This document outlines 10 stereotypes of disabled people commonly portrayed in media: as pitiable and pathetic, sinister and evil, an object of violence, atmosphere or curio, super cripple, object of ridicule, their own worst enemy, burden, incapable of fully participating in community life, and sexually abnormal. It concludes by noting a positive portrayal is one where the disabled person is seen as normal.

1. Disability

2. The Disabled Person as Pitiable
and Pathetic
When the disabled person
looks weak and for you to
have pity for.

3. The Disabled Person as Sinister
and Evil
When the disabled person
is evil or the antagonist.

4. The Disabled Person as an
Object of Violence
When the disabled
person is very
violent and they
don’t know it.

5. The Disabled Person as
Atmosphere or Curio
When the disabled person
is there to be part of the
atmosphere to add to the
story.

6. The Disabled Person as Super
Cripple
When the disabled
person is bound to
crutches, a wheelchair,
etc.

7. The Disabled Person as an
Object of Ridicule
When the Disabled
person is there to be
made fun of.

8. The Disabled Person as Their
Own Worst and Only Enemy
When the disabled
person finds out the
biggest thing they
fear is themself.

9. The Disabled Person as Burden
When the
disabled person is
lonely.

10. The Disabled Person as
Incapable of Participating
Fully in Community Life
When the disabled
person finds it hard to be
part of society.

11. The disabled person as
sexually abnormal
When the disabled
person gets confused
by things sexually.

12. The Disabled Person as Normal
When the disabled person
acts like a normal person.