Over the decade of the 90s we saw very little representation with in TV toward those with disabilities but when we did it was always a fun and good time so with that being said I decided that I wanted to post my top five favorite shows from the 90s and early 2000s that featured someone with a disability.
- Life Goes On- an American television series that aired on ABC from September 12, 1989 to May 23, 1993. Reruns aired on The Family Channel from 1992 until about 1995, FX from about 1995 until about 1998, and PAX (now Ion Television) from 1998 until about 1999. The show centers on the Thatcher family living in suburban Chicago: Drew, his wife Libby, and their children Paige, Rebecca and Charles, who is known as Corky. Life Goes On was the first television series to have a major character with Down syndrome. Corky is played by Chris Burke, who has Down syndrome in real life.) When I think about life goes on in the representation it was trying to bring onto TV for its time period I think it’s absolutely fantastic and I would recommend it for anyone who has someone in the family with down syndrome.
- Pelswick- Pelswick Eggert is just like most 13-year-olds, except that he is in a wheelchair — or permanently seated as he prefers to call it. He doesn’t let that stop him, though, as he deals with the usual obstacles that come with being a teenager, including school bully Boyd. The smart, good-natured teen is his own person, refusing to assimilate into popular culture, and is considered a fearless leader by best friends Ace and Goon. Another thing that separates Pelswick from his peers is Mr. Jimmy, his bearded, omniscient guardian angel who can see the future and offer Pelswick cryptic advice to help him out of sticky situations. The animated series, which aims to help kids learn to deal with disabilities in a comfortable way, was created by cartoonist John Callahan, who was left paralyzed following a car accident at the age of 21. I absolutely love this show for various reasons for one it was before it’s time and to it features a male protagonist which is something we didn’t see back in the 90s and three it teaches viewers that teenagers with disabilities go through the same exact things that they would go through.
- last but not least, Degrassi the next generation- Degrassi the next generation features character Jimmy Brooks who gets paralyzed after getting shot and has to adapt to living life as a paraplegic this is definitely one of my favorite shows to watch to remind me to keep going no matter what the obstacle may be .