I haven't seen the show but I have a question. I do understand your point about just being a PC show. Maybe it is (the cynic in me says probably). But would it be any better to focus on the disability issues? It would have to be done VERY cleverly to avoid being preachy or patronizing. If not done very well it could do more to promote stereotyping. Isn't what the disabled community wants is to be accepted like everyone else? What relevance is there to an explanation of why the child is in the chair? He is and should be accepted as such. I saw a rerun of an episode of Quincy a few weeks ago. There was a scene where Quincy goes to some office for some information. The clerk behind the desk happened to be in a wheelchair. That's it. No explanation, no comment about his disability. Just a "normal" guy doing his job who happens to be in a chair. Isn't that a more powerful message? There was a discussion a while ago about how some films like "Four Weddings and a Funeral" and "Notting Hill" had characters with disabilities but this was in no way relevant to the plots. They were just there. Many people on this list thought this was great - positive images of the disabled community.

In my earlier post I talked about children with special needs in children's videos. One example is an Elmo video. There is a segment on books. A boy, Michael, goes with his dad to the library to find books on dinosaurs. That's it. Except that Michael obviously has Down's Syndrome. I know that, but my kids see just another little boy going to the library and enjoying his books. 

I don't know if I'm explaining this well. But as a TAB, I'm feeling confused and frustrated. Just when I think I'm starting to "get it" I realize I don't.  Help! :-) 

Yvonne
Mom to Bobby and Anthony (CP), 4 years old


>>> [log in to unmask] 03/01/02 09:30AM >>>
Thinking of super heroes made me think of kid's TV programming.  Has anyone
on the list seen the cartoon "Pelswick"?  It's either on Cartoon Network or
Nickelodeon.

Anyway, Pelswick is a pre-teen in a motorized chair.  The show is
"situational comedy" along the same lines as another genre 'toon, "Hey,
Arnold".  The network has done an admirable job of presenting Pelswick as a
(BIG quotes here) "normal kid", experiencing the same situations and
emotions as his peers.  I do beleive, though, that the cartoon is an attempt
by its writers to produce a politically correct show--and that's all.

"Pelswick" fails miserably to demonstrate the issues a disabled kid faces.
All of the other kids treat Pelswick as if there is no anomaly--he is just
another kid who happens to be in a chair.  They've created this "fairy tale"
world where his disability does not hamper him in the least.  He is not
picked on by the other kids, never has trouble getting on the bus, never has
problems with his chair, never has problems with accessibility at his
ancient big-city school.  Not only that, the reason for Pelswick's being in
the chair is never explained.  The viewer has no idea if he had a pre-natal
injury, childhood accident, disabling virus, etc.

The writers could have made this show multi-dimensional and intriguing for
disabled and able-bodied kids alike.  I'm sure they feel pretty smug about
creating a cartoon featuring a kid with a disability.  Only problem
is---they didn't.

-Kyle