Disney Does Not Crip Cast, Instead Presents An Authentic Portrayal of Disability In “Out of My Mind” By Jason Hahr

“Casting call! Casting call! Calling all actors and actresses. We are looking for someone to play someone with a disability.” 

Anyone who knows me knows I'd jump, not literally, unless we are talking about a spasm, if I saw a casting call flyer with the criteria listed above. The sad reality is, crip casting is a thing. Crip casting, for example, happened in the movie The Upside.

Bryan Cranston, who I am not denying is a great able-bodied actor, was chosen to play the disabled character Phillip, even though it does not appear as if he has a physical disability himself. The example of crip casting in The Upside is not unusual. 

For the most part, disabled characters in TV and film are not portrayed by people with disabilities but rather by the able-bodied community.  Perhaps this is why there are three archetypes of disability. We are either portrayed as someone who needs saving, needs to be cured, or is a villain. Let me further illustrate what I mean. The earlier example of The Upside is a clear example of the able-bodied community's view of needing a cure, at least in the beginning of the movie. This blog will not discuss the film in its entirety; I only use it here for example purposes. The second archetype can be seen in a movie from the early '90s that most of us know and love. Lieutenant Dan in Forest Gump was played by the renowned actor Gary Sinise. During the movie, Lieutenant Dan becomes disabled and a “bitter cripple”. I mention both of these movies not because I dislike them, but rather because they emphasize what I believe is the majority’s perception of disability.  However, it is not all negative when it comes to disability and its genuine portrayal in the media. Indeed, Disney has entered the conversation. In a movie that came out late last year entitled “Out of My Mind,” an actress with a physical disability was cast in the lead role. Phoebe-Rae Taylor, who has cerebral palsy, was cast to play the main character, Melody. Without giving the movie away, you can watch it on Disney+.  I would say it centers around Melody’s struggle to be a “normal 6th grader”.

Melody is non-verbal but has a lot to say. The movie will make you laugh; if you have CP, it will make you spasm and jump, but most of all, whether you are able-bodied or not, it will make you think. I love the movie not only for its compelling story, but also because it offers an actress with a disability a chance to shine in front of the camera, showing people that individuals with disabilities are people first. In other words, the movie demonstrates that regardless of one’s physical ability, we all have certain things in common that make us human, and we all deserve our moment in front of life’s camera.  

The goal of this has been not only to highlight the effort towards inclusivity but also to make the argument that, since disability is so prevalent in modern society and disability is a minority that you can join at any time, why aren’t there more genuine portrayals of disabilities by disabled people in TV and film? I believe it is because society fears disability and difference. Until we realize that difference is not something to be scared of, but rather it is something to be embraced, I am afraid that there will always be a need for blogs like this one. However, these are just my thoughts. I am interested in hearing from The Voiceless Minority community to get your perspective. Let’s start a conversation. 

Till next time, your friendly neighborhood intrigued advocate, Jay