new show

One of my favorite shows growing up was "Life goes on" where the main
character of the show had Downs. It was a great show and showed people
with disabilities as actual human beings with real lives.

I work in a group home for people with physical and mental
disabilities. I wish everyone was more open minded about them. But to
be honest...there HAVE been shows with disabled people on it. The one
that pops to mind was Malcolm in the Middle. His best friend was in a
wheelchair. I believe they use disabled on Sesame Street as well. I
cant think of anything else right now. I think I have seen some
disabled on cartoons.

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!

What sort of disability do you think the child should have? Should it
be a developmental or physical disability? Should the child be a main
or supporting character?

Tell us more, Katherine. I'm listening, even if Disney isn't.