By the D23 Team
This July marks the 33rd anniversary of Disability Pride Month, and we are celebrating the diversity and intersectionality of those with disabilities within The Walt Disney Company and beyond. As part of this year’s observance, we’ve amassed a selection of creative content available to watch on Disney’s streaming platforms, social channels, and linear networks. From the first Deaf Super Hero in the Marvel Cinematic Universe to inclusive animated series, there’s sure to be something that captures your interest.
Eternals—Available on Disney+
Deaf actress Lauren Ridloff plays speedster Makkari in Eternals (2021), joining a star-studded cast and making history as the first Deaf Super Hero in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. The film, which features an exciting new team of Super Heroes—ancient aliens who have been living on Earth in secret for thousands of years—follows the events of Avengers: Endgame. “Being cast as a powerful entity who happens to be Deaf is groundbreaking,” Ridloff told D23. “Finally, the world sees how I exist as a Deaf individual. My strengths are different than most and have a place here in this universe.”
Hawkeye—Available on Disney+
Alaqua Cox made her MCU debut as Deaf Indigenous Tracksuit Mafia leader Maya Lopez, who is determined to make Clint Barton pay for his own vengeful deeds, in Marvel Studios’ Hawkeye, which debuted on Disney+ in 2021. Cox, who is a Deaf, Native American amputee, will reprise her role in Echo, coming exclusively to Disney+ later this year. “I’m amazed with Marvel because they are doing such a great job with diversity and representation,” she told D23. “It means so much to me because I feel like kids with all types of cultures and disabilities deserve to have more role models that look like them… Representation matters more than we know.”
Firebuds—Available on Disney Channel, Disney Junior, and Disney+
Since its debut, the Disney Junior animated series Firebuds has introduced several disabled characters within the setting of its fantastical world where talking vehicles live, work, and play with the humans who drive them. These include recurring character Jazzy (voiced by disabled actress Lauren “Lolo” Spencer, who is also a wheelchair-user), a young Black girl with spina bifida whose “vroom-mate” is a wheelchair car named Piper (voiced by Emmy®-nominated disabled actress Sammi Haney), and there are several episodes that are centered around her in particular. In addition, there’s an episode by staff writer Jeremy Shipp titled “Cleft Hood,” which introduces Castor, a vehicular character with a cleft hood. The episode is inspired by Jeremy’s son Henry, who was born with a cleft lip and palate; Henry also made his voice acting debut as Castor.
“The disabled community is a group that I felt has been underrepresented in the past, so we wanted to address that in Firebuds,” said Emmy® Award-winning creator and executive producer Craig Gerber. “[In addition to creating new characters] to include more diversity, we also have individual episodes like ‘Cleft Hood.’ Our show involves medical first responders and we thought there was a great opportunity to do a story about someone who has medical issues that required hospital stays.”
The team behind Firebuds collaborated with disability representation nonprofit RespectAbility throughout the entire creative process, ensuring the language is accurate in the script and working with animators on depicting the series’ many differently-abled characters.
Pupstruction—Available on Disney Channel, Disney Junior, and Disney+
Disney Branded Television’s all-new animated series, geared toward kids ages 2–7, follows the adventures of a doggone hard-working construction crew led by Phinny (voiced by Yonas Kibreab)—an innovative young corgi who dreams up some of the biggest and wildest ideas to help his town of Petsburg.
Among the members of the Pupstruction crew is Roxy, who uses wheels for her hind legs and is voiced by Scarlett Kate Ferguson, who is also a wheelchair-user. While the series highlights the importance of accessibility and inclusion in several episodes, Roxy is not defined by her disability; she’s a part of the team just like everyone else. Behind the scenes, the creative team engaged in extensive conversations regarding accessibility in Petsburg. “Construction can be silly and fun—pouring concrete, knocking over walls, and doing demolition—but construction can also build things that make a difference in people’s lives,” Travis Braun, series creator and executive producer, told D23.com. “One of my favorite episodes is when the pups encounter a staircase leading to the observatory but it’s not accessible for everyone, so they strategize a way to change it.”
Lost Cities With Albert Lin—Available on Disney+
Host Dr. Albert Lin, an award-winning scientist, explorer, and amputee, takes viewers on epic quests in this docuseries from National Geographic. Combining high-tech archaeology, breathtaking visuals, and genuine exploration, the series applies 3D scanning to some of the most extraordinary sites of antiquity and brings the mysteries of the past vividly to life. Expeditions include treks to the mountaintops of Colombia, Jordan, Peru, Israel, and more.
In the Nook featuring Ellie Goldstein—Available on Disney Channel YouTube
Created for kids ages 6–14, this short-form series enlists Disney Channel stars to help deliver inclusive stories through relaxed and relevant conversations with everyday people who are making a difference in their communities and in the world. In one episode, Ariel Martin and Trevor Tordjman from the ZOMBIES franchise interview Ellie Goldstein, a British 18-year-old model with Down syndrome. Goldstein shares her journey to becoming a model and encourages kids to never give up on their dreams.
Loop—Available on Disney+
This Pixar SparksShorts features two kids at canoe camp who find themselves adrift on a lake, unable to move forward until they find a new way to connect and see the world through each other’s eyes. This film, created in consultation with the nonprofit Autistic Self Advocacy Network, broke new ground by featuring Pixar’s first nonspeaking autistic character Renee who was played by autistic actress Madison Bandy.
DuckTales: “Nothing Can Stop Della Duck!”—Available on Disney+
In this episode of DuckTales, a marooned Della Duck—a recurring character—struggles for survival against dangerous elements on the moon. After a crash left her pinned under her rocket ship, she makes the decision to amputate her own leg and create a prosthetic out of rocket materials. Determined to get back to her family on Earth, she finally rebuilds her rocket ship and returns home to meet her sons for the very first time.
The DuckTales team worked closely with the Amputee Coalition for the storyline introducing Della (voiced by Paget Brewster), the twin sister of Donald Duck and mother of Huey, Dewey, and Louie. Richmond, an amputee himself, and Osborne-Simpson advised on everything from story and character design to character movement/gait to ensure an accurate and sensitive portrayal.
Fancy Nancy: “Nancy’s New Friend”—Available on Disney Junior
For this episode, the Fancy Nancy creative team found inspiration close to home when they set out to introduce the neurodivergent character Sean, drawing upon personal experiences with family members and friends. Sean is voiced by George Yionoulis, who was diagnosed with autism when he was 2 years old. They also consulted at length with experts from the organizations RespectAbility and Hollywood, Health & Society—all of whom offered valuable insights every step of the way. This episode premiered on April 2, 2020, and was timed to World Autism Awareness Day.
Big City Greens: “Quiet Please”— Available on Disney Channel and Disney+
In this Season 2 episode, the Greens visit the city library and hope to find a book that will spark Cricket’s interest in reading, but they quickly run afoul of a strict, eerie librarian. Determined to keep the library a quiet place, the librarian threatens to throw them out if they make any sound. Cricket’s sister, Tilly, notices two Deaf library patrons communicating via ASL, giving her the idea that her family can communicate in the same way. While Tilly is the only family member to know ASL, the Greens use that as inspiration to communicate through hand gestures and movements.
In order to ensure authentic portrayal, Big City Greens creators and executive producers Chris and Shane Houghton brought in a trio of Deaf-led ASL consultants including Delbert Whetter, a Deaf film producer and consultant; Jevon Whetter, a Deaf actor, filmmaker and ASL dialogue coach; and Justin Maurer, an ASL interpreter who is a “CODA” (child of Deaf adults). The trio not only provided guidance but also met with the creative team in-person, recording the dialogue in ASL for the animators to use as reference. The consulting team also provided assistance during development prior to production as well as publicity and promotion afterwards.
Not Dead Yet—Available on ABC and Hulu
The sitcom stars Gina Rodriquez as Nell Serrano, a broke and newly single self-described disaster, working to restart the life and career she left behind five years ago. When she lands the only job she can find—writing obituaries—she starts getting life advice from an unlikely source. In Season 1, viewers learn that Nell’s roommate Edward, played by autistic actor and comedian Rick Glassman, is neurodivergent. He and Nell learn how to better communicate and eventually become friends. In the episode “Not Friends Yet,” Nell meets Edward’s long-distance girlfriend and viewers see how Edward navigates a romantic relationship with differences in communication styles.
Will Trent—Available on ABC and Hulu
Based on Karin Slaughter’s New York Times bestselling Will Trent series, Special Agent Will Trent (Ramón Rodríguez) of the Georgia Bureau of Investigations (GBI) was abandoned at birth and endured a harsh coming-of-age in Atlanta’s overwhelmed foster care system. But now, Trent, who is dyslexic, is determined to use his unique point of view to make sure no one is abandoned like he was.
The Good Doctor—Available on ABC and Hulu
Freddie Highmore stars as Dr. Shaun Murphy, a young surgeon with autism and savant syndrome, who continues to use his extraordinary medical gifts at St. Bonaventure Hospital’s surgical unit. The medical drama is a co-production between Sony Pictures Television and ABC Studios.
PLUS, Young Creators Corner—The Walt Disney Company: Reimagine Tomorrow
This initiative celebrates young talent from the extensive programs and partnerships The Walt Disney Company has forged to support young people from early childhood through their first careers by providing opportunities and access they need to make their dreams come true.
Among those recently featured: Emmet Kyoshi Wilson, a successful teenage artist with Down syndrome who inspires others through his work; Victória Bueno, who—despite being born without arms—refused to let anything stop her from pursuing dance; and Tyler Gordon, a notable teenage painter and anti-bullying advocate, who is partially Deaf and stutters.