What is a common pitfall in disability representation in TV drama?

• A. Tokenism, portrayal of "angels" or "burdens" rather than agency.
• B. Ignoring disability completely.
• C. Full inclusion and empowerment.
• D. Stereotypes only about physical ability.

Answer: (A)

One of the biggest traps in disability representation in TV drama is tokenism—presenting disabled characters as symbols of inspiration or pity rather than as people with real agency. When a character with a disability is used mainly to trigger an emotional response or to advance the plot for others, they’re not treated as autonomous agents with their own goals, choices, and storylines. This reduces disability to a single trait and glosses over the full complexity of their lives, relationships, and decisions. The strongest, most compelling portrayals show disabled characters making decisions, facing consequences, and driving part of the narrative just like any other character. While ignoring disability altogether is also a pitfall and inclusion and empowerment would be the ideal outcome, tokenistic portrayals are the most persistent way disability can be misrepresented by treating the character as a vehicle for others’ feelings rather than as a fully fleshed protagonist. Stereotypes about physical ability are a related issue, but the key problem here is the lack of genuine agency and depth.