This is not like, a new or hot take, but I was thinking the other day about how I, as a person whose life is largely defined by chronic pain, don't have a lot of characters in media I identify with.
Let's not even have the discussion about mental disability and neurodivergence because holy shit what a completely different can of worms.
Physical disabilities only.
When was the last time you saw a physically disabled character in media whose disability wasn't:
-Needs a wheelchair
-Missing a limb
-Blind
You know, something that it's very OBVIOUS to see they have.
Yep, this is a post about invisible disabilities I have fooled you all.
Y'all. Disability is a broad spectrum. Please represent it fully. There's limited mobility, there's chronic pain, there's motor imprecision, and I KNOW I can't make a comprehensive list.
The only major character I can think of in media who has chronic pain is Mera from Epithet Erased, and... It's a motivation for her to be a villain? Not the kind of character I, as someone who is looking for people like me in media, want to attach to. Don't get me wrong, I love Epithet Erased, Mera is a great character, I just wish I had more OPTIONS. Some characters who were kind while having pain.
I don't know. I don't think it's a new take that disability representation sucks but invisible disability representation REALLY sucks.