HtDYT Guide: Writing Mobility Impaired Characters Pt. 1
While a character never has to disclose reasons for their mobility impairments and their needs, looking into deeper levels behind the character and their impairment.
There are many ways in which a character can become mobility impaired. Birth defects or complications, paraplegia, quadriplegia, tetraplegia, stroke, MS, arthritis, amputation, and spinal cord injuries, to name a few. If you choose to write a mobility impaired character(s) you should most certaintly research each respectively. A separate post may be written later on this.
Time lengths of impairment also must be considered when writing a character, and determining what aides they need immediately, and those which can be upgraded and furthered/invested in as time goes on (that in itself can be a plot point, but not what should be focused on to define the character). Many mobility impaired characters can be written respectfully, and heal in a way which does not represent ableism -- getting better should never be the character’s only motive. We have enough ‘representation’ to last a lifetime or two.
When a character becomes mobility impaired later in life, they will likely fall into a depression, especially if there is something which they enjoyed doing on their feet that they cannot now do from their chair or another aide. However, there is also a natural progression which can be done where they are able to overcome thier change in physical ability, but again that is a tired story. Sometimes characters do not get over it, and they stay angry. That is okay.
But when it’s written like Me Before You, that is not okay. 100%.
That dig aside, time continues to be important. How long have they been impaired? How severe is their impairment? Do they have family? Do they have financial support, or do they need loans? Do they get disability pay? Do they get financials or job assistance from government grants/support programs? (For example, the Ontario Disability Supports Program, and Employment Supports.) What step of progress are they in?
If they have had it since birth, what is it like in their families? Unfortunately it can have a negative effect, but if you blame a disabled character for the parent’s separation/abandonment or the like then you are a shit. Yes it happens, but god, a disabled person often blames themselves for a lot of things including family or financial problems. They do not need their parents vilifying them. Instead try focusing on the good (and not the parents/community telling them/selves they are heroes for doing even the bare minimum for their disabled child. I will run you over with my chair if you do the thing.) that families can do together, and the love and support they can give.
Show your character’s ability to do things, and or how thier aides help them accomplish things. Also remind your audience that if the disabled character cannot do things, that is okay - so long as abled characters do not mock other abled characters for not being able to do things and say “But even [disabled character’s name] can do it!” that is another important thing that needs to be addressed at a later time. The individual’s ability always has a range, too.
Every day is a challenge, and can vary in intensity. Some days a mobility impaired character may be able to get by with a cane, and other days they might have to use a wheelchair to get around. They may even get to the point that they need to stay in bed so that they can try to rest both mentally and physically. You cannot write your character as if they are not living day to day. Yes they may have a permanent impairment, or one that lasts a long time, but they are still alive, and have the potential to live. Not every story should end in euthanasia, or have the character wanting that. Do not create a disabled character only to die or to ‘free’ an abled character of them. That too, has been done way too often, and is very, very toxic.
It is very important to do further research of the mobility impairments. This post is not complete, and I will address further aspects of writing these character(s). If there is anything you would want us to specifically address as I and or the other mods. go through these guides please send us commentary and question -- so long as they meet the blog’s guidelines.
