Special Needs Caregiver Tips and Strategies TV Series Featuring Characters or Performers With Disabilities By Terri Mauro facebook twitter linkedin Terri Mauro is the author of "50 Ways to Support Your Child's Special Education" and contributor to the Parenting Roundabout podcast. Learn about our editorial process Terri Mauro Fact checked by Fact checked by Andrea Rice on April 30, 2020 facebook twitter linkedin Andrea Rice is an award-winning journalist and a freelance writer, editor, and fact checker specializing in health and wellness. Learn about our editorial process Andrea Rice Updated on January 30, 2021 Print A big part of raising awareness and acceptance for people with disabilities is making their stories part of popular culture. Check out our list of TV series that have had regularly featured characters or performers with special needs. Be sure to check out reviews before watching because they aren't all kid-friendly. Alphas Show: "Alphas"Network: SyFyOn the Air: 2011-2012Character of Interest: Gary Bell (Ryan Cartwright), a young man with autism whose abilities as a "human antenna" make him valuable to a crime-fighting team of people with extraordinary abilities The Big Bang Theory Show: "The Big Bang Theory"Network: CBSOn the Air: 2007-2019Character of Interest: Sheldon Cooper (Jim Parsons), a theoretical physicist and all-around quirky guy who talks about and displays many symptoms of Asperger's syndrome (which the DSM-5 now classifies under autism spectrum disorder or ASD) The 8 Best Books for Shy Kids of 2021 Bones Show: "Bones"Network: FOXOn the Air: 2005-2017Character of Interest: Dr. Temperance "Bones" Brennan (Emily Deschanel), a forensic anthropologist who looks to a lot of viewers like a person with ASD Breaking Bad Show: "Breaking Bad"Network: AMCOn the Air: 2008-2013Character of Interest: Walter White, Jr. (RJ Mitte), son of a chemistry teacher turned meth maker who, like the actor who plays him, has cerebral palsy The Bridge Show: "The Bridge"Network: FXOn the Air: 2013-2014Character of Interest: Sonya Cross (Diane Kruger), a detective in the El Paso police department with ASD Covert Affairs Show: "Covert Affairs"Network: USAOn the Air: 2010-2014Character of Interest: Auggie Anderson (Christopher Gorham), a blind CIA analyst who's a tech whiz and sidekick for newbie agent Annie Walker, played by Piper Perabo Glee Show: "Glee"Network: FOXOn the Air: 2009-2015Characters of Interest: Artie Abrams (Kevin McHale), a glee-club member who uses a wheelchair, and Becky Jackson (Lauren Potter), a cheerleader with Down syndrome Grey's Anatomy Show: "Grey's Anatomy"Network: ABCOn the Air: 2005-PresentCharacter of Interest: Dr. Virginia Dixon (Mary McDonnell), a cardiac surgeon with ASD, appeared in several episodes of the series' sixth season King & Maxwell Show: "King and Maxwell"Network: TNTOn the Air: 2013Character of Interest: Edgar Roy (Ryan Hurst), who is often described as "a high-functioning autistic savant" specializing in patterns and numerical sequences. Legit Show: "Legit"Network: FX and FXXOn the Air: 2013-2014Character of Interest: Billy Nugent (DJ Qualls), a man with severe muscular dystrophy who was sprung from a nursing home by a trying-to-do-good friend Life Goes On Show: "Life Goes On"Network: ABCOn the Air: 1989-1993Character of Interest: Corky Thatcher (Chris Burke), a high-school student with Down syndrome, just like the actor who plays him, and a member of the family the series focused on The Middle Show: "The Middle"Network: ABCOn the Air: 2009-2018Character of Interest: Brick (Atticus Shaffer), the youngest child of the Heck family and a quirky little fellow whose odd ways and habit of repeating things in a whisper has some viewers wondering if he's on the autism spectrum; whether the character is special needs or not, the show remains of interest as Shaffer has osteogenesis imperfecta (OI), also known as brittle bone disease Modern Family Show: "Modern Family"Network: ABCOn the Air: 2009-2020Actor of Interest: Sarah Hyland, who plays Haley Dunphy, revealed that she was born with kidney dysplasia and received a kidney transplant from her father in April 2012, at age 21; after complications five years later, she received a kidney from her brother, actor Ian Hyland Parenthood Show: "Parenthood"Network: NBCOn the Air: 2010- 2015Character of Interest: Max Braverman (Max Burkholder), a member of the youngest generation of the sprawling Braverman clan and, as of the show's first episode, a child diagnosed with Asperger's syndrome (now ASD) The Secret Life of the American Teenager Show: "The Secret Life of the American Teenager"Network: ABC FamilyOn the Air: 2008-2013Special-Needs Connection: Tom Bowman (Luke Zimmerman), a level-headed young man with Down syndrome, much like the actor who plays him St. Elsewhere Show: "St. Elsewhere"Network: NBCOn the Air: 1982-1988Special-Needs Connection: Tommy Westphall (Chad Allen), the autistic son of St. Eligius Hospital honcho Dr. Donald Westphall Switched at Birth Show: "Switched at Birth"Network: ABC FamilyOn the Air: 2011- 2017Character of Interest: Daphne Vasquez (Katie Leclerc), a hearing-impaired teenager who finds out she went home with the wrong family as an infant; one entire episode—season 2, episode 9—was done entirely in American sign language (ASL) The West Wing Show: "The West Wing"Network: NBCOn the Air: 1999-2006Character of Interest: Joey Lucas (Marlee Matlin), a pollster who, much like the actor who plays her, is deaf The 10 Best Children’s Books of 2021 Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Get diet and wellness tips to help your kids stay healthy and happy. Sign Up You're in! Thank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up. There was an error. Please try again. What are your concerns? Other Inaccurate Hard to Understand Submit Article Sources Verywell Family uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. National Kidney Foundation. Modern Family star opens up about her kidney disease and transplants.