and support I need, so that it doesn't progress as quickly. And especially, it would eliviate soooo many stresses that I really, really don't need to deal with about how I'm percieved and treated and how I must act in front of doctors. So yeah, TL;DR is yes, 100% the social-centered view of disabilities is the way to go, but that doesn't mean changing society would just make the idea of disabilities disappear because society adapted, because there's material reality present in a lot of them too, and that varies depending on the disabilities and the person

[@QuestingRefuge]

I 100% agree! The medical model can still be useful, it's just a huge problem as one of the ONLY models often used. Made even worse when you combine that with the economic structures we live in. I often don't get into that as much because I'm recognizing what most people know. I definitely want to get into that more some time though.

[@Catlily5]

​@@QuestingRefuge I think that the medical model is problematic because it only focuses on deficits. However, people in the extreme part of the social model have yelled at me for calling my own autism a disability. Autism is a disability for me. It may be only a difference for them, but for me autism is a disability. I think seeing autism as 100% positive is as dangerous as 100% negative. Reality is both.

[@11oyd]

This sort of thing is why I prefer a hybrid model of disability, one that recognises that disabilities can be… disabling (which the social model fails to do in various contexts - none of my disabilities just go away regardless of what society changes externally, and they all have tangible impacts on my life (not that I want them cured at all - I am proud of who I am)), but does not stigmatise them (which is a problem with the medical model - seeing my various disabilities as deficits, disorders, etc (*disability is not a bad word in my mind unlike those two*) that could ideally be cured (again, something I do not want)). I think the social model has its applications for certain Disabled individuals like wheelchair users, where the presence of ramps and lifts and such in a more accessible society reduces the impact (again, not that impact is necessarily a bad thing) of their disabilities. For lots of other Disabled people though, the medical and social models both suck, so I think a hybrid, a combination of both, is valuable.

[@Catlily5]

@@11oyd I agree! They have a model that combines both. It is called the Biopsychosocial Model. They need a better name for it though. That is too long to catch on.

[@11oyd]

@@Catlily5Thank you for telling me this! From some very initial research, the biopsychosocial model seems to be exactly what I’m referring to! I do agree that a shorter/more catchy name would be helpful though lol

[@bearlywork1816]

Thank for this!! I needed this video ❤

[@costelinha1867]

"I never think of it as a disability, I saw it more like her uniqueness" Andrew Stanton Andrew, I'll say this as nicely as possible, if this is how you see it? then I urge you to get rid of this mindset as quickly as possible.

[@jchowdyovi]

YAY! You're back! I was worried you were gone. Thank you.

[@QuestingRefuge]

Thanks for remembering me! It's good to be back

[@jchowdyovi]

I could never forget the Creator who's video on Loki and the representation of neurodivergence in media changed the way I perceive the world. Your content has brought me closer to my daughter and her partner who is also autistic. He say's he feels seen by me and I don't think he would feel that way if not for the things I've learned on this channel.

[@QuestingRefuge]

😭that means so much to hear and I'm so happy for you all!

[@GrannyGamer1]

Excellent

[@merelymayhem]

great video ! i came here on recommendation of another youtuber but don't remember who unfortunately

[@QuestingRefuge]

Thank you! I'm glad you're here either way 💜

[@johncarmack1174]

Such a great vid, as always, thanks QR!

[@QuestingRefuge]

thank you so much for always supporting me!

[@SocraTetris]

Loved it

[@WoohooliganComedy]

Thanks, Willow. 💖

[@Ember_Green]

I loved this 😭

[@SPDYellow]

I was disappointed that we never received Hank's backstory, why he's so afraid to go back into the ocean. From what I've heard, he displays symptoms of PTSD, though since I'm not an expert on the matter, I can't really say for sure. Just that Pixar missed a real opportunity to hit us in the feels and the Pixar we know and love, would never miss out on a chance to make us cry both sad and happy tears in the same film. Though I do get a little misty-eyed when it comes to Dory's parents, how much they loved her, and how even after so many years, they kept laying out those shells, hoping against hope that somehow, she would find the shells and be able to make her way home. There wasn't much else they could do, and you'd understand how at times, they might despair and wonder if their actions are accomplishing anything, but they kept doing it anyway.

[@telefontelefon9468]

Thank you.

[@marnenotmarnie259]

great video! this makes me appreciate finding dory more (i felt kinda neutral on it before)

[@juckya9660]

[@thatonepossum5766]

When it comes to Pixar and disability, I never think of Dory or Nemo. For me it’s Monsters University. While not as explicitly about disability as Finding Dory, it does have a really meaningful message to be seen there. (Spoilers for a 10+ year old movie) Mike wants to be a scarer. It’s his dream, ever since he was a kid. He studies, and gets into his dream school. He knows EVERYTHING about scaring. He tries harder than anyone else in his class. And he _can’t do it._ Not because he didn’t try hard enough, but because he physically isn’t scary. It’s an important message, that sometimes we can’t achieve our dreams, no matter how hard we try, because we just weren’t born capable of it. And we see him move on, get a job that’s still in the same field, and be _happy!_ Most media _should_ tell kids “you can do it! Believe in yourself and work hard! Achieve those dreams!” but I feel like it’s important to have stories like Monsters U, too.

[@ZyllasAthenaeum]

💜

[@petrusvalente]

💙

[@mrquake7789]

Long time no see

[@QuestingRefuge]

Haha I know! Glad to be back

[@mrquake7789]

​@@QuestingRefuge how you been

[@QuestingRefuge]

Feeling more like myself and pretty great! Hope you've been doing well

[@mrquake7789]

@@QuestingRefuge 👍🏿

[@erinbathie-moore8478]

This could be an old school way of thinking, but DOES everything HAVE to be said explicitly for it to be valid representation? I say this with a lot of love as an AuDHD chick, but sometimes it's nice to see a disability without it being the centre of the story (Nemo) or being named (Dory)? You see it, appreciate it's there, talk about with your kids when they ask, and tell them then? Idk, just, sometimes labels are exhausting (even if they're necessary to get help)