Jess MahlerJul 6, 2023

You probably didn't realize that it's Disability Pride Month. It doesn't have the recognition of LGBT Pride Month and most folks never hear of it.

But this Disability Pride Month, put some thought into what disabilities might exist or look like in your world writing/game dev/etc.

'Disability doesn't exist' is not an acceptable answer.

(thread)

Show threadJess MahlerJul 6, 2023

There's a common thing in SFF to give a character a 'boosted immune system' of some variety to explain why they can't get sick/have some variety of 'super health'.

Which is fun and awesome and a great way to explain immunity to disease and etc.

But boosted immune system is not a panacea. In fact, it can be a major problem.

Autoimmune diseases and allergies are both medical problems caused by the immune system going haywire on something that isn't a threat.

alex.Jul 10, 2023
Show threadJess Mahler

Characters getting prosthetics are not a 'fix' for disability. Someone with a prosthetic, no matter how fancy or advanced, is still disabled.

Folks with prosthetics today struggle with 'fit', with prosthetics causing skin problems, with loosing access to expensive implants because the company that made them is going out of business and they only had a 'subscription' to the software that made the implant work.

And that's just the tip of the iceberg. Your super sci-fi prosthetic may give advantages, but it still has disadvantages, it can still be lost, damaged, compromised...

Jul 6, 2023 at 6:26pmWeb
Show threadJess MahlerJul 6, 2023

Let me say this in big letters.

SCREENING FETUS/EMBRYOS/ETC FOR GENETIC DISABILITIES IS EUGENICS

If you don't understand why, people WITH genetic disabilities have written thousands of words on this, listen especially to Down Syndrome folks who already being erased by these techniques.

Downs syndrom, autism, ADHD, bipolar, sickle cell anemia, yes even cystic fibrosis are not reasons to destroy an entire demographic of people. Give your world effective treatments based on what disabled people say we need. Do NOT erase us because of your horror that we exist.

Show threadTallysGreatestFanJul 7, 2023
@JessMahler Thank you. I am allready terrified of the day these eugenicists will find genes that cause autism, because they * will* start a genocide (that is what it is) and neurotypicals will not understand why its bad at all
Show threadngoomie is moving!Jul 6, 2023
@JessMahler i haven't watched/read it in a while, but i believe fullmetal alchemist (brotherhood, if we're talking the anime. i don't think the '06 anime did as much) touched on some of this somewhat, with the "automail" metal limbs it has

definitely the "prosthetics getting damaged" aspect iirc, but i think i recall there was also an issue at one point where a character had to get automail made of a different material to make it safe to use in an extremely cold environment
Show threadnebulosJul 6, 2023
@JessMahler My FateRPG character has a super scifi prosthetic arm, and while we've never roleplayed any physical issues with it, it's caused social and cultural issues since one of the in-universe ideological rifts is about human augmentation. Maya has also definitely never processed the loss of her arm properly, which occasionally comes up in roleplay too!
Show threadDeer WitchJul 6, 2023

@JessMahler thank you Jess! This is such a good thread!

Other considerations for disabled characters & empathy IRL:

1. As a non-amputee prosthetic user, I experience atrophy. It’s a choice I make to have less pain and increased ability overall, but it’s a trade off!

2. My device use is also a gamble on my long term treatment options in favor of giving myself more ability now (less likely to be approved for surgeries later in life).

(Cont)

Show threadComplexedOneJul 7, 2023
@JessMahler I felt like The Spare Man by Mary Robinette Kowal did a decent job with this. The MC does have chronic pain issues with some sci-fi tech to help manage. But it is still a nearly constant thing that she is managing. I'd not seen that before and it really drove home how you'd constantly have to think it, even with the tech.
Show threadLurkieJul 10, 2023
@JessMahler this makes me think of Full-Metal Alchemist. Edward Alric has some amazing prosthetics, but the story takes time to remind the audience that the prosthetics can break and cause issues. Alphonse, whose whole body has been replaced, keeps a list of experiences he wants to try once he gets his body back.