Anonymous wrote:Just try to imagine the public outcry and flaming of disney if they attempted to draw a princess with DS and have someone provide the voice. Folks will say she isn't realistic enough (not disabled enough). Others will say she's too stereotypical and a caricature of a person with DS. Everyone will say she doesn't reflect their kid with DS. Someone will say it's terribly un-PC (at best). Why bother?

PS - my kids and I love Nonny on Bubble Guppies.

What about Nonny?

Anonymous wrote:JESUS CHRIST!

And you're taking God's name in vain because . . . ?

Just try to imagine the public outcry and flaming of disney if they attempted to draw a princess with DS and have someone provide the voice. Folks will say she isn't realistic enough (not disabled enough). Others will say she's too stereotypical and a caricature of a person with DS. Everyone will say she doesn't reflect their kid with DS. Someone will say it's terribly un-PC (at best). Why bother?

PS - my kids and I love Nonny on Bubble Guppies.

There is no way for Disney to represent all varieties of girls. But they could start by not sexing up every princess to unrealistic levels. That would serve ALL girls.

And by "not sexing up" I don't mean make her look like someone who borders on being a non-person like Lilo.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The problem with this article is that the author is pinning the blame on the wrong thing. Her own NT daughter is the one who said her sister with DS can't be a princess. Disney didn't. Her response should have been to correct the older child. And as many have pointed out, Disney characters tend to come with many attributes that humans do not.

Yup.

Yes. Bad move, mom.

Although Disney doesn't have DS role-models, there have been a few shows (including one current one) that have included featured characters with disabilities. Yes, it's few and far between but still there have been some.

Way back when, Geri Jewell was in The Facts of Life, and the first actress with Cerebral Palsey to be featured on television.
1980's/1990's - Life Goes On had Chris Burke's character, Corky as the protagonist/central character with DS
Lauren Pott is a featured actress with DS on Glee

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes, because Disney princesses so reflect reality.

I'd be happier if they'd stop killing of the moms.

THIS. Why do they do this?!

I know a guy who's pretty high up in Disney. They do it for what they call "real estate." There are only so many minutes in a movie, and if there's another parent, then they have to develop that relationship, wasting precious minutes. The need to streamline it.

Also, in lots of kid's movies/books etc the parents aren't around (orphans, etc). It's because the kids wouldn't be able to get into so much trouble if they were being supervised. And if they did get into all that trouble, people would be screaming about Disney's horrible parents as role models.

Anonymous wrote:While I agree that the world needs more positive role models with disabilities, I don't think Disney princesses, which are ridiculous and convey a unrealistic image of femininity in the first instance, are a good starting place. They don't even have a princess that differs from the traditional idea of feminine beauty. Sure, Merida is a tomboy, but she's still got a great figure and is gorgeous.

Yes, we could start with a FAT princess who gets the gorgeous prince.

Disney did have a main character with a disability, though not a princess. Nemo had a deformed fin that affected his ability to swim quickly. That was the reason that Marlin was afraid to let him go to school.

While I agree that the world needs more positive role models with disabilities, I don't think Disney princesses, which are ridiculous and convey a unrealistic image of femininity in the first instance, are a good starting place. They don't even have a princess that differs from the traditional idea of feminine beauty. Sure, Merida is a tomboy, but she's still got a great figure and is gorgeous.

While not necessarily Disney princesses, Disney has had some characters with disabilities:

http://disney.wikia.com/wiki/Category:Characters_with_disabilities

And this list does not include Quasimodo, who is deformed, but not disabled.

Anonymous wrote:The problem with this article is that the author is pinning the blame on the wrong thing. Her own NT daughter is the one who said her sister with DS can't be a princess. Disney didn't. Her response should have been to correct the older child. And as many have pointed out, Disney characters tend to come with many attributes that humans do not.

Yup.

The problem with this article is that the author is pinning the blame on the wrong thing. Her own NT daughter is the one who said her sister with DS can't be a princess. Disney didn't. Her response should have been to correct the older child. And as many have pointed out, Disney characters tend to come with many attributes that humans do not.

NP. I actually just read the article, and it is sweet and correct. I am not sure how the lead character would work with Down Syndrome, but image if Anna had had D.S. The movie might still have worked.

Anonymous wrote:Stop making jokes here! This is an extremely sensitive and important topic!!!

I mean, did you even read the article??!?!

No because the title of this thread is a great preview to how ridiculous the article will be.