The most recent winner of Last Comic Standing is a guy with cerebral palsy (Josh Blue? Is that right?). He was HILARIOUS. I bet kids everywhere with cerebral palsy saw him as their hero.

The last kid with a disability I remember seeing on TV was John Ritter's son Jason, in Joan of Arcadia (although, he wasn't actually paralyzed, only his character was).

I think it'd be awesome to have kids with disabilities on tv shows because (1) it'd be empowering for kids with disabilities to see themselves in the tv shows they enjoy and (2) it could possibly lead to more understanding and compassion on the part of nondisabled kids/adults. Most of us don't know anyone in a wheelchair or with leg braces, or with Down Syndrome. Putting people with these conditions on TV (in the right manner--make them flawed humans like everyone) can only help bridge that gap.

Good suggestion, katherine!