How To Write Disability The Right Way | Arcane, Avatar the last Airbender & More

[@deandredukes95]

“When it comes to diversity and with disabilities, we always need to find a way to express who we are in our own ways.”

[@AniholicTV]

absolute fax.. no better way to say

[@starchildofthesun]

The best part about Avatar's disability rep is the fact they knew how to make blind jokes without being insulting about it. None of the jokes were mean or felt like they were specifically directed towards Toph's disability, as you said- most of the jokes are the fact she's so capable her friends forget she's blind.

[@merlin5662]

if i remember correctly, most of the jokes being said actually come from toph herself then the other members of the cast. i think toph being self-aware while also being capable is really good story telling to remind the audience that she is indeed blind but that does not mean she is incapable.

[@DoremiFasolatido1979]

Yeah...because she has an entirely impossible magical superpower that almost completely negates her blindness.

[@barbaraw1245]

@@DoremiFasolatido1979 She is still blind though. hence the joke of the poster being upside down and the whole 'it's so dark down here, I can't see a thing' Toph: "Oh no, what a nightmare!" dripping with sarcasm lol. Sure within the show and how it works, she's a bender, like a lot of people. Her blindness helped her connect to her bending on a deeper level than other earth benders.

[@jacqslabz]

@@merlin5662 At least a few just came from Sokka being the air-headed dufous that we love. There are a limited number of cases were her vision is less, but most of the time her vision isn't less than theirs, it's more. SO it's easy for her friends (Sokka) to forget because most of the time she's more capable than the rest of the gaang when it comes to "seeing"

[@grimm_satisfaction1292]

Sokka: I CAN'T SEE ANYTHING! 😱 Toph: Oh no! What a nightmare! 🙄

[@nitzan3782]

Sevika is disabled BECAUSE of her loyalty, she sacrificed her hand for Silco's life. Throughout the show her prosthetic shows her allegiance. Toph's disability is treated as such only by her parents, in the rest of the show it's a difference - she can perceive through walls, in the dark and through lies, but she can't read or perceive drawings or printings. Isha's deafness is shown rather than told, but the core of her character is her commitment to Zaun, second only to Sevika's.

[@Simon-A.-Tan]

Isha isn't deaf, she's mute. She can clearly hear and understand Jinx.

[@bloppyzefish6932]

@@Simon-A.-Tan I think she's severely hearing impaired. She doesn't react to spoken words whenever her back is turned, even if its some big ass revelations by jinx when she looks up she just seems confused. She seems to rely on reading lips if she really wanted to understand something.

[@veronicawexel1291]

@@Simon-A.-Tan Not necessarity. As mentioned by someone somewhere (I don't remember where I saw it), Isha doesn't react to what Jinx says when she's not looking at her (aka isn't lip-reading her). She also looks vaguely confused when Vander gets startled by the hammer noise in the commune and steps to protect him. And we know she's not really mute because she screams for Jinx when Sevika runs away with her from Stillwater at Jinx's request. I think the person who brought it up said something along the lines that Isha seems to be at least partially deaf, in the sense that she can't hear the frequencies at which people talk but might hear louder, lower or more high-pitched sounds (I don't remember what they said exactly but it make sense), and she makes little noises that are apparently characteristic of deaf children (noises she is probably not aware that she's making). That, and there is the mention of how Isha's montage of her time with Jinx doesn't consist of spoken words, but of fun experiences they've had together. Someone also brought up the fact of Isha's Song not being sung in English being part of giving a portion of the audience an experience of having to feel the moment without understanding what is being said verbally (this specific point might just be reading a little too far into things, but still, conceptually it's a great idea that I choose to believe in).

[@Simon-A.-Tan]

@veronicawexel1291 Interesting, curious about the canon then.

[@alexelion7084]

@veronicawexel1291 I see you saw schnees video :) I'm not sure if she's deaf or not, I don't know the definition of being mute, but either way Isha is nonverbal, she can make sounds, but she can't talk. I'm not sure if she'd be able to learn lip reading in such a short time and in this environment if she was deaf all her life and if she became deaf later in life that can't be the reason why she's nonverbal. I'm more leaning towards her just being nonverbal, but being in her world most of the time when people talk to her. Maybe she can't comprehend words well. Either way she is really well written and I love her. It hurt to see her go

[@tesphoenix2020]

Viktor in arcane is another character who is much more than his disabilitys. For the most part it was so very unimportant that i forgot at times.

[@marbleb33s]

I mean his disability is a big part of the plot. The true reason he became the machine herald was to rid himself of his imperfections, including his disability. While he hides it behind his snarky personality, he experiences deep self hatred and because he could never form meaningful relationships (besides Jayce) he fears leaving behind nothing after he dies (which is why he was so obsessed with making the hexcore work). His motivations are inheretly human, which makes him so relatable.

[@Elizabeth-hc3mi]

It also flips the "You need to be healed" trope on its side, as Victor being "healed" goes very south very fast.

[@JoshThomas892]

@Elizabeth-hc3miyeah I liked how Jayces line near the end was about “beauty in imperfections” and how things don’t need fixing because they made viktor who he was

[@Ashes024]

I agree with all of these points, but when writing disabled characters, remember we are still average people. Like if you make all your disabled characters super heroes or people who do things in spite of your disability, it's not the best representation of disabled characters. Like my accomplishments aren't in spite of my disabilities, I work with them in order to do things. And being disabled doesn't automatically give me super powers or make me better than anyone else at things. It's okay to write characters like this especially when their disability is supernatural, but also keep in mind how real disabled people are and try to write more like that.

[@alexelion7084]

I think Isha is maybe a good example of this. She is pretty heroic in the end, but that's neither because of or in spite of her disability. Other then that she is just a kid, pretty capable but still reliant on the help of older people

[@raviosolaire]

also the fact that they are called disabilities because, inherently, they make things more difficult. im physically disabled and deal with a lot of chronic pain. some would argue this is a "superpower" because i have a higher pain tolerance because of it. its not, though, because i can still struggle to do certain tasks, because it Hurts More to do so sometimes. im not saying this is the case for everyone, of course, but it would be nice to keep in mind that while disabilities arent always Horrible and Awful, they do sometimes make things difficult. make your disabled characters need a day to rest after doing something big like a huge fight or even walking around all day, make them know their limits and tell others "i really cant do that, itll just hurt me" instead of forcing them to push through. make your disabled characters actually disabled.

[@kiara_playz8439]

​@@raviosolaire im also kinda disabled. Is having a medical condition count as disabled even if all my limbs and senses are still working..? Either way, its hard for me to do physical tasks and it gets really hard to breath. So reading the "know your limits" part of your comment really gets me. Because sometimes, i forget i even have a disability, and i push myself too hard. So reading this comment made me remember that its okay to tell others about my disability and not force myself to do things i cant do. Thanks for that :D

[@jamzy1837]

there is a fantastic video called "What Hawkeye Gets Right | Disability Representation in Media" by questing reforge, that touches on your aspect of disability representation.

[@deinodinosuchus]

@@kiara_playz8439Disability, by definition, is a (for lack of a better word-) condition that inherently can negatively impact your day-to-day life by way of inconvenience or inhibiting you in some way. If your medical condition fits that description, you are disabled. What you are describing sounds like what’s called an “invisible disability”; one that others might not be able to see from the outside, but that still significantly impacts you. Hope this helps :)

[@lovely__shadow9305]

As a disabled person, I hate when people act like my disability isn't disabling. Yes, you can write a character who overcomes it, but I would prefer it if we didn't just pretend that it goes away after you get powerful enough. Anyway, yes, characters are more than their disabilities but we need to remember that it is disabling. Toph, does it right. Super powerful but can't do everything due to her disability, which is relatable.

[@cirederfsamot2730]

Thank you ! I keep seeing people pushing these ideas that are blatantly false and I can't understand why. Even without a big disability, with something as little and "trivial" as being shortsighted, which I am to a large degree, IS a weakness. My eyes need a heavy correction, and without it, I would be greatly impaired in my day to day life, and it still manages to have an impact (any time water is involved). Of course, it is a weakness. The point should never be that it is not, but that it does not define you or make you somehow inferior as a human.

[@eniolaolu6862]

the way I forget Sevika is an amputee kinda shows this cause I see her as one of the most Imposing strong and badass characters that you don't see her disability as a weakness.

[@Sadoso]

funny thing, i allways forget toph blindness, because she is writen so good, i dont focus on her personality and her strengh rather then her lack of vison.

[@wonderlanddreamer1021]

Animation is the medium in which I've seen the best and most respectful portrayals of disability.

[@theslitherbee]

Animation has the best representation in general. I genuinely can't watch most "normal" movies/series anymore because of how stereotypical it often is, and because animation is already ahead.

[@xFlowerCat]

@theslitherbee Yeah, mostly all of the "regular" movies/tv shows are stereotypical and I think might be the reason people with disabilities are treated like this?

[@JadeAylaSims]

I hadn't even realized Sevika is disabled until you pointed it out just now.

[@crysthemist]

Hiccup and Toothless from httyd are also disabled! Toothless can’t fly without his tail fin prosthetic and Hiccup lost his leg. Instead of being put in a negative light, their disabilities are used as plot devices both in the movies and in the shows. In movie one, Toothless’s prosthetic catching fire gives them a time limit to defeat the Red Death. In movie 3, Hiccup disconnects his prosthetic leg to doom the villain to a cold icy fate. In the Race to the Edge show, there’s an episode revolving around Hiccup running out of his spare legs, but that just a plot device for the story of Barf and Belch in that episode.

[@chrisleitzel2659]

A lot of 80s cartoons always had one episode with a person who had a disability, be it deaf or blind or something, introduced once, and their disability was what was needed to save the day, such as a deaf person being able to read lips to learn the villains plans. Two reoccurring disabled characters were Chip Carlson in Transformers, a wheelchair bound computer expert, and Lynx-O, a blind old Thundaran in Thundercats, but these never really impacted the story. Often the lesson was handicap means handicapable. And then we got Toph, this 12 year old sparky, blind badass, who has this disability and made it a strength. Most the jokes about her being blind are from her, and never delivered in a self-deprecating or insulting manner. And I think it's great she became part of the main group, and was such a well written character.

[@longboy5639]

"My worst enemy...stairs"

[@sve4mc]

another series that has one of the best diversity representations no one talks about is "the dragon prince". I think the show is labled as a kids show but I honestly enjoyed watching it a lot. The show includes gay couples, the main characters are half-siblings in a mixed family, it includes characters of many ethnics and theres even a deaf & mute character talking in sign language in the whole show, however none of these things are discussed as not normal; The gay, single and step parents are just parent, the gay marriage is just a marriage and the deaf & mute character is one of the strongest warriors. I'd highly recommend watchting the show!

[@4gnikai]

Amaya is one of the baddest characters ever ❤

[@Wolf_King_6770-2]

Ooo yes I loved “the dragon price” Amaya is such a good character!

[@DevsQuillsandCartoons]

I had actually forgotten about The Dragon Prince’s disability rep until you mentioned it. But, I would absolutely echo this recommendation 👍🏼⭐️

[@elivenya-theautisticbookwy9638]

As much as i like these potrayals of disabilitys, they also represent sometimes a trend of writing disability that does not actually disable. But the thing is...there are disabilitys that are destroying you so much that you can't contribute anything to society or compensate it with some other inspiring skill. And people will let you know very fast that they wouldn't feel sorry if you would die....

[@BarioIDL]

invincible's rudy still has roboting skill preclone, so probably doesn't fit your def

[@baconberries8097]

I think that, like Toph, Isha's deafness is a weakness, but also her greatest strength. It's in a very different way, though. To the rest of the world, Jinx was this almost a boogeyman, the very definition of "dangerous." Isha, however, had no preconceived notions about Jinx. She's heard nothing about her, because she can't really hear at all. Upon meeting her, Isha got to see all the best parts of Jinx and not have it be tainted by her reputation. Not only did Jinx kill those gang members, a force that was probably a constant source of oppression in Isha's life, but Jinx killed them with ease, and all seemingly to protect Isha. To Isha, Jinx is a disruptor, someone who's smart, strong, beautiful, and kind. And through her actions, she unconsciously idealizes the version of Jinx that existed only in her eyes. All because she never got the chance to learn about the boogeyman. I just realized this when typing this comment! Jinx's monologue in that first scene taught Isha how to make the most of what she already has, how to smile even when you're staring down the barrel of a gun. I don't think its just coincidence that she stares upwards in her final moments. Basically everyone in Zaun looks up at Piltover with envy and distain. Looking upward symbolizes wanting more for yourself or your loved ones, that what's up there is simply better than what's down here. Arcane shows us this through visuals plenty of times. But when Isha knows her life is about to end, staring down the barrel of her own gun, she looks up and she smiles. Not an ounce of fear in her eyes. Practically, she points the gun to the sky to save Jinx from the blast, but symbolically I think she's rejecting the notion that there could be anything more beautiful than what's right in front of her, right now. There's no place she'd rather be.

[@theslitherbee]

I thought Isha was mute but not deaf

[@caseyt3923]

@theslitherbeeI’ve heard people say that if you watch closely, Isha really only reacts after she looks at someone’s face. Or her eyes will dart back and forth between characters who aren’t talking, which I guess is a trait in people who are deaf.

[@jrl5535]

In summary : if you want a good character with disability, have a character that isn't defined by one trait (in that case his disability) (like all good characters)

[@Xaforn]

Another anime character who is probably not so well known and understandably as his disability doesn’t play a huge role in his career but it is why he ended up in said career. The man’s name is Yakumo and he is a Rakugo performer, a master. Having been a very withdrawn and sullen young man unhappy about his disability he grows up into a classy, refined and very well known and skilled performer of the arts.

[@mikado_m]

Except.. disabillities are disabillities and not superpowers. Real blind people dont get magic hearing. Missing a sense doesnt boost another you just have to learn how to navigate around it. For toph it works. It makes sense with where and how she was born. If she was a fire bender she would be fully blind. But they Also show parts where her disabillity makes her _disabled_. Like on water, wood or in the air. Part of her story _is_ accepting help, including for her disabillity. Because its relevant. But many other shows just use it as a character trait but never a disabillity. They think that this way it means 'theyre not defined by their disabillity' but really it just denies help and aknowledgement. Sure they dont care because theyre fictional and they dont need it. But real people do. Writing liken that feels disingenuine. If you write a disabled character you should show that they are disabled/how it disables them and how they get around it. An art loving blind person might be good at music, but thats not because they have better ears but because they practiced music and not painting to tell their stories. An autistic person is still a full concious person. Not either some kind of ignorant nerd genius or 'completely useless'. But most intentional characters always are. (* ) Someone in a wheelchair can be completely independand, but only if the world around them allows it We shouldnt be portrayed as just the runt, yes. But it doesnt give you superpowers and it doesnt Not matter either. Many peoples disabillities are a major part of who they are.. you shouldnt reduce them to it but often its still relevant. But ive never really seen that anywhere. * Iam aware that its about some of the better writings. But the wording around it just isnt great. Also the message that 'well you just have to work harder to be so good at something it balances out your flaw and you become a full valid person again' sucks fucking ass. Be disabled. Ask for help when you need it. You dont need to be inspirational, just make sure youre as well as you can be and be kind.

[@BarioIDL]

just burn every direction and find the screams, duh

[@blobs819901]

It's crazy that what I remember from Sevika was not her disabilty but her loyalty, her scene where she slashed Finn instead of Silco is so great that it's outshine all of her scene really, the same can be said for Isha and Toph too, the writter made sure that people remember their bravery more than their disability.

[@Cebion91]

i didnt even know she was a mute... thought she was just shy lol

[@mollymoo198]

3 of my fav shows in one video?! Sign me up. Honestly, all three of these are amazing and represent disability so well.

[@ardynba2342]

For me the best representation disability is Detta Walker (Susannah) from the Dark Tower of Stephen King, there only one word that describe her, a menace.Those who read the book know.

[@Mutrax4706]

growth is the keyword, though this is also the case when disability is not the topic. the character gets/is born with a disability, so they must learn to deal with it well or use it to their advantage. just dont do it overly stupid toph cant see, but this elevates her sense of touch (or she learns to improve it). earthbending is about manipulating the ground, and since she can sense the ground much better, its easier for her to master the skill. viktor from arcane has a problem with his leg/hip or smth, making it harder for him to fit in with the others, so he focuses on intelligence, and is part of hextech's development. josh from watch dogs 2 is autistic with aspergers, but its not something you really notice (at least i didnt. gets mentioned, and confirmed in a dlc). he has a better memory for some things, and prepares for things in case it proves useful

[@champcpr]

Appreciate the notion, but until you’ve felt and overcame the insane never ending purgatory of phantom limb pain after becoming an amputee…you’re just blowing smoke. Of course disabilities don’t mean just lay down and quit, but it’s a plight you would never be able to understand until you’re in it. Good shxt though 👍🏾

[@MesmerAloofly]

Isha is our little sister... we need to do better yall... im so sorry isha!

[@luckyheart5080]

I don’t know Isha was mute or deaf? Until they making sign with their hand. What I thought was that Isha was too young and abandoned when young so she didn’t learn how to speak. It was great non the less

[@yazzyari9746]

Some people who are nerve deaf say she shows signs of nerve deafness. I could’t explain it well here but there’s videos on youtube that talk about it in good detail. It’s in certain things she does

[@FlowerBarnes-b2v]

My mommy is disabled mentally and physically . But she is awesome and so is my daddy

[@grimoireweissfan6969]

Witch Hat Atelier is also a really good manga with disability rep, and it's getting an anime in 2025

[@Iso20227]

I have a mute child in one of my own stories. She not only ends up being the one to finally defeat the antagonist, but she’s also the bridge between my protagonist and his love interest (an enemies to lovers situation).

[@scottjs5207]

Isha not speaking gave me flashbacks to DOTA... Probably one of the most fun characters (and physically strong) and so dang impactful without ever saying a word. Seriously, though... that's also a really good show... I wish it got a bit of limelight because it really does play with the sense of self and importance in such an interesting way.

[@justbeingweird5273]

Another character I really like was Cyrus borg from ninjago, I know he's not the best example because he's not like a big character but look how he succeeded in building a whole industry of new technology, I dunno I thought that was rlly cool

[@crimsonlilyfairy]

i'm surprised you didn't mention viktor from arcane?

[@Pedro-m7f3f]

Probably because his story is about him "surpassing" his disability instead of finding a way to be great despite of it. He sees himself as broken and more flawed because of it until his last confrontation in the series.

[@slaaicovers]

@@Pedro-m7f3f as an autistic person, hes very relatable...

[@ATG3192]

I think it's cuz, unlike Isha, Toph, and Sevika, who weren't defined by their disabilities and rarely ever spared a thought towards them, Victor hated his disability, and himself to a degree, and ultimately began to succumb to the despair he felt towards his disability.

[@RDrawzDragonz]

because it doesnt contribute to the videos point of views... this video is bad ngl, saying this as a disabled person btw.

[@yondaime500]

Snowdrop (from the MLP fan animation) is also a good example.

[@shahardel90]

uhh *nitpicking* but during the prison scene where warwick comes and fights jinx when isha is being dragged away you can hear her screem "MAMA" anyway outside that nitpick the video is great and shows HOW to wirte disabilty with great examples such as isha and also toph

[@zapp770]

Pretty sure that didnt happen. Rewatch maybe?

[@shahardel90]

@zapp770 it did

[@shahardel90]

@zapp770 i can tell you the exact second

[@zapp770]

You have a clip?

[@zapp770]

I think that was just a scream though…

[@guutra]

shnee talks about this, and suspects that Isha is deaf as well as mute.

[@whatever57010]

this is a very superficial analysis... Dis-ability is literally "less able"/"un able"/"not able". That said, overcoming physical/mental/emotional shortcomings (disability) makes it clear that that person have character/strength that makes them more badass then any normal "able" person. Sevika was badass before the injury, and she kept going, proving she is badass (maybe she didn't even know herself how well she would be able to overcome the loss of her hand) but she could also just stay at home and cry for the loss of her arm... and that ability to overcome is individual, highlighted by the disability, but the disability doesn't make EVERYONE stronger and as abled as normal people (which is implied by the video). Disability is a "make or brake" life changing event (in case of injury), or a hard life long battle that often build character and skills to make it in life. Just like any kind of physical training, the harder it is to do it, the stronger you get... and when disabled IT IS harder, so if you are out there living your life you are just as abled as any normal person. This can also be said for living in poverty, the rich will never know your struggle, and if you grow up to make a living and be able to care foryourself you are more capable then any rich kid that had it easy. Disability isn't a super power, it just force you to be the best you can be.

[@NOOBTRON-xe3on]

i feel loike disabilities aof lost limbs and robot arms are more acesories and visual storytelling then a character trait. arcane dose it cool though that you see them before the acident. i liked that alot in shadow of mordor and shadow of war too. orcs comin back with limb replacements.

[@kevind3974]

Wasn’t just isha. Steb the eel vistia enforcer. He’s mute to I also think Jericho can’t talk as well. In his case though I think it’s because of the type of vestia he is. As his sub sect is from the deepest parts of the bottom of the ocean. So he probably can talk just not on land Arcane had ALOT of mute characters

[@wak773]

don't forget amaya from the dragon prince, although the show seems to flip on whether she is deaf or mute.

[@Donnie_is_cool]

She’s deaf, in season 5 she speaks.

[@wak773]

@@Donnie_is_cool true, but there are lots of times where the characters talk to amaya as if she can hear them. lip reading seems like a stretch.

[@Donnie_is_cool]

@@wak773 hmmm good point

[@zalamazu]

As a disabled person, I’d personally prefer more nuance rather than a disabled character not being negatively affected by their disability(s). Don’t get me wrong, there’s a specific joy of being disabled in terms of community and growth, but make sure your characters have their bad days/moments! We are called disabled for a reason (as in we have it harder than abled people)

[@BarioIDL]

the irony of media treating minorities like toph's parents should not lost on you

[@EtherealRune]

Guts. Anyone?

[@sportenapfeltorten2095]

I know that disabled people are not a monolyth. But the disabled creators I have seen talk about Arcane so far where pretty unhappy about the representation in it. And I find their reasoning very convincing.

[@cattievogelsong96]

For Savika i agree that the show does not center her character on her disability. She is not defined by it. However i am not convinced this is a good depiction of disability because she is defeated and held back from her potential in fightings when characters attack her prosthetic. It is about framing i just don’t think the framing is a positive as i would like.

[@hispartyinvite]

i think when it comes to a character with a prosthetic fighting the depiction of yang from rwby mightve done a better job at it? theres also a scene of her confronting her mom while not having her prosthetic that framed her as very powerful which i really like

[@hispartyinvite]

this one kzbin.info/www/bejne/bpLalmuNoa-Ea68si=1PAIWPZFUDoecxUQ

[@calebpillai4774]

I thought she was just mute. I guess i just wasn't paying attention

[@King_of_Hearts]

Disability is a weakness, it’s just not any different than any other weakness like being rash, or missing some skill or background. Writing it otherwise is caused by people who are both bad writers, and have probably never met a disabled person. A person is filled with hopes, dreams, wishes, skills, weaknesses, and so much more. The classic example of poor character writing is to make a 1 note character who only is one aspect of what makes a person, complex. In this case disability is the same as any other trait, when used to define the entirety of a character you get a bad one note character who of course will be either pathetic, or unrealistically strong. No strong disabled character is strong because of their disability, they are strong because they overcame it.

[@DevilishRoses]

Im disabled but its never been a weakness it’s helped me become who I am. Not all disabled people have weaknesses just like how non disabled people do have weaknesses

[@aidenbrenneman2302]

@@DevilishRosesa disability is a weakness though that’s why it’s called that but that doesn’t mean people have to be defined by that weakness or don’t have the ability to overcome their disability.

[@RenanL.S.]

Why do you insult them by calling them normal?

[@UrielleC]

👎🏻