We would like to present you with a collection of works dealing with disability, whether in the cinema or in the literary world. We do not guarantee the quality of the treatment of the question of disability for all these works, so it is necessary to use these works as a first approach on these questions.

 If you know of other works, please send them to us by e-mail: accueil.handicap@univ-poitiers.fr

 

Representations of disability in films and series

  • Atypical

    In this series, which can be found on Netflix, actor Keil Gilchrist plays Sam Gardner, a 16-year-old with an autism spectrum disorder. Unlike other portrayals of people with ASD, Sam does not have unusual intellectual abilities, he is just a young man who lives with his peculiarities: anxieties, hypersensitivity, lack of understanding of the second degree, difficulty in social interactions.

  • The Big Bang Theory

    Although it has never been made official by the show's producers, the character of Sheldon Cooper, played by Jims Parsons, has been rumoured to have Asperger's Syndrome. It is true that the particularity of his character can be questioned: obsessive-compulsive disorders and ignorance of social rules. This makes him an atypical character who is the source of much of the comedy in the show.

  • Rain Man

    In the film Rain Man, Dustin Hoffman plays Raymond Babbitt, a person with savant syndrome. This is the film that brought autism to the attention of the general public. Unfortunately, for many people, it was this film that created a stereotype of autism and unusual intellectual abilities. Indeed, this type of intelligence represents a minority of people with an autism spectrum disorder, so it does not represent the everyday life of people with this disorder.

  • The Miracle Worker

    The Miracle Worker is about Helen Keller, a young girl who is blind and deaf, and Anne Sullivan who is her last hope. The parents are at a loss as to how to deal with their daughter's situation, and if Anne fails, Helen will go to the asylum. Anne's mission is to establish discipline and find a way to communicate with the girl.

  • Land of Silence and Darkness

    This documentary film follows Fini Straubinger, a deaf-blind woman who helps other disabled people to communicate through tactile language. Fini is followed for five months, during which time the film's producer and director, Werner Herzog, learns her tactile language.

  • Dernières nouvelles du cosmos

    Helen is a 20-year-old woman with an autism spectrum disorder who has never spoken, cannot hold a pen, and cannot read or write. However, her mother discovers a way to communicate with her by placing laminated letters on a sheet of paper.

  • Rising Phoenix

    This report traces the journey of nine athletes on their way to the Paralympic Games, and how our representations of disability have evolved in the field of sport.

  • Patients

    Washing, walking, playing basketball, these are the things Ben can no longer do when he arrives at a rehabilitation centre following a serious accident. Together with other people from the centre, they will learn patience. They will resist, make fun of each other, argue, seduce each other, but above all find the energy to learn to live again.

  • Nous, les intranquilles

    This documentary was made by the film group of the Artaud psychotherapeutic reception centre. It tells us about the illness, the therapy, and the residents' relationship with the world. This self-portrait of the Artaud centre gives a human image of psychological disorders.

  • Radiance

    Misako is an audio-describer. This young woman, whose job is to imagine films by means of speech, meets Nakamori, a photographer with a degenerative disease condemned to blindness.

  • Sound of Metal

    Ruben and Lou, together in life and on stage, travel the United States between concerts. One night, Ruben is bothered by tinnitus, and a doctor tells him he will soon be deaf. The management of the sounds gives Sound of Metal accents of truth that make you touch a different world.

  • Red Band Society (French Adaptation)

    Despite their illnesses, six teenagers form the Red Band Society. Determined to live their lives to the fullest, even if they are in hospital, they will experience life-changing events.

  • Special

    A young man with mild cerebral palsy, sheltered by his mother, decides to come out of his isolation in the hope of finally living the life he wants.

  • The Eight Day

    Harry is a man who dedicates his life to his work. His life changes when he meets George, who has Down's Syndrome and lives his life in the moment.

Representations of disability in literature

  • La différence invisible – Julie DACHEZ (BD): This comic book tells the story of Marguerite, a 27 year old woman who questions her perception of the world and her particularities. The originality of this book is that it deals with autism spectrum disorders in women.
  • Des yeux pour entendre – Voyage au pays des sourds – Olivier SACKS: This book retraces the history of deafness and the place of the deaf in it, but it also deals with the question of sign language and the relations between the deaf community and the hearing.
  • Ne m’oublie pas – Alix Garin (BD): This comic book tells the story of Clémence and her grandmother who go in search of her childhood home. She suffers from Alzheimer’s disease.
  • Journal d’un vampire en pyjama – Mathias Malzieu: This book is a diary that Mathias Malzieu kept to tell the story of his fight against the disease, a rare blood disorder.
  • Ce n’est pas toi que j’attendais -Fabien Toulmé (BD): When his little girl is born with an undetected Down’s syndrome, Fabien’s life falls apart. From anger to rejection, from acceptance to love, the author recounts this discovery of difference.
  • Les petites victoires – Yvon Roy (BD): A father’s moving account of his daily struggle with his son. Autism, psychomotor disorders, social maladjustment… This is the battle that this father, who has remained united with his wife despite their separation, will fight.
  • Ne dites pas à ma mère que je suis handicapée, elle me croit trapéziste dans un cirque – Charlotte de VILMORIN: This book tells the story of a young girl in a wheelchair who is supported by her mother in her daily struggles.
  • Le cri de la mouette – Emmanuelle Laborit: A young deaf girl discovers sign language.

Representations of disability in video games

  • A blind Legend

    A Blind Legend is an Action/Adventure game that doesn't have a "video". Indeed, in this game, you will play as Edward Blake, the blind knight, guided by his daughter Louise, who will have to use his hearing to live an adventure in a mediaeval world. This game is 100% accessible to visually impaired people!

  • Tsara

    Tsara is an autism awareness game for people living with or knowing someone with autism. Through this game, we can put ourselves in the shoes of a parent, a sibling, a teacher or even wonder about the adult life of a person with autism.

  • Entendons-nous bien (Let's Hear It Well)

    Entendons-nous bien is an interactive experience to raise awareness about the reality of deafness and hearing disabilities, created by the Auguste Jacoutôt centre of the Adèle de Glaubitz Association in Strasbourg. Based on the codes of the "books in which you are the hero", this experience helps to destroy preconceived ideas on the issue of hearing disorders.

  • Extreme Wheelchairing

    Extreme Wheelchairing puts you in the shoes of a person with reduced mobility. The main objective is to get through the different levels while taking into account your environment and your limitations. The problem with this game is that the levels are designed to be completed as quickly as possible, which makes it difficult to fully appreciate the difficulties encountered by this audience.

  • The Unstoppables

    This application, aimed at children aged 7 to 10, allows you to play the role of four young people looking for their dog Tofu. They will have to face different obstacles thanks to solidarity and by taking into account their particularities.

The notion of inclusion

What is the first image that comes to mind when you think of disability? Usually, it is the wheelchair or the white cane. However, these so-called “visible” disabilities represent only 20% of people with a disability. This means that 80% of disabilities are invisible.

In 2023-2024, 1092 students were supported by the SHE. According to the statistics, this means that there are about 874 students who have a disability that is not visible. And among them are students who participate in lectures, tutorials and/or practical work.

Invisible disabilities are not detectable at first sight. They cannot be noticed if the person with a disability does not mention it. However, they do have an influence on the quality of life of the persons concerned. In society in general, as well as at university, many people have a chronic illness, a psychological disorder, or a specific learning disability that cannot be guessed.

Examples: diabetes, dyslexia, schizophrenia, Crohn’s disease, endometriosis, hearing difficulties, etc. These people have difficulties on a daily basis and adjustments to their studies and examinations are essential to ensure equal opportunities for all students. This is the right to compensation mentioned in the law of 11 February 2005.

Study facilities are put in place to compensate for difficulties caused by an environment that is not suitable for everyone. However, it is possible to modify the environment so that everyone can participate and achieve their full potential. The University of Poitiers is part of this logic of inclusion in order to break down the barriers created by an unsuitable environment. This dynamic is essential for some, is ultimately beneficial to all, but above all is not harmful to anyone.