1701 - Reel Representation: Portrayal of Individuals with Disabilities in Visual Media: A Scoping Review

Objectives: Due to the media's role in influencing public opinion, the authentic portrayal of those with disabilities is significant. When those with disabilities get a spotlight, that spotlight is typically portrayed negatively, which can impact people's with disabilities day-to-day interactions. The goal of this review is to synthesize the existing literature on the portrayals of those with disabilities in television and movies.

Design: A scoping review was conducted following PRISMA guidelines across three databases. Search terms included (“Persons with Disabilities”[MeSH] OR disabled OR disability OR handicap*) AND (movies OR films OR television OR TV) AND (portrayal OR view OR display). Articles were excluded if they did not assess on-screen portrayals, did address non-disability-related representation, discussed mental illness without overlap with neurodivergent, physical, or sensory disability, were not in English, or were published before 2000. Inclusion criteria included discussion of portrayals of disabilities that corresponds with the definition of a disability from the WHO.

Results: 345 records were identified, and 12 articles met the criteria for review.  4 out of the 12 studies did not look at any specific disability portrayal, while the rest studies looked at portrayals of those with autism spectrum disorder, hearing loss, coma, multiple sclerosis (MS), and cerebral palsy (CP). Only three studies looked at the portrayal of an established Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) 13 diagnosis.  The studies regarding MS portrayal, CP portrayal, and autism portrayal concluded that the portrayals were done accurately and that the presentation in these motion pictures were overall positive. Two studies that looked at multiple films concluded that the films focused on the shortcomings of those with disabilities and were presented with negative stereotypes.

Conclusions: Future studies can evaluate the formula of what makes a portrayal positive and authentic in the eyes of those with disabilities, which can be presented to movie/TV producers.