Boston SSDI Lawyer Reviews How Disability Is Portrayed in Mass Media and Popular Works of Fiction
How accurately does popular culture depict the realities of living with disability? TV shows and movies have made big strides in recent years. Even so, there is still much to dissect about the authenticity of these portrayals. From fictional characters to famous celebrities, we’ll dive deeper into this topic in this article. If you are applying for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI), call the offices of Keefe Disability Law to schedule a free case evaluation.
Examples of Disability and SSDI in Movies, TV, and Music
Representation matters. And this representation must extend beyond simple tokenism or hurtful comic relief. While one in four American adults has some form of disability, characters with disabilities are grossly underrepresented in pop culture. By reviewing some notable examples, we can get a better sense of how mainstream popular culture perceives disability.
Pop Singers Lewis Capaldi and Billie Eilish
In recent years, both Lewis Capaldi and Billie Eilish have been much more open about their Tourette’s Syndrome diagnoses. Eilish spoke about her experience with Tourette’s when she was a guest on My Next Guest Needs No Introduction With David Letterman. She’s more accepting of it now and doesn’t allow it to impede her singing career.
Laura (Marlee Matlin) in Seinfeld
“The Lip Reader” is the sixth episode in the fifth season of “Seinfeld.” Actress Marlee Matlin plays Laura, Jerry’s deaf girlfriend. George tries to use her lip-reading ability to spy on his friends. From what we can see, Laura leads a happy and fulfilling life that is not defined by her deafness. Hearing loss may qualify for SSDI in some cases.
Marlee Matlin is deaf, having lost her hearing as a toddler. She won an Oscar and a Golden Globe for her portrayal of Sarah in the 1986 movie Children of a Lesser God. She is the only deaf performer to have won an Academy Award.
Tyrion Lannister in Game of Thrones
There is no Social Security in Westeros, but Tyrion Lannister’s disability dramatically impacts his prospects in this fictional world. Like actor Peter Dinklage, Tyrion has a form of dwarfism called achondroplasia. Despite being born into a prestigious family, Tyrion faces challenges due to his smaller stature. He faces prejudice and discrimination, and his father Tywin deeply resents him.
Lieutenant Dan in Forrest Gump
Physical and mental disorders are not the only medical conditions that may qualify for SSDI. Any form of impairment that would stop someone from working may be eligible, including amputations. A good example of this is the character of Lieutenant Dan Taylor in the movie “Forrest Gump.” Both of his legs are amputated below the knee after the Vietnam War.
Wolverine in X-Men
Psychological impairments can be equally debilitating. The character of Wolverine from the X-Men franchise displays symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). He is prone to fits of rage and has trouble maintaining interpersonal relationships. Maintaining steady employment would be difficult without the help of Professor Xavier.
Walter White Jr. in Breaking Bad
This is a rare instance where someone with a disability plays a character with the same disability. Actor R.J. Mitte has cerebral palsy, the same neurological condition that afflicts his character Walter White Jr. on the TV show “Breaking Bad.” The disability profoundly affects his mobility and life prospects. The family’s financial struggles that drive the show’s action are fueled, in part, by his medical expenses. The family may receive some disability benefits.
Dr. Gregory House in House, M.D.
Hugh Laurie plays the title character in the TV drama “House, M.D.” Dr. Gregory House suffers from chronic pain and a permanent limp. He struggles with pain management, including an addiction to Vicodin. Despite his impairments, he continues to work full-time at Princeton Plainsboro Teaching Hospital. As such, he may not qualify for SSDI benefits.
How Realistic Are These Pop Culture Depictions?
The accuracy of these portrayals varies widely. In many cases, the depictions are over-simplified. Audiences are often led either to feel sorry for the individual or to laugh at them. In some cases, it ends up being both.
Both Dustin Hoffman and Tom Hanks won Best Actor Academy Awards for their respective performances in “Rain Man” and “Forrest Gump.” In both cases, they played characters with intellectual disabilities. The authenticity of these depictions is debatable, as they may have been overly exaggerated for the screen. The lived experience of actual people with disabilities is far more nuanced.
Inaccurate Representation Can Hurt SSDI Applicants
When poor or inaccurate depictions proliferate in pop culture, people with disabilities suffer from stereotypes and misconceptions. They can influence how the public perceives their impairments. Even among professionals who you’d hope would know better, pop culture can color their interpretation of a disabled person’s day-to-day life. From a self-medicating Gregory House to a suicidal Lieutenant Dan, it can be hard to shake these misconceptions.
Working to Overcome Bias and Misconceptions of Disability
Understanding the lives of people with disability must first start from a place of compassion. Keefe Disability Law is dedicated to helping clients banish biases and fight for the SSDI benefits they deserve.
“I would like to thank each and every one of you for helping me get my disability,” writes A.P. from Milford, Massachusetts. “Everyone I talked to was always so helpful, they would always answer my questions. I will recommend KDL to anyone that needs a disability lawyer.”
