The Disabled Ponies of My Little Pony

[@Cxcd]

People have been commenting about mental disabilities- as I mentioned in the end of the video- and I want to say that I HEAR you. I kept mental disabilites out of the video because I planned on making a separate video about mental disabilities, like how each of the Mane Six represent a part of autism. If I included it in this video, it would've made it 20 minutes long, and I don't really like making long videos. I'm barely entertaining for 10 minutes, much less 20. A few people have thought I left out mental disabilities maliciously. I can promise you, that was NOT my intention. And any characters I left out in this video (Bulk Biceps, Vinyl Scratch, and Angel wings) was out of pure accident. I didn't realize Bulk Biceps was disabled, I totally forgot about Vinyl Scratch, and I really thought Stellar Eclipse was the only make-a-wish character. P.S. I left out the comics because it's a completely different beast that I'm not ready to deal with. I don't even know how to begin the comics, and they scare me.

[@SnowheadBlitz]

"barely entertaining for 10 minutes, much less 20" Bull-shit, mate! I was *VIBING* the entire time, hell, the way you present yourself is super chill! Take this sub, this like, and this comment confirming that I *will* be watching more of your stuff!

[@jasperzatch610]

What's wrong with Vinyl and Angel wings? Thanks for the content !

[@Skia.paiktis]

Just a heads up, autism isn’t considered a mental thing, but developmental instead

[@urgae9125]

@@Skia.paiktisit’s a mental disability in the sense it affects one’s mental state (same argument for physical), but you are correct that it’s classified/is developmental. I say this as an autistic person, as long as he uses disability to describe autism, and not illness, I don’t mind using the word mental. Autism is an all encompassing development disorder, since it can affect every little thing. Sorry if this comes off as argumentative, I hope it makes sense what I mean??

[@Beautylifestyle222]

@@Skia.paiktisya

[@v.j.bartlett]

I actually think it is cool that Scootaloo didn't 'recover' from her disability BECAUSE there are kids out there who can't recover from their disability and have to give up their dreams. This was like a total big shout out to them to say 'it's OK to not be OK', the people who really matter are the ones who will stick by you and help you find a new dream that you can do, grieve for your lost dream yes but don't get hung up on it'.

[@seantaggart7382]

Indeed I may have to live with my adhd and asd but if people can live with missing limbs so can i

[@_kaleido]

I also like how we explore that theme a bit in the movie too with Tempest Shadow, she never gets her horn fixed or her scar healed.

[@Beautylifestyle222]

Recovery was never easy her wings just dident grow hmm why dident her mom and dad dident mention that

[@saros_system]

Couldn't agree more! I loved how it was potrayed too!

[@pickles3128]

I never thought she had a dream to join the Wonderbolts, she just idolized Rainbow Dash for being awesome. And being an only child with no known family for 8¾ seasons out of 9. She didn't even have an established house 'til Flight to the Finish.

[@CatLamp-X3]

Honestly pegasi being more suspectable to bone/muscle related issues makes a lot of sense because, one, flying then falling ain't exactly the easiest thing to recover from. Pointing to Rainbow dash being hospitalized for example. And two, to fly you need lighter bones (or put all your energy into flying related muscles), so you can imagine that the average pegasi just have more fragile bones. Edit: As an MLP:FiM fan myself, i know that the races of ponies have magic in their base abilities. But I'm more implying what @lpsfoxstar8454 in my replies is suggesting. There's the example of Fluttershy and bulk biceps, where while flutters have a much weaker wing strength compared to other ponies, Bulk is an absolute unit who not only can fly with his little wings, but has also entered the ranks of the Wonderbolts. Showing that although magic is at play, muscle and training definitely helps alot. Of course we're talking about the hypothetical anatomy of magical talking horses.

[@susulpone]

it is actually near canon pegasi have hollow bones, just like birds (officially licensed products say so)

[@crossoverqueen1775]

@@susulpone That’s what I would think, that they’ve got hollow bones to help with flight.

[@shawnbay2211]

G5 probably isn’t canon but I do like 2 believe they fly by magic - that their wings r extremely strong perhaps by air manipulation. Pegasi r still in more dangerous situations compared 2 unicorns & earth ponies r inherently strongest.

[@galacticnerd3243]

either they have fragile bones or they are super jacked so it equals out (like Bulk Biceps, for example) and we know rainbow isnt jacked

[@AntiFaGoat]

I never thought about the hollow bones thing, but that does make sense.

[@tikimillie]

Technically needing glasses is also a disability, just one we don’t think about since its so common. Glasses is a wheelchair for your eyes.

[@ferntheinkling]

That’s true. There’s a lot of things I can’t do very well because of my eyesight.

[@edmundliankalang5925]

Can I park in the wheelchair parking lot?

[@Emberisbetterwoohoo]

@@edmundliankalang5925 errr, no, you cant.

[@edmundliankalang5925]

@@Emberisbetterwoohoo why not

[@MonkIsBestScug]

​@@edmundliankalang5925 Because wheelchair parking spaces in parking lots are mainly for those with disabilities that affect their overall movement, thus why they're usually closest to the building. If you need glasses but can drive, that doesn't really qualify-

[@777Rowen]

As someone with a visual impairment I love Derpy, or canonically known as Muffin. She’s a wonderful character and takes pride in her work. Her backstory is really interesting too as explained in the background she became disabled over time.

[@felislupus2]

what's wrong with her having a mental disability as well?

[@Thinginator]

I found it really interesting and kinda sad how in Rainbow Dash's flashbacks, when Derpy was young she used to win races, yet as her eyes became increasingly crossed she moved down the podium over time, looking sadder as well. Perhaps she became a mailmare as a way to continue flying fast despite not seeing well enough to compete as an athlete - instead she can just deliver things quickly.

[@dove2826]

@@Thinginator I got so sad for her when I noticed that! Reminds me of how it went for me when my eyes started crossing, it got hard to skate and I couldn't drive anymore. Really upsetting (Had a successful surgery so all is well now :D)

[@CookieGoofy]

Yes! I was born with a visual impairment so I really attached myself to Derpy as a kid!

[@Ur_local_fnf.fan2008]

Same, shes one of my favorite side pony

[@frenchiesottises8193]

I think what really drives the hurt home for me with Scoots is that it's very likely she can't do all those scooter tricks like she used to as a kid. Even if she can't fly, she could, at least, do *something* that's similar to it, but because her wings are still the same size as they were when she was young, she now might be too heavy to rocket off on a scooter like she used to.

[@godlesssnowshoe]

as a person w a progressive disability this hit me 😭 that's such a rough thing to try and cope with

[@That_Russel_Pup]

I feel so bad for Scoot, IT'S NOT FAIR-

[@PillowEditor]

SWEETIE BELL USE YOUR MAGIC TO HELP SCOOT

[@Rosa-he6xb]

Honestly while it is sad seeing what happened with the Derpy controversy back then and it causing problems for a bit, I am glad that Derpy/Ditzy still remained in the show and that they didn’t change her eyes to be normal(now that would’ve been worse than just changing her voice and official name). Regardless I’m glad a character like Derpy is loved by the fandom and I’m sure there’s probably been some fans who could related to her Amblyopia(Lazy eye, which is a visual disability. Heck it even tracks as the condition can develop from birth to 7 up and in “Parental Guidance”, we see a young Derpy who’s eyes slowly start to become cross eye).

[@comfortme]

i’m not sure why people were insulted by her clumsiness? lazy eye causes poor depth perception, n peripheral vision. it sounds inconvenient but i love that derpy isn’t saddened by it despite how hard it must be. i’m pretty sure the only time she is upset, is when other people get mad at her for making mistakes. she seems sweet to me.

[@derpydolphinzzz9394]

100%, I am one of those fans who related to her. [Have Amblyopia my entire life - nothings been really able to 'fix' it dispute attempts made when I was kid.] Heck, that attachment has mad derp a common word in all my usernames.

[@FuelBoundDaydreams]

I'm got a different condition that causes crossed eyes, strabismus. Derpy is one of my favorite characters because it's rare to see a character that has 'wonky eyes', something I was teased over as a kid. Patches and prisms, being told to look out of both my eyes and surgery- it never worked, it never fixed anything. Seeing a character in a show I adored, though... that helped my self esteem massively. Although all the medical attemps... It did make me realize that I'm left side dominate for everything except handwriting.

[@fuck_youtube_handles]

i find it strange that they changed her name to a synonym. ditzy is the same as derpy just less cute and more of an insult

[@cursed-cat9126]

​@@comfortme iirc I think parents were upset because (like the video says) they thought she seemed like a sterotype of disabled people

[@yas-per]

Headcanon: the reason Scootaloo can’t fly is in part due to her genetics. I imagine pegasi are quite light so they can fly, whereas earth ponies are heavy and muscular. Earth Ponies and Pegasi also have different types of magic that allow them to fly/be extra strong. My theory is that she inherited her Earth pony father’s denser muscles, bones and magic and her mother’s wings, meaning she’s unable to fly.

[@twilightsparkle75]

Remember, even twilight sparkle couldnt hardly do magic at all when she was young, and only got hee position with rhe princess out of luck because of rainbow dash.

[@Wishnstarz]

@@twilightsparkle75twilight’s struggle with magic isnt really the same as a physical disability though, her struggles are more aligned with mental disability (autism/adhd etc) so it’s unfair to make that comparison

[@comfortme]

@@twilightsparkle75 in the episode where scootaloo is an adult, she is still unable to fly. so despite physically being an adult, she doesn’t ever grow into her pegasi abilities.

[@comfortme]

this actually seems very plausible. apparently merchandise mentioned how they have hollow/lighter bones. according to a comment i read earlier, but i’m unaware of where it is mentioned

[@pickles3128]

Imagine s pegasus giving birth to a unicorn or earth pony in Cloudsdale... Oops! That would be bad.

[@Sam-fp2qh]

Something else that's really sad about Scootaloo. Every time that Scoot knows she's in a dream, her first instinct is to see if she can fly. In the episode where the CMCs were having nightmares about their cutie marks and Luna comes to help, Sweetie Bell asks if it was all a dream, and Scoot decides to test it out by seeing if she can fly. In Luna's nightmare monster episode, when the main 6 tells everyone that they can do anything they can think of, Scoot wishes that she has big and strong wings. 😭🥺

[@mikq1l]

also in that episode where the cmc were on a map quest, she said the sea was much a cooler place because she said swimming was like flying. 🥹🥹

[@thecabbagemaster.]

scootaloo never flying and having to rethink her future honest to god really tugged on my heartstrings as a kid growing up with hypermobile ehlers-danlos syndrome, having to quit all my extracurriculars out of pain while watching all my peers take on more and more new ones

[@The_AuraMaster]

"Is being Autistic a disability?" As an Autistic person, yes, it very much is. Edit: I'm gonna stop replying now because I feel like people want to start arguments over this subject.

[@jwideuluisinaein]

I'm also autistic but I don't see myself as disabled But I do know some struggle with it more

[@The_AuraMaster]

@@jwideuluisinaein It's a mental disability. Just because it isn't physical doesn't mean it isn't there. And to say it's not a disability does us more harm than good, because then people will be less likely to give us the support we need. Also let's not forget: Autism literally is so severe with some people they're nonverbal. If that isn't a sign it's a disability I don't know what is.

[@jwideuluisinaein]

@@The_AuraMaster Yeah, that's why I said some people struggle with it more. But since it doesn't affect me much, giving myself the label that I'm disabled / having it on paper will prevent me from having the same opportunities as able-peeps, at least where I live.

[@ricohaterr]

​@@jwideuluisinaein As a person with autism, I have moderate support needs and it affects my life in nearly every situation, so it definitely is a disability for me. Technically, any person's autism is a disability, however the amount of disability it causes varies greatly.

[@edmundliankalang5925]

Yay! I can park in the wheelchair parking lot!

[@SWDude2710]

This is an interesting MLP topic to discuss, but I would also ask if Vinyl is considered one considering how, minus a few instances, she never speaks a word as if she is forever mute, like having Mutism. {Edit: please note that my comment never meant any disrespect towards anyone or disabilities in general. I had mainly just read up a lot of sources, mainly through fanfics, where she is depicted as not being able to speak, and I don't mind either her speaking or not}

[@Cxcd]

OH MY GOD that would've been SO GOOD TO INCLUDE. I was litterally rewatching Derpy clips thinking how interesting mute characters were, and TOTALLY forgot about Vinyl.

[@SWDude2710]

​@Cxcd I think being mute suits Vinyl better then having a voice tbh, as like others have said, her music and hoof/hand gestures speak for her instead of words.

[@DavidMuri-lm5vy]

Well the KZbin channel that makes the ask pony videos says otherwise because vinyl scratch just uses swear words almost every chance she gets. 😅😅😅😅😅😅

[@SWDude2710]

@@DavidMuri-lm5vy good videos they be, though they're definitely fanon material. Still an interesting take on her, though.

[@Imgonna.eatyourmom]

​@@DavidMuri-lm5vyI wanted to say that

[@pumm3lfuff]

i actually really like how they didnt have scootaloo "overcome" her disability. its sad she will never be able to fly but thats life

[@felixhenson9926]

Agreed! I hate when TV shows try to 'fix' their disabled characters, literally just erases what little disabled representation they had.

[@capyisnotemo]

I just wish they made her wings bigger since it looks dumb and she cant ride her scooter anymore :(

[@sixarmedspider]

​@@capyisnotemo No, because that's her disability.

[@Robloxblossombloom]

5:20 as an autistic person I can very much confirm when you get diagnosed with something that makes you different you become an outcast. Also derpy isn’t offensive to me at all

[@aydenleathers7264]

I just always thought derpy was funny I was never offended by her existence

[@cherryb893]

Derpy is a really sweet character who should have been given more attention.

[@Sing_A_Rebel_Song]

Fr, I thought derpy was funny but in a relatable way 😂

[@hedonismbot1508]

Throughout the series we've seen a hang glider, Tank's propeller, a prosthetic wing, two pedal-powered helicopters, and a liquid-fueled rocket. Yet all Scootaloo ever got was a lecture from one of Equestria's top fliers about how she should have no preference for flying over not flying. Any way you slice it, that ain't right.

[@Commenter839]

I don't think they were saying Scootaloo should be content staying on the ground 100% of the time, but rather that she shouldn't base her identity as a pegasus on whether her wings worked or not. Rainbow was more than happy to carry her around for a fly at the end of Sleepless in Ponyville. In Flight to the Finish, Scootaloo insisted on flying with her wings because "that's what pegasus ponies are supposed to do", and grew so obsessed with it that she started alienating her friends and feeling like a failure

[@hedonismbot1508]

@@Commenter839It's kind of hard to tell what they were actually trying to say - first Lauren Faust claims that Scootaloo "hasn't figured it out yet", then "Flight to the Finish" uses her for a disability-related moral while explicitly leaving it open whether she'll eventually fly, then the writers leave things ambiguous until "The Last Problem", and even then the confirmation of her disability comes with the caveat "fans are welcome to interpret things how they like".

[@jasperjazzie]

yeah, a lot of people are glad that she wasn't miraculously cured because it'd come off as insensitive since people irl often don't, which is totally valid, but i do feel like any of those kinds of things would have been a cool metaphor for wheelchairs, prosthetics, or really any kind of disability aid in general (even if those things do just exist on their own in this universe). i'm glad they didn't make her entire character about her disability, but i think they could have done more with it if they were going to bring it up at all. maybe she still couldn't fly the way she hoped since the thing assisting her isn't as adept as a genuine pair of wings, then it'd still have the message they were going for but have less of a "well, just get over it :)" vibe

[@hedonismbot1508]

@jasperjazzie Everything about how she was presented suggests that the staff were reluctant to formally acknowledge her as disabled, but also didn't want to disappoint the fans who had held her up as a quality specimen of disability representation. Meanwhile, multiple episodes had Scootaloo implicitly wishing she could fly. It would have been way LESS tragic to get her a proper in-universe diagnosis and introduce her to the wonderful world of aeronautics.

[@_-NatureMations-_]

True, but I mean... it would need lots of developement. Scootaloo may or may not be the first grounded pegasi, why would ponies make prosthetic wings if there were no ponies in need of them? Also, it isn't like she's lacking wings, so the process of finding room for an extra set of wings of some kind would be pretty complicated

[@lupinbun7240]

Good round up of ponies with PHYSICAL disabilities. Here are the ponies with psychologic ones... Twilight Sparkle - autistic (Lauren Faust wanted this to be canon but Hasbro wouldnt let her) Rainbow Dash and Pinkie Pie - ADHD Fluttershy - generalised anxiety disorder Luna - PTSD (evident in the episode with her nightmare monster. And yes, im counting it as a disability) Vinyl Scratch - mutism? (Debatable)

[@RHTQ1]

Great comment! It puts Twilight's organization and tendency to "obsess over things" in a new light. There's also ponies with glasses, and the pony with the klutz cutie mark, in a way.

[@Sing_A_Rebel_Song]

Makes sense how the characters I related to the most are Twilight and Fluttershy and then getting diagnosed with anxiety and autism 😂

[@ManyMungos]

As someone who uses a mobility aid and more or less has had to give up on my dreams of being in dance competitions, these MLP characters mean a lot. It's annoying when people ask me why I have a cane, or even think I use it to get benefits (which I don't get any). You don't need to get the backstory of a disabled person or character to "justify" that they're disabled.

[@LocalPunEnjoyer]

BUT you can cane waggle at them and use a granny while saying, “Back in my day people kept their stupid opinions to themselves!”

[@ManyMungos]

I don't mind educating people if it'll help society be more open minded and accommodating to those with disabilities. Just know that people who ask aren't entitled to answers about someone's disabilities.

[@LocalPunEnjoyer]

@@ManyMungos I’m aware of that, I was just trying to put a silly spin on it. My intention was to make you laugh and or smile in case you were sad about it y’know?

[@DuskFrost.Dawnfire.]

Autism is a disablity! It's a developmental disablity that can cause social, communication, and behavior challenges (as an autistic person myself I can say I struggle a whole lot with these things)

[@Sing_A_Rebel_Song]

Fr, I’m autistic too and definitely consider it a disability

[@sequoiatrees1]

he didnt mean it like that, he ment it as in hes autistic and doesnt see it as a disability to him

[@Dragonmongamer]

I’m autistic as well and I’d say it is a disability

[@caseydreamuslpsandmore2582]

It is invisible one

[@Moravian_Mf]

Indeed! It is a non-physical disability :)

[@kitdoesstuff_official]

I actually really liked Ditzy Doo. She was genuinely my favourite character and thought she waa pretty cool! And I always headcannoned Twilight to have autism. Before I was officially diagnosed, I always connected with Twi so after my diagnosis I always liked to headcannon Twilight with my disability

[@Jenkinsmum]

I'm surprised that Fizzlepop was the only unicorn ever shown to have a broken horn. She can't be the only pony to ever have a broken horn. It is revealed in "Tempest's Tale" that her friends didn't exactly abandon her, but were too guilt-ridden to reconcile with her. Has any pegasus ever had a permanently broken wing? Imagine if poor Lighting Dust permanently broke her wing and she lost basically everything she had, a potentially story for redemption and renewing her life akin to Trixie. Perhaps Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle should trade their pegasus and unicorn traits and become strong honorary Earth ponies like the Apple family.

[@bemmenmemmen1086]

In one episode there was a scene in a hospital and someone in the background had a broken horn, but that was just a background thing

[@lenastorm6280]

"Is being Autistic a disability?" As an Autistic person: Yes, it is. It disables me in my every day work and interactions.

[@sequoiatrees1]

he didnt mean it like that, hes autistic, but he ment to say was he doesnt see it as a disability to himself

[@spinalhoard]

great video!! i do have to point some things out though! as a disabled person in a wheelchair, i think it's great that kerfluffle's disability wasn't brought up. this makes it normalized like, "oh, she's just a regular pony, she just looks a bit different." when you're disabled and LOOK disabled (wheelchair, crutches, prosthetics, etc.), you are bound to get looks, questions, comments, concerns, and everything under the sun. it can be very frustrating and makes us self-conscious. and concerning scootaloo giving up on her dreams, yeah. that's the harsh reality of being disabled. we often have to give up our dreams in some instances, so her story hits close to home. but in most cases, we find workarounds and new dreams. that's just accepting reality. especially at a young age, it can be heartbreaking. but our disability does not define us. :)

[@a_Certain_Scientific_Absurdist]

Scootaloo: oh no! My wings are too small and I can't fly!😭😭 Bulk Biceps: Hold my protein cocktail 😎

[@JezGamerTV]

My theories on why Scootaloo can't fly: Scootaloo's wings might not be able to get her off the ground because they are weak, they aren't weak enough to boost on her scooter however. But it could also mean that Scootaloo's wings has less feathers than an actual pegasus, which could lead to her flapping her wings fast. As someone who is autistic, i learn a little slower than most people. This video was very interesting.

[@alexjewett7455]

From what we can see, I it's just that her wings are underdeveloped. It's especially apparent as an adult, but her wings are simply too small to get her off the ground.

[@Actualbowlofsoup]

@@alexjewett7455I also remember hearing that she has a magic deficiency as we've been able to see pegusi with prosthetic wings who are capable of flying. and assuming we're using the new movie as a reference the magic is what allows them to fly.

[@Super_Mango205]

The only reason why she can't fly is because her father is an earth pony

[@Actualbowlofsoup]

@@Super_Mango205 pound cakes father and mother are both earth ponies and he can fly fine as a new born?

[@hazelquart]

Wasn’t it because she’s half-earth pony, half-pegasus so her bone density is higher than the average pegasus? (Plus the underdeveloped wings of course)

[@Rickettson]

I actually appreciate the overall non attention to the missing limbs, and prosthesis etc. Most other shows make a big center of attention “Drugs are bad” stare at the difference focus....and irl just accepting that someone has a prosthetic etc and not making your opinion about and interaction with said person be all about the missing limb, but about the person, their interest and job is, is what should happen. Like yes, this person needs a wheelchair, and that person over-there has blue eyes, your point? Concerning Scootaloo, even as the show has a few episodes outright focused on her inability to fully get off the ground, it doesn’t leave her a pariah . In fact shows her for all intents and purposes stunted wings are awesome at propelling her scooter, something no pony else can do. It might be more genetic than disfigured as on of her parents is an Earth pony. As other pegasus have tiny wings and they can still fly, Bulkbiceps. Overall the show handles disability well.

[@carolinecheney]

Yeah, I realized Scootaloo might not be able to fly when I watched The Final Problem and The Wishing Flower (or whatever it was called). It's a shame that she had a dream only to be forced to give up on it after finding out she has a disability keeping her from achieving it.

[@alexjewett7455]

That's just how life goes sometimes.

[@crossoverqueen1775]

@@alexjewett7455 Exactly. It may be sad that she had to give up her dreams because of her physical limitations, but I’m pretty confident in saying that that’s just how life is sometimes, and it makes her character interesting and also shows off that sometimes you can’t follow your dreams, but that it’s okay. Yeah it hurts, but with time perhaps you will find a new dream, that first one will always be with you of course, but it’s possible to grow from such an experience. At least these are my thoughts on it. I have no clue if I’m explaining this right.

[@Nobody-qk4xu]

Just like Derpy, she was an amazing flyer, but her disability eventually caused her to not be as good, yet she still flies constantly and is happy the way she is.

[@kharmacal]

@@Nobody-qk4xu are you talking about scootaloo? because she can't fly. she's disabled and could never fly. her wings were too small from birth.

[@Nobody-qk4xu]

@@kharmacal No, i'm talking about Derpy

[@Bloop8279]

I always felt bad for Scootaloo because could you imagine having the chance to be born with the ability of flight only to have it taken away from you so easily.

[@stinky9713]

I find it crazy that bulk biceps CAN fly despite clearly being way to heavy on top of his wings being presumably smaller than scootalo.

[@georgesears934]

Have you seen those biceps? Boi simply kicks the earth away from him.

[@experi-mentalproductions5358]

If bees can do it...

[@Wolf-cn8gv]

You be surprised that theres a lot of disabled people who don’t really like being ask about how it’s like being disabled and just want a normal conversation so having the show actually show a normal pony having a normal conversation with someone who is different is refreshing! And for those that are not sure or know what is up with scootaloo her wings are small to represent those like dwarfism and many many more disability’s that actually prevent growth in some parts of the body or more. Sorry if this seems like a lot.

[@zoro4661WasTaken]

There's at least eight! Derpy, Stellar Eclipse, Tempest Shadow, Kerfuffle, Scootaloo and Violette Rainbow as you mentioned. Then in the flashback episode where Applejack lies, in the hospital, we see (along with a pony with a dumptruck and Derpy) a pony whose horn is broken and bandaged. And Bulk Biceps should also count - his wings, even in adulthood, are the exact size of filly Scootaloo's. He just has absolutely insane stamina and strength, allowing him to flap his tiny wings hard, fast and long enough to fly and even get into Wonderbolt Training Camp. He basically trained so insanely hard that he flipped physics off and somehow _disabled his disability._

[@BlooMonkiMan]

Bulk Biceps negs King Sombra Change my mind

[@zoro4661WasTaken]

@@BlooMonkiMan Can't, don't know what that means

[@darkerSolstice]

Hot take: the reason that most disabled characters are pegasi isn't because they're more likely to develop disabilities, but that they're more likely to SURVIVE disabilities. That's right, we're looking at survivorship bias in action!

[@cylyte2436]

I’m curious as to why they’d be more likely to survive ?

[@pigeon1923]

How so? This sounds interesting

[@vstro_i]

I remember in the episode Surf and/or Turf, Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo have an argument over where Silverstream’s brother should live, and I remember how Scootaloo loved and adored the water and wanted him to pick it and I remember her saying “this must be what flying feels like!” When she swam

[@dylansickinger545]

Also, in the season 8 episode “Surf and/or Terf”, the crusaders visit the hippogriffs and get turned into seaponies. While they’re underwater Scootaloo gets really excited the whole time because she thinks that that must be what flying feels like, implying that she knows she can’t do that under normal circumstances

[@guccilatae]

1:22 as soon as you said this i got a recommendation in KZbin videos saying "i love the disability representation in mlp" 😂

[@rowanrawlz1871]

Thanks for mentioning Violette Rainbow! I will add on that there are 2 other canon disabled characters, that being Skye, vios best zebra friend who uses an inhaler (so prob has ashthma), and Misty Brightdawn who has various disorders (anxiety disorder and ptsd being the ones that are explicitly canon)

[@bonnietelocole6777]

As an Autistic person, it really depends on how the disorder affects you. Twilight, Pinkie, and Rainbow could all be considered disabled by neurodivergency, as they all have episodes that show habits born from it that prevent them from living normal lives. For Rainbow, it's that episode about her trying to study for a test, but being unable to do so in any "normal" fashion, causing her friends to get together and use her Wonder Bolts hyperfixation of studying the ground as she flies to help her study. I loved that episode, because rather than continuing to bash her in the head with her weaknesses, they helped her via her strengths! The episode for Twilight would be the one where she's about to be late in sending a letter to Princess Celestia, and she loses every last marble she has over it, from a panic attack at the start of the episode to a full on scheme that goes wrong by the end. For Pinkie, she has many episodes that could fit the bill, but the one I'd argue fits the best here is the one where she clones herself. It shows through the clones how easy it is for her to go overboard or get distracted, but it also shows through the last Pinkie that if it's about something she really cares about or loves, like her friends, she can do just about anything, even watching paint dry. In fact, I think arguments could be made that all the mane 6 are in some way disabled by Autism (or some form of neurodivergency), I just personally think it affects these 3 the strongest.

[@lostpapyrus]

6:52 ive made an oc missing a leg because it got crushed when she was a filly while rock climbing(because lets be honest, kids and probably fillys do stupid shit.) so i headcannon that the pony might have lost it the same way. yeah my OC was a unicorn so she couldn't fly away like that pegusis but maybe that pegusis was caught of guard? or lost it to timber wolf?

[@carolinecheney]

I got a unicorn oc that's an amputie too! Except she lost her leg in a train accident.

[@emofurryboyfriendasmr]

i love hearing abt ygs ocs 🫶

[@andrewmalinowski6673]

Thought I haven't seen "My Little Pony The Movie" I created a pegasus OC who had injured her wings and became a warrior like Tempest Shadow, though the intention wasn't really to make her disabled but with her backstory it adds to her skills (abandoned after getting injured) and makes her far more dangerous. It's probably because most shows don't really have a lot of diverse representation that it's subconsciously something people look for to better identify with characters

[@Stickamajig]

I mean, it's happened to dash before. So it isn't out of the picture.

[@lambybunny7173]

8:19 this is the reality of many people who have invisible disabilities like hEDS. Speaking from experience here LOL I should not be walking without a mobility aid but they're all too expensive so I walk without anything anyways and yeah! It freaking hurts! I'm glad you caught on that.

[@Birdsflight44]

If you haven't yet, I strongly suggest looking into getting custom insoles from a podiatrist. The ones where they scan your feet. For the first time, I understood what people meant when they talked about a roll to their foot, or a natural spring, etc. My podiatrist was working out a payment plan, then just never charged me. Apparently he just does that sometimes, because he's a swell dude and owns the practice. But if you can find someone who would work out a payment plan, its really been worth it for everyone in my family, and we're all flexible, if not medically documented as EDS. Also, check what your psoas are doing. if you're like me, some strengthening could do wonders.

[@pinokosthewife]

The Make-A-Wish OC is the sweetest thing and Stellar Eclipse is such a cool design too! Kerfluffle is so cuuuute, I'm actually kind of happy they don't bring it up, that makes it feel more natural, even if it might be frustrating for someone who wants to know whyyy. Fluttershy also seems to have a disability, she's limited in her ability to fly, Hurricane Fluttershy was so emotional to watch and ended similarly as with Scootaloo, where even after all her efforts... she wasn't as fast as the others. It's sad, but realistic. So is the bullying and ostacrization, I got sooo much for it for being visibly "different" (other kids just called me crazy, threw stones or balls at me, and mocked at me--to this day, I HATE hearing teenaged girls laugh, it makes me feel like I'm being mocked...) I was also bullied in my first two years of medical school. It's very isolating and terrible.

[@PhilFromhec]

Honestly I think it’s a good thing they never touch on her leg. Amputee characters in media hardly ever get to just have their disabilities exist casually and not be super important, and it doesn’t have to be super important

[@Cat-oc5gc]

I deeply connect with Scootaloo I also probably won’t ever be able to do normal things that other people can do easily and it… it hurts. No matter how hard ether of us try. Also when Scootaloo says why she loves water so much she basically lists my exact reasons to loving swimming. Sure we can function fine enough in day to day life but it’s still hard to think about…

[@Birdsflight44]

But she's also incredibly competent almost everything she tries, has tons of friends, and has a ton of toys and merch IRL. Her "No matter what she does" is pretty damn awesome. And a lot of people I know with disabilities are great. I'm dealing with stuff myself. Even my pup is blind. I bet you're pretty cool, too! Also, check out Vylet Pony's CUTIEMARKS album if you haven't yet. Scootaloo gets some good rep there, if you like her so much. :)

[@aquaticcatfey]

I interpreted Derpy/Ditzy Doo/Bubbles as mostly being spacy but also having some neurological issues; I think it was implied to be the result of a head injury. The real screwup with her was Tabitha making the mistake of thinking the character was male, pitching her voice deeper, and coming off like she was doing the "duh voice." If I recall correctly: the official story with Fizzy is that the other foals were awkward around her, she got understandably bitter and pushed them away, and a vicious cycle resulted which culminated in her running off. The speculation on Scootaloo is that she takes a bit too much after her father (who is an earth pony), although I don't recall that ever having been confirmed. And I absolutely adore Kerfuffle, and want to believe that she and Rarity stayed in touch.

[@LokiMartin]

5:30 "I would bet you this kind of thing happens in real life too!" It does. I had two instances where this happened. One was with my childhood best friend. We did everything together; went to the movies, the amusement park, the mall with our moms. We would go over each other's houses to play Barbies or with our stuffed animals. We wore matching t-shirts. Then I got diagnosed with Autism. Just like that, my friend of so many years stopped hanging out with me and even told other children in our neighborhood that my mom was paying children to be my friend because I was such a freak. It still hurts me to this day to think about those words. Then, years and years later, I got diagnosed with Ulcerative Colitis and that changed my life. Suddenly, I had chronic pain, I had to use a cane to get around because I got more tired and weaker at times. I had two friends in real life who were okay with my disease, or so it seemed. But then, after I had to cancel plans one too many times because I was too sick or in the hospital, they cut off contact and stopped speaking to me. Not even so much as a "look, I can't be your friend anymore because you're always too sick to hang out". They just refused to talk to me. And just like my childhood best friend, that hurt just as much to be abandoned for being ill and disabled.

[@artimationhub3732]

I think some nuance was missed on Fizzlepop's story. I don't think the reason Fizzle's friends left her was because she was different, but because she was of no use to them anymore. When Fizzle came back with her broken horn, they didn't leave. It was only when it was shown that her magic was affected that they left to play without her. I'd also like to add that, when Fizzle had made her circumstances lead up to her joining a dictator and traveling the world, she saw and destroyed any happiness and community she saw because she thought they would never accept her specifically because she's disabled. She learned to control and use her magic herself (I think) because no one wanted to be a friend and help her. That's why Twilight wanting friendship with her was such a big deal, even if it felt random or undeserved in a storytelling perspective.

[@johnfotnite5069]

I first started watching MLP around 2022. (I'm a pretty new fan) and as someone with amblyopia (a lazy eye) I loved Derpy Hooves. She's a sweet character, her eyes just happens to look abnormal. Glad a character like that is well respected.

[@alice20001]

3:10 “Adult male fans known as ‘brownies’ helped name her.“

[@funnatopia704]

I think scoots might be canonical proof that cross breeding between tribes can sometimes have downsides that varies from each half-breed. She’s the result of a Pegasus and an earth pony. Perhaps she ended up inheriting her father’s heavier earth pony body, which would explain why her Pegasus wings can’t get her off the ground and keep her airborne.

[@TailsClock]

Racial purity theories are always nonsense. Even in a fictional world I am pretty sure this is not even slightly true. Maybe you could say the Kirin went a bit far by reproducing with dragons, and now they are ponies born with emotional problems. But they also embody the best traits of unicorns and dragons too. It's always better to have plenty of diverse genes than to have lots of copies of the same genes. Being inbred is what causes weakness.

[@RavenStar..]

Interesting fact: the reason scootaloo cannot fly is because her wings are underdeveloped and so she cannot fly due to that. What i think they could have done to help her: give her prosthetic wings to give her more powerful wings and so she could potentially get off the ground

[@Kymanbitch]

I mean she can hover just not fly, bulk biceps is big and has tiny wings

[@RavenStar..]

@@Kymanbitch yeah but she still cannonly has underdeveloped wings

[@hedonismbot1508]

For that matter, Rainbow Dash helped apple bloom try hang gliding and got Tank his propeller. There's absolutely no excuse for not hooking Scootaloo up with something along those lines.

[@RavenStar..]

@@hedonismbot1508 rainbow dash in the episode where starlight was stopping the rainboom and she had a prosthetic.. maybe they weren't sure if something like worked with ponys, maybe they are still testing something out for pegasus

[@limomcito3303]

I like to think that she adaptes her dream in her own way, that being making triks in her scooter, they really make an énfasis on that (sorry for bad english)

[@Hatsune-Miku_Fan]

I love the idea of scootaloo being disabled and her wings never developing i feel like it would make a lot of kids feel seen seeing her adult version still not be able to fly😊😊

[@MollyDollyy774]

I think it's nice that MLP:FIM has Disabled characters, gives representation 8:28 But poor Scootaloo

[@quinnhouk5369]

Awesome cause I have high functioning Cerebral Palsy. I can speak and walk tho but I have trouble speaking

[@Beg_cry]

I’m so happy, I have a shirt from back in the day that actually says derpy on it. It says “derpy is best pony” it’s my favorite scene shirt, it’s so cute.

[@enyan6696]

It was really sweet that in the school contest episode the way they calmed scootaloo down wasn’t by saying you’ll get there eventually but by saying and even if you don’t ever get to fly you’re perfectly fine as it is 🥺🥲

[@Kawaiipony_Productions]

This is honestly a really well made video. I'm mentally disabled (autistic and have ADHD) and seeing a video just talk about at least the physically disabled characters is great. While it sadly isn't a lot, I am glad to still see some. I know you mentioned in your pinned comment that you plan doing a video about mental/neurological disabilities. And with that, I would suggest putting in Pinkie at least as a few months back, Lauren Faust confirmed on Twitter that Pinkie canonically has ADHD. Just wanna point that out cause I know not many people still know this information. Still, this is a great video.

[@SugarSwirl]

I wanna mention Bulk Biceps :0 bc he’s shown to have tiny wings like Scootaloo but he’s still able to fly. Even well enough to make it into the Wonder bolts Academy. So I don’t think Scoots was completely hopeless, it might’ve token A LOT of strength training tho but I just feel like no one talks about him

[@hedonismbot1508]

My headcanon for Bulk Biceps is that his love of lifting came from the intense strength training it took to get him flying despite being even more poorly endowed than Scootaloo.

[@playdoh658]

I like to think that the average pegasi has both the right wingsize and enough magic to lift of the floor. I think bulk has enough magic but his wings are too small hence why he can fly but with a lot of struggle, while scoot has neither. Then you have flutter who can fly but is weak at doing so especially when she was younger. She essentially has to push herself a bit harder than other pegasi. Her wings are big enough but she might not have as much magic. That's my theory

[@SugarSwirl]

@@playdoh658 I didn’t think about that :0

[@cheesecakesubs]

when i was younger (still now tbh) i always liked to think that scootaloo has a similar version of my disability. I was born early and got clubfoot (where your foot or feet is turned in, lot of them never fully grow) So when i saw scootaloo with 2 short wings as an adult. I always thought it was like my disability lol, i always called it clubwings on her as a kid. My foot was corrected at birth so it wasn't that turned in but it was very small for a person my age, so i always thought scootaloo was like me.

[@F_NerdShark]

My first time watching this channel and I love how your humour is so all over the place - Like suddenly in the middle of the intro we get “oh there’s a staple on the floor 😨😨” lmao 😭

[@Lucyfer_Morningstxr]

8:20 my HC is that she has cerebral palsy. As a kid growing up with cerebral palsy, it was the best I could find representation wise, so I CLUNG to it.

[@LADYSWIFTIENOIR]

the minute he said "1989" *swiftie brain activated*

[@WildDancer101]

I heard this line from a fanmade series where a character tells another: "Let your limits be your strength." If something you have limits you, then have it work for you as you establish your goals.

[@Silent_Wisteria]

The theory for Scoots not being able to fly and having smaller wings for her frame is also because her mother is a Lean Pegasus and her father is an Earth Pony, making her frame more like an Earth pony and making her wings too small to carry her frame.

[@MakennaWilson-hb9pr]

"Thistletwist Shadowpop" -Somebody trying to make a new flavour

[@CastOfCharacters13]

For years, I always thought Derby Hooves was autistic she’s funny cute and super adorable I love her I also loved Tempest shadow when I saw her on the big screen 🥰🥰🥰

[@xXSKY64Xx]

Oh! You wear the Freddy Krueger sweater as a normal sweater too! Neat!

[@demetriusdragon3301]

I know the feeling all too well of Others not wanting anything to do with me because I'm Disabled. Been that way my whole life. And part of why I'm so grateful for those that do stay.

[@EmoxyDreams]

The parents who said that derpy hooves was making fun of disabled people are the most ableist of ableists. I have over 5 mental disabilities and I love derpy hooves for her cross eyed and empty headed personality. Thats what makes her specisl and thats what makes her more unique than even the main characters.

[@RHTQ1]

I was born with a lazy eye. Treatment as a child helped mask/mitigate the issue, but without that, I'd have looked a little like Derpy. I think she was a sweet character, though Rarity should have apologized after the perfect gift

[@hemlocktea6643]

Kinda sad derpy literally like went to doctors trying to fix her eyes and they went back to being bad. She was an athlete won the go cart race and was possibly the fastest pony. But due to her condition she only got worse. Yeah I like the show enough to know this

[@ChocoThe_Cat]

Scootaloo Was Always My Favourite Crusader, I Have A Disability In Which My Legs Get Tired WAY Too Easily. Which Causes Me To Sometimes Need A Disability Stroller In Which My Friends Or My Parents Need To Drive Me Around In (Not To Be Confused With A Wheelchair) And It Also Causes Me To Not Be Able To Run, Its Too Much For Me Seeing Scootaloo’s Wings Made Me Think Of How I Am. We Both Use A Vehicle When We Get Tired, And We Both Have A Muscular Disability. Scootaloo’s Representation Means So Much To Me, Because My Condition Is Very Rare.

[@hellistheunderworld]

11:05 bro thinks he can hit the floss in 2024? ok but actually i never realized how few disable characters are in MLP. it really puts in perspective how little hasbro wanted to include representation of disabled people. edit: i mean 1989

[@theglitchedrabidrabbit]

As an autistic person, it is absolutely a disability every day is a struggle 💀

[@woshyyyyyyyyy]

i love how theres just a christmas tree in the background lmao- LOVE THE VIDEO BTW!! your comedy and style are awesome :))

[@lilythearcticfox]

When I think of a disabled character in MLP it is Cerfuffle. Also, there's that one really buff Pegasus and his wing-to-body ratio is pretty much the same as Scootaloos. It's prob just the magic. One thing to note is that if you, a human, flap your arms hard enough your heels can lift off the ground without you trying so... Yk... Scootaloo hasn't accomplished much.

[@BlooMonkiMan]

Bulk Biceps?

[@lilythearcticfox]

@@BlooMonkiMan Yes, him, thank you.

[@judesagad4161]

I love this video and also carrying on mlp content I love explained each character and their background stories. The pony I loved you explained is Derpy she started as an animation error and she turned into a fan favorite / major side character.

[@TevoCorpOfficial]

Amazing video analysis of our favorite shows beloved characters like Derpy Hooves, Scootaloo and Stellar Eclipse!

[@ItsCooper]

Great topic! I really enjoyed your comedic timing, and the pacing of the video spot on.

[@Alechandro2010]

11:04 bluds flossin in the mirror part of the coca cola sign 💀

[@f0fuchsia742]

derpy actually has the exact opposite conditions of walleyed, being both crosseyed and hypo/hypertrophic, but not walleyed. Walleye is when your eyes point away from each other, either affecting one or both eyes.

[@lyratsura2243]

Interesting vid! To answer your last question yep autism is definitely a disability ♾️ (I'm autistic)

[@TailsClock]

Damn good video! Given the mention of Fizzlepop, I'm surprised you didn't mention captain Celaeno. Her disability is as prominent and ignored as Kerfuffle's. But wow, I thought my memory was bad or something. I'm really shocked the amount of disability in this show is THIS small. But I like that you gave the theory of them being scared after Derpy, because that makes a lot of sense. I am so glad that Scootaloo was not "fixed", and that she remained disabled just as she was intended to be from the start. The later seasons do really well to respect Lauren Faust's wishes, even with the occasional episode being forced on them to help with toy sales. The fandom sure has plenty of disabled characters though, and it feels like such a welcome place for such characters and themes. Not sure how it fostered this positive feel when the main series is so lacking in representation, but it just has. edit: Oh heck! Vinyl! I forgot about her! But anyway I am glad you did not bring up Bulk Biceps, as he is not disabled at all. He wings are smaller than Scootaloo's and yet he can fly. He just can't fly well for the sake of comedy.

[@night4138]

Honestly I've only have heard of Ditzy and a unicorn filly with her horn twisting the opposite way compared to other unicorns and she's the daughter(not sure if adopted or not) of Derpy Hooves. And I think the Rainbow Road trip movie did the representation well. They didn't make disability a big thing because things like that happen in life and it doesn't have to hinder what you do and it doesn't have to draw attention.

[@mhairithorne7072]

not sure how accurate this is but I remember hearing somewhere that scootaloo is half earth pony? and thats why she can't fly the mix of the 2 breeds(?) messed up her muscles.

[@Tairafan]

10:43 Are you being serious? I have autism, autism is a disability, and not every character has autism. Sure all the ponies have a special interests, most of them have a strong sense of justice, some of the characters can't understand social cues, but very few of the characters have sensory issues, and have a nack for patern recognition. Autism isn't just a vibe

[@Railbrony]

Would like to see a completely blind pony. Maybe a Pegasus who can’t see and therefore can’t safely fly. Thanks your human and you / family and you fics on fimfiction for that concept

[@Lucifer_Mercury]

I would rather say that Derpy Hooves has an eye illness rep more specifically strabismus which is a incurable eye illness, and reason why I know about strabismus in first place is because I have it, it may not be as prominent as Derpy has because of possible lack of treatment to make it have less effect. I can't address enough how happy I was when I saw her on screen as a Child.

[@chilljelloton2089]

my favourite fact about scootaloo being disabled is that she doesnt somehow magically overcome it. there are so many real life human beings-children included-with disabilities that makes some thing including their dreams outright impossible. she is amazing rep for disabled people who need to or have learned how to deal with the pain, frustration, and grief of never getting to have a "normal" able-bodied life.

[@chilljelloton2089]

coming back i cant help but say that i also love that they never address the prosthetic kerffule has. it makes it feel like its a normal thing and shows how you should treat someone with a prosthetic in real life-like anyone else. theres not a lot of disabled rep in the show but the disabled rep we get is just handled extremely well and gives good messages. its wonderful

[@natalienasser3046]

"Being that her horn- can only make ✨️ boom boom ✨️ She adapted pretty well- to ✨️ boom boom ✨️ by having firework-" XD

[@Santa_Priscan_Princess]

Interestingly, I think comics Sombra could fit into this group. His origin story in the comics showed him wanting to attend the Crystal Faire growing up, but becoming sick every year on the day of the festival (due to the magic of the Crystal Heart). While this isn't perfect representation of chronically ill people (he is only sick one day each year and was completely cured by literal magic), having to miss out on life experiences due to pain really struck a chord with me.

[@steertatocasserole]

I love how you're flossing in the reflection as the fire starts 😂

[@GOOBLE78]

i like how they decided to keep her eyes like that it’s endearing

[@Birdsflight44]

Its how life is. AND its how cartoons are. Its kinda nice how ponies managed to integrate both, and add in a layer of its Noblebright fantasy, with her gift of Serendipitous Oopsies making everything meaningful. Because that's how things should be- even if there really were someone who was the cartoon stereotype of the cross-eyed, living jinx, they should still have a place in society. Most ponies don't even seem to realize the fact that her special talent results in things turning out for the best in the long run.

[@Charles-7]

for tempest, she's basically similar to someone who had lost a limb to a wild animal at some stage, and their lives have drastically change since, and ultimately becoming an amputee, which yes kerfuffle is that too,

[@imkuelllgremlin]

i remember the wash out episodes also directedly address scootaloo's flying and how it was hard for her to give up on her dream but also feel like she cannot connect to rainbow dash

[@PunishedFelix]

You know what's cool, in 2014-2015 I was in on a panel about disabilities in MLP at bronycon. I personally think Scootaloo is probably the best rep out of the lot because the writers had to think a lot more in depth about portraying a disability that only exists in pegasus instead of just copying the signs and symbols of disability onto a character.

[@03creeperboy]

thinking about it scootaloo can also be an example of mutation disabilaties or in basic form a generic mutation that cases the wings to be small or not being able to grow quite as much as it should be, wich can be caused by a few conditions like suroundings adaptation (where if an animal or plant gets slow changes then they can adapt to a surtain enviorment like plants changing green tones for the amount of sunlight they get on avarage or how whales got their forms from fish to land animal to sea mamals) with her being a middle ground of pegasi going from air to land ponies. even if it's not genetics, it can be possible that her body over the years have adapted on not flying, by weakening the muscles. an example can be what happens with cancer patients, where the hair gets removed/shaved so to save energy where it's more needed (with cancer patient it's goig to be to fight of the cancercells in the body

[@Larsen_illustrations]

I just came to say that the disability pride flag you used got updated, mostly minor ones like having the stripes go up and having muted colors because the bright ones gave people headaches, just letting you know thanks for your time:)

[@inkobsessedfreak5638]

Just a fan theory but Pegasi being more prone to physical disabilities and/or injury could be a result of how their anatomy is changed from the standard unicorn and earth pony in order to enable them to fly easier such as air pockets in bones, different weight distribution, things like that And since the gene pool of mlp is varied it's likely that sometimes certain aspects of their biology don't develop as well or simply certain deformities are purely genetic which can result in some being more fragile than others and more prone to injury It's worth noting that constant energy being utilized to fly only to suddenly stop or fall would cause all the shock to go to the limbs rather than the surface they landed on

[@thedistinguished5255]

stellar eclipse is the best "make a wish" wish ive ever heard

[@seccozcubez]

honestly i wouldnt be surprised if pegasi were more prone to disability. flying animals have hollow bones to be light enough for flight, but that also makes then very weak and easy to snap. so that would make sense!

[@rollo_linwood]

Damn this is really well made, very good pony content! Glad to see it

[@oneovertwo1186]

They brought back the movie style for Rainbow Roadtrip because it was originally supposed to be a full on sequel to the movie & the resultant special is basically a salvage of that idea