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 April 30, 2020 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. Just be sure to check out reviews before watching because they aren't all kid-friendly. Alphas Show: AlphasNetwork: 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 TheoryNetwork: 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 syndrome. The 8 Best Books for Shy Kids of 2021 Bones Show: BonesNetwork: 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 Asperger syndrome. Breaking Bad Show: Breaking BadNetwork: AMCOn the Air: 2008-2013Character of Interest: Walter White, Jr. (RJ Mitte), son of the chemistry teacher turned meth maker, who, like the actor who plays him, has cerebral palsy. The Bridge Show: The BridgeNetwork: FXOn the Air: 2013-2014Character of Interest: Sonya Cross (Diane Kruger), a detective in the El Paso police department with Asperger syndrome. Covert Affairs Show: Covert AffairsNetwork: USAOn the Air: 2010-2014Character of Interest: Auggie Anderson (Christopher Gorham), a blind CIA analyst who's a tech whiz, a sidekick for newbie agent Annie Walker played by Piper Perabo, and also a chick magnet. Glee Show: GleeNetwork: FOXOn the Air: 2009-2015Characters of Interest: Artie Abrams (Kevin McHale), a glee-club member who uses a wheelchair; Becky Jackson (Lauren Potter), a cheerleader with Down syndrome. Grey's Anatomy Show: Grey's AnatomyNetwork: ABCOn the Air: 2005-PresentCharacter of Interest: Dr. Virginia Dixon (Mary McDonnell), a cardiac surgeon with Asperger syndrome who appeared in several episodes of the series' sixth season. King and Maxwell Show: King and MaxwellNetwork: TNTOn the Air: 2013Character of Interest: Edgar Roy (Ryan Hurst) is often described as "a high-functioning autistic savant," specializing in patterns and numerical sequences. Legit Show: LegitNetwork: FXOn the Air: 2013-2014Character of Interest: Billy Nugent (DJ Qualls), a man with severe muscular dystrophy sprung from a nursing home by a trying-to-do-good friend. Life Goes On Show: Life Goes OnNetwork: ABCOn the Air: 1989-1993Character of Interest: Corky Thatcher (Chris Burke) is a high-school student with has Down syndrome just like the actor who plays him, and is a member of the family the series focused on. The Middle Show: The MiddleNetwork: ABCOn the Air: 2009-2018Character of Interest: Brick (Atticus Shaffer), youngest child of the Heck family, 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 or not, the show remains of special-needs interest for Shaffer, who has osteogenesis imperfecta (OI). Modern Family Show: Modern FamilyNetwork: ABCOn the Air: 2009-Actor of Interest: Sarah Hyland, who plays Haley Dunphy, revealed in May 2012 that she was diagnosed with kidney dysplasia at age 9 and received a kidney transplant from her father in April 2012, at age 21. Parenthood Show: ParenthoodNetwork: 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 syndrome. The Secret Life of the American Teenager Show: The Secret Life of the American TeenagerNetwork: ABC FamilyOn the Air: 2008-2013Special-Needs Connection: Tom Bowman (Luke Zimmerman), a young man with Down syndrome, much like the actor who plays him. Unlike some of the show's more sex-obsessed characters, Tom is much more level-headed. St. Elsewhere Show: St. ElsewhereNetwork: NBCOn the Air: 1982-1988Special-Needs Connection: Tommy Westphall (Chad Allen), the autistic son of hospital honcho Dr. Donald Westphall, who in the show's last episode is apparently revealed to have dreamed up the entire series. Switched at Birth Show: Switched at BirthNetwork: 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. The show features other hearing-impaired characters and did one episode entirely in American Sign Language (ASL). The West Wing Show: The West WingNetwork: NBCOn the Air: 1999-2006Character of Interest: Joey Lucas (Marlee Matlin), a pollster who, much like the actor who plays her, is deaf. But Joey's deafness was never the total sum of her complex character. 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 Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. Autism Spectrum Disorder Fact Sheet. Updated March 13, 2020. National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. Asperger Syndrome Information Page. Updated March 27, 2017. National Institute of Child Health and Human Development. Cerebral Palsy. Updated December 1, 2016. National Eye Institute. Blindness Data and Statistics. Updated July 17, 2019. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Facts about Down Syndrome. Updated December 5, 2019. Child Health and Human Development. Muscular Dystrophy. December 1, 2016. National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases. Osteogenesis Imperfecta Overview. National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. Kidney Dysplasia. Updated July 2015. National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders. American Sign Language. Updated May 8, 2019. National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders. Hearing, Ear Infections, and Deafness.