Arthur Hughes Proves That Even Those with Disabilities Can Tell Compelling Stories on Stage and On Screen, by Jason Hahr



image of Arthur Hughes

Photo Credit: shutterstock-entertainmentdaily.com

                                                                             


Recently, I wrote an article about how the word 'disability' is not a dirty word; however, for some people, the language they use to describe their disability is just as empowering as the word' disability. Whether you call it a disability or a difference, embracing it is key.

British actor Arthur Hughes refers to his disability as an upper limb difference because he has radial dysplasia. Radial dysplasia is a disability in which the radial bone of one or both arms is missing. In some cases, such as Arthur's, other portions of the arm or hand may also be missing. Arthur is missing his right radial bone, his right thumb, and, as he puts it, "some small other bits and pieces".

You may ask, How prevalent is radial dysplasia? I was curious myself. After reading an article on Arthur, which came out last year, I did my research and found that his disability is rare, but it does affect approximately one in every 30,000 people. To put it in perspective, if Taylor Swift sold out a 100,000-seat stadium, there would most likely be three people in the crowd with radial dysplasia. That doesn't seem like a lot, but it isn't insignificant either.

Now that you are more familiar with radial dysplasia, let me return to my main point. The article I read said that Mr. Hughes had been pursuing acting since he was six years old. He always had a passion for it, and rather than act like he didn't have a disability, he uses it as a part of his acting. Indeed, he is one of the first actors with a disability to play Richard III. Why is this significant? The answer is simple. Richard III had a disability known as Scoliosis. Scoliosis results in a curvature of the spine along with other complications.

In addition to playing Richard III on stage, Mr. Hughes has also appeared in roles on Netflix and the British Broadcasting Company (BBC). Actors like Mr. Hughes give me hope that disability will remain a part of the conversation on stage and screen for a long time to come. It is nice to see that disabled people are portraying disability. I have written numerous blogs on TV and film, but most of them discuss shows where a non-disabled actor or actress portrays the character with a disability. People can learn something from Arthur Hughes. If you have a disability, embrace it, don't shy away from it.

Until next time, your friendly neighborhood, inspired super advocate,


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