Disability Representation

How disabled people and disability are depicted, described, and constructed in media, marketing, technology, research, and public discourse. Disability representation encompasses visual imagery, language choices, narrative framing, and the selection of whose voices and perspectives are centered. Common problematic representations include inspiration porn (disabled people as objects of inspiration for non-disabled viewers), tragedy framing (disability as suffering), and superhero narratives (disability as something to be overcome through exceptional effort). In tech marketing, disability representation shapes public understanding of what disability means and who has authority to speak about disabled people's needs.