Annie in wonderland

 This is a continuation of the conversation I felt I needed to start around the way disability is seen and written about in the media. There are several issues that I have been made aware of that I see that this is a very complex issue and that there is no easy answer to it.  It can be very hard to not have it contrived as simply a way to move a storyline forward  So in moving a storyline forward in episodic TV and this is the major topic I see that there is little awareness of, it can be hard to follow several character arcs and if it doesn't fit the narrative it won't work long term.  This is why having a character with disabilities in a high school setting does work well, yet having a disabled person in a work setting you are limiting it to what stories can be told.  It can be hard to find a story that lives on its own merit  So in living on its own merit what does this look like in people with disabilities if it's not really a story from real life it can be seen as forc

  In a previous post, I have written about disability and media representation around disability in the media so it wanting to find out more I asked this question on  Quora and have received some interesting responses to it.  To me, it shows an awareness of people wanting to have accurate representation but not willing to risk ratings as the reality of media whether it be a blog, YouTube, free-to-air TV or on a streaming service, or pre covid at a movie theatre it is a business and it is there to make money. If the ratings aren't there it will get axed and add to that if an actor says anything wrong, it could cost the series and the production company a lot of money.  If they are a young actor and naïve they can generally be educated on the topic, but the question of disability and representation starts in the creative process so essentially in the writer's room.  Screenwriters and people working in writers' rooms how do you feel about writing disabled character's is it

   This is a topic that I never thought would get so much traction, yet it has generated over on Quora a lot of discussion about how people are represented in the Media. It really does seem that representation of people with a disability is the last frontier, we are represented but not in a positive light.   In fantasy and young adult shows it is shown as something that needs to be overcome or if it is a world that has magic as a part of it, something to be healed, by magic this adds to the shame that people with disabilities feel because they don't fit into society in a normal way or even have what is considered  a normal life path of  School  University/ Tafe,  Work Dating Family of their own.  there is also the issue of being different in a society that still sees disability as something to be ashamed of this is where representation matters to people. To see themselves on a screen, we have seen major leaps around  Diverse casting Diverse screenwriting  Having different styles of

    The national disability insurance scheme (NDIS or NDIA), this is an explanation for people who are internationally based.   As I requested some answers, I received some interesting responses about fighting through their disability and fighting for disability rights, in Australia. There has been a diverse range of answers, and some responses that seem to not have an understanding of what this program is as it isn’t really offensive, it is a program that helps people with a disability to live and receive the support they need to live a meaningful life. I was born out of the struggle of people with disabilities and their families realizing the reality of the lives the people with disabilities live that are often, plagued by compounding issues, that come with having disabilities. This program realized that people with disabilities need their wishes respected, and their care is appropriate for their age group, relationships, and decisions respected within their abilities to understa

  So I started off a series of posts both here and on Quora, around disability and the media, particularly on a series that I have come to love and the more I watch it, and read about it I see it as a product before it's time.  It forces people to think about issues that have existed for years but don't have any easy answers.  This is the Shadowhunter series, it generally is marketed at young adults and unfortunately was axed due to funding issues. It has been written about in academic circles, but not really discussed in independent sources.  Several character arcs have very different journeys. That tackles real-world issues, in a way that isn't in your face.  One is a disability and how to deal with the issues that come with being different, several characters go through massive changes in their story arcs, including a vampire that has others jealous because he can walk in the sun and therefore is labeled problematic, but people don't realize the issues this can come

   This one I can't stop myself from watching it. It's a great example of how people respond to trauma, especially when they lose what they see makes them feel like they are contributing to society,  and can hide what they really feel.  The people around them want to help but if you can't let them help you how are you able to be helped.  Yes, this is a Young Adult show but even the actors have said that this is a show that has resonated well with all age groups.  It talks about things that resonate when people get diagnosed with a disability or chronic illness and because of this their life fundamentally changes, so what now is the question. In Magnus's case, he has a built-in support network, and Alec forces Magnus to stay as he knows that this is what he needs. It also showcases the inherent power imbalance when a situation dramatically changes around what people see as normal, as in this case, Magnus loses his magic, decisions are made for him and people don't re

 Disability M edia and Mental health.  This topic is one that I didn't expect there to be such a lack of information around the way mainstream media portrays mental health.  There is some great representation as producers and actors that have sway realize that as they have made strides in representation in diversity in character there is still a long way to go, in representation.  I  know that some production companies are doing a great job in representation however most TV shows and movies simply need to make money if they don't have the following they can't continue.  One shows that I have been following and have seen several clips that some amazingly talented people have uploaded to YouTube that have won awards for diverse representation.   This clip from YouTube shows one of the main character's being what one of the commenters pointed out is everyone in his life is mean to him and until he meets someone who becomes very close to him he doesn't really stand up f

  What does self-determination look like in a person with a disability? It can look different to everyone and how people show it. However, some key differences need to be considered, as for people with disabilities there is generally a rough idea and goal posts of School – primary and high school Higher education - University, trade school - then if possible getting a driver's license, Moving out of home for jobs, studying, or moving in with a partner. For those who don’t know what to do going into a job, if possible Then dating and relationships – and where those relationships end up. Most would end up in a committed relationship. However, people with disabilities and I am talking about people with developmental disabilities, and in some cases physical disabilities there can be barriers that need to be considered, and in some cases they are. These can be, the day-to-day impact of their disability, so in the case of physical disabilities things that people take c

  Disability and media Need to move beyond tropes, - How do we do this?   I have watched some actors I respect because they have an awareness of what needs to happen to shift the media landscape and that it’s a long-term shift because of the way projects are pitched and developed, and I agree with them that it starts in the writers’ rooms, the writers, producers, and showrunners are opening up to more honest storytelling as responses change around storytelling.   They are starting to have an awareness of the shifting media landscapes and how we are consuming different media, so not only competing with streaming services that have saved several shows because they aren’t so reliant on media ratings. Also, there is a growing awareness of the shift to smaller formats like YouTube and live streaming, so they aren’t competing they are joining them, giving more access to actors and behind-the-scenes access, to how they make the shows. Which shows not only the actors but the crew. Unders

  Acronyms and jargon.  Depending on where you are in the world some of these will be familiar to you others may seem new and this is because of the ongoing changes around the program.  I am aware that I am only scratching the surface. As these are words that I have had to understand myself please feel free to correct me if I have something wrong.  NDIS   National disability insurance scheme is a program that replaced the programs that were run by the state and in a medical model of care, this gives clients and their families the ability to choose what they do and how support is delivered.  State care programs   – these were programs that were state-run before the development of the NDIS Duty of care  is the responsibility to ensure a client in the program is protected or aware of the risks of their decisions. High functioning  is the level of function the client has when they have a brain-related injury, disability, or mental impairment.  This can vary depending on the level