{"title":"Exploring Media Portrayals of Individuals With Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities.","authors":"Aesha J John, Jade Presnell, Sabrina Cavazos, Cameron Lewright","doi":"10.1352/1934-9556-63.2.87","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Considering past evidence highlighting the role of media portrayal in shaping community attitudes towards people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD), we analyzed depictions of IDD in seven television shows and three movies. Characters with IDD were coded based on categories representing (a) their attributes (demographic, disability-related, and personality), (b) the salience of IDD and character with IDD, (c) treatment by other characters, and (d) quality of life. The majority of the characters were White and male, and persons with IDD played characters with visible disabilities. Characters with IDD were often bullied, but most were portrayed as having a strong support system and a good quality of life. Themes are discussed in the context of implications and methodological limitations.</p>","PeriodicalId":47489,"journal":{"name":"Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities","volume":"63 2","pages":"87-104"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7000,"publicationDate":"2025-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities","FirstCategoryId":"3","ListUrlMain":"https://doi.org/10.1352/1934-9556-63.2.87","RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q2","JCRName":"EDUCATION, SPECIAL","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
Considering past evidence highlighting the role of media portrayal in shaping community attitudes towards people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD), we analyzed depictions of IDD in seven television shows and three movies. Characters with IDD were coded based on categories representing (a) their attributes (demographic, disability-related, and personality), (b) the salience of IDD and character with IDD, (c) treatment by other characters, and (d) quality of life. The majority of the characters were White and male, and persons with IDD played characters with visible disabilities. Characters with IDD were often bullied, but most were portrayed as having a strong support system and a good quality of life. Themes are discussed in the context of implications and methodological limitations.
期刊介绍:
Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities is dedicated to meeting the information needs of those who seek effective ways to help people with mental retardation. The journal reports new teaching approaches, program developments, administrative tools, program evaluation, service utilization studies, community surveys, public policy issues, training and case studies, and current research in mental retardation. Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities is a peer-reviewed journal whose consulting editors represent a broad spectrum of settings: universities, research centers, public and private residential care facilities, and specialized community service agencies.