Wonder & Portraying the Disabled

I have not read the book, Wonder, nor will I likely see the the movie anytime soon. I watch four hours of TV tops, let alone get through a movie anymore! : ) Hopefully some day I will get to it!

From Rotten Tomatoes: “Based on the New York Times bestseller, WONDER tells the inspiring and heartwarming story of August Pullman. Born with facial differences that, up until now, have prevented him from going to a mainstream school, Auggie becomes the most unlikely of heroes when he enters the local fifth grade. As his family, his new classmates, and the larger community all struggle to find their compassion and acceptance, Auggie's extraordinary journey will unite them all and prove you can't blend in when you were born to stand out.”

A local Mom, “Miggy,” (a well-known blogger in the special needs social media world) wrote up her thoughts on the movie. She has a daughter a bit older than Nora who has a limb difference. Her post cites a lot of disabled writers and their opinions on Hollywood’s (non)portrayal of the disabled. 

My Thoughts On Wonder

A big complaint I’ve read multiple times is that TV shows and movies don’t use actors who actually have the disability they portray. The show, Speechless, on ABC, nailed it; they have an actor who actually has Cerebral Palsy. “..shows that center characters with disabilities, feature actors with disabilities, and tell authentic and informed stories about disability are extremely rare.” 

Speechless

In her summary, she feels a lot was cringe-worthy, but at least the subject of craniofacial difference is getting some awareness as well as a lesson in choosing kindness. 

“if the disabled community were to write their own stories, are we ready to listen? A middle schooler with Cerebral Palsy tried to write a book about a disabled character, but she couldn't get it published because it wasn’t “sad enough.” Hmmm. Do we want to hear the more nuanced, complicated stories about disabled lives? Or do we want to hear the same old “inspirational” stories over and over again, invoking a false empathy (in other words pity) so that we, the able-bodied majority, can continue to feel better about ourselves?

...Rather than holding the lens up to disabled characters like Auggie to see how they react to a world that treats them poorly and then calling them “brave” for not being filled with rage for all the ugliness thrown their way, let’s hold up the lens to the rest of the world that shows the lack of exposure to disabled bodies in the world around them (tv, books, media), the lack of education and therefore the lack compassion that leads to exclusion, ridicule and oppression...”

I think it’s a great read as someone who is able-bodied/typical!