#jj dimeo

[canon-disabledcharacteroftheday]

The canon disabled character of the day is JJ DiMeo from Speechless who has cerebral palsy and uses both a wheelchair and an AAC device.

[disabledcharacters]

TV: JJ DiMeo (Speechless) - Cerebral Palsy, Nonverbal, Wheelchair User

Speechless is an American television sitcom that aired on ABC from September 21, 2016, to April 12, 2019. The sitcom explores the serious and humorous challenges a family faces with a teenager with a disability.

JJ — a high schooler who has a biting wit and sense of humor, and is diagnosed with cerebral palsy. JJ communicates by using headgear with a laser pointer to indicate various words, letters, and numbers on a board attached to his wheelchair. [wiki]

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Join me as I celebrate and post about different Disabled Characters throughout the month. Tracking #dcotm

[your-fave-is-neurospicy]

j.j. dimeo from speechless is autistic (headcanon) and has cerebral palsy (canon)

submitted by @qualitymoonsuit

[doyouknowthisdisabledcharacter]

Do You Know This Disabled Character?

Jimmy ‘JJ’ DiMeo Jr. from Speechless

I know them

I’ve heard of them

I don’t know them

Voting ended onApr 22, 2024

Jimmy ‘JJ’ DiMeo Jr. has Cerebral palsy and is a wheelchair user. He is also mute.

[disabled-character-of-the-day]

JJ DiMeo from Speechless is disabled

JJ has cerebral palsy and is nonverbal.

Day 37

(Requested by anon)

[disabled-characters]

Canon disabled character: JJ DiMeo from Speechless has cerebral palsy!

[capsizedskeleton]

speechless was a good show that i spent hours to finish watching today so im gonna yell rn bc i havent heard anyone talking about this show except for that one gifset that makes its rounds around tumblr (the how can i give these children the equal opportunity death match they desire? one)

- it works as a fun family sitcom! the chaotic dynamic is great

- jokes about disability that aren’t at the expense of the person with them! and they’re funny!

- moments (entire episodes, even) breaking down disability savior stereotypes, addressing that jj wants to talk to girls, making jokes with his aide, just. him being a guy because that’s what he is

- visual gigs with jj’s wheelchair (it’s tied to the dog at one point in an attempt to hide it from a guy evaluating the property and the dog. doesn’t move as a joke)

- the kids grow over the course of seasons! the girls are right in that second to last episode, ray grew too fast

- overarching plot points and jokes, recurring items (the bed-lifting thing jj sees in his college tour that’s in his own nyu room, the dad’s band getting back together, emma watson)

- maya getting over her rivalry with melanie and actually getting along bc they’re so similar

- jj’s love of film! that isn’t discouraged!

- that one time when everyone piles into the car for a road trip and the kids drive the car and dylan’s like ‘why do i have to be the responsible one here. ray’s off the rails and jj just wants to see the world burn’ and jj just nods smugly

- any moment of Bonding Time at the end of an episode

- jj’s parents and kenneth worrying about him leaving because they really like taking care of jj and he has to say smth about them being alright

- halloween and christmas episodes :)

- god this show is so good. please watch it for a heartfelt and funny show youll get stuck on 

[representativecharacters]

Character: J.J. Dimeo

From: Speechless

Representation:  Quadriplegia, Cerebral Palsy, Wheelchair User

Their Importance: There are two major reasons why this show works when so many disability narratives collapse. One is the casting of the actually disabled Micha Fowler - even looking for disabled actors is still horribly rare. The other is that the entire show makes a point of averting the usual disability narrative: several episodes are dedicated to heavily mocking inspiration porn and ableist self-righteous “helpers” (as well as the more standard bigoted jerks), J.J is consistently focused on as a character- a sarcastic teen trying to puzzle out his future and maybe play the system a bit to get there, dealing with sexuality, relationships and worry about how independent he’ll get to be as an adult- rather than a being plot device for his parents and siblings. The rest of his family get to be flawed, comedic sitcom characters rather than the usual saints or victims of his condition. We see the many adaptions J.J uses to communicate and get around and the difficulties of trying to get along in non-accessible world aren’t glossed over in the slightest.

Thanks to anon for the write-up!