Why Disabled Characters Should Be Included in Your Spec Fic Novel

What does “disabled” mean? Generally, it covers everything from physical limitations, such as blindness or deafness or not possessing specific body parts; to mental illnesses that impact a person’s opportunity to live without ongoing treatment and care; to conditions such as Down’s Syndrome and autism, which are classified as intellectual disabilities.

In many sci-fi and fantasy tales, characters like this can be hard to come by. Heck, sometimes they’re difficult to find in contemporary or even historical fiction (and historically, we know that it was quite common for people to become disabled through disease, war, or accident). So why are they somewhat of a mythical creature in spec fic genres?

Well, it seems to be a combination of lots of science fiction including the possibility that all sickness and impairments can be wiped out; and the notion in epic fantasy that magic could serve as a healing source. Not that I’m bashing any of this. Would our present lives be better without cancer? Yes, of course.

But what about the value of portraying characters who don’t see their disability as a problem? (Just like so many patients, veterans, and folks managing genetic conditions every day in the real world.)

Personally, I’m all for a blind wizard who’s still the best mentor to the boy who would be king; a deaf space shuttle engineer who saves the day; a former warrior with a replacement something who trains the next generation to kick some serious evil rear.

And intellectual disabilities are even more overlooked – not on purpose, just simply due to awareness of what these conditions entail purely not existing on a grand scale in our society. As an adult on the autistic spectrum, the parent of a son with high-functioning autism, and of a little one receiving physical, speech, and occupational therapy nearly since his birth – and as an avid SFF reader – I can concur, there aren’t a lot of fictional people like us out there.

Right there is another, very good reason to expand what sorts of characters you write: Some of your readers will be thrilled to see themselves represented in a medium where they typically aren’t.

So how do you create realistic disabled characters for fantastical or invented settings?

Do your research. It’s one of the most common phrases writers hear, but for infinitely good reason. It’s crucial to the authenticity of a story to find out as many details as you can about the topic at hand, whether it’s deep sea diving, quilting, alternative fuel sources, or disabilities.

Don’t rely solely on medical journals or textbook explanations of conditions. Find real life individuals to interview. Even if you don’t know someone personally, maybe relatives or friends have family members or acquaintances who would be willing to share their life experiences. (And a lot of folks are willing.)

Keep an open mind. Some conditions or illnesses that are legally and medically classified as “disabilities” are in fact not seen that way by the people who have them. And let’s face it, it can be really hard and even frustrating to feel that writing a “disabled” character must mean writing a downtrodden and pessimistic personality. Many abled people do assume that the non-able approach life like this. The truth is, so many of us do not – and wouldn’t it be refreshing to read about a character with MS or one hand or chronic depression who saw the best and brightest things in life?

What’s your ultimate goal? Are you portraying a disabled character to help others gain insight? Are you writing someone of a victim mentality, or an optimist? Or maybe you’re starting out with the former, and showing their journey to the latter. There are already a lot of stereotypes in art and literature surrounding this topic, so let’s do our best to break the mold!

Self-published author and blogger Daley Downing is also a stay at home parent, autistic adult, ballet teacher, and cat lover. She spends her days writing the YA fantasy series “The Order of the Twelve Tribes,” and wrangling special needs children.