History Main / DisabledMeansHelpless

* In ''SomethingPositive'' [[http://www.somethingpositive.net/sp12012004.shtml Dahlia challenged Monette]] to sit in her chair for one trip (while she can use a chair as a walker). Later Monette remembers Dahlia's dad used to work at a helicopter factory.

* Cheerfully {{averted|Trope}} (possibly even defied) in ''KatawaShoujo'': Rin has no arms, but is very agile with her feet; Emi has no legs, but runs track using prosthesis; Shizune is deaf-mute, but serves as an effective and ruthless StudentCouncilPresident (with a TranslatorBuddy).

** On the other hand, Hisao tends to [[InternalizedCategorism internalise]] this at times, and realising that this trope isn't true for [[ShrinkingViolet Hanako]] is one of the main goals of her arc - as they got closer, he started thinking of her as someone helpless he needed to protect, instead of an equal romantic partner like Hanako wanted. In the end, Hisao figures out that while Hanako might need more help in different areas to him, they both need someone to help and support them, and that Hanako can do that for him just as well as he can do it for her.

* Cheerfully {{averted|Trope}} in ''KatawaShoujo'': Rin has no arms, but is very agile with her feet; Emi has no legs, but runs track using prosthesis; Shizune is deaf-mute, but serves as an effective and ruthless StudentCouncilPresident (with a TranslatorBuddy).

Please put your Troper Tales on the TroperTales/DisabledMeansHelpless page.

* In the {{Arthur}} episode ''"Prunella Sees the Light"'' Prunella invites her blind friend Marina over for a [[HarryPotter Henry Skreever]] sleepover. However, she worries that Marina may not see the decoration in her room or may get injured because she is blind. Marina doesn't like the special treatment Prunella is giving her, and Prunella learns to treat Marina just like any other friend, although we also see the tricks and methods that Marina uses in her own house, but her they are ''her'' methods and ''her'' choices.

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<<|DisabilityTropes|>>

* An urban legend tells a tale of a guy who has one of his car's tires deflated while in front of a lunatic asylum. While he changes the tire he puts the bolts on the rim, just as a car goes through, scattering them. The man is unable to find the bolts he needs, so one of the lunatic patients tells him to use one bolt from each other wheel. He does and is surprised that he had that good idea, his response? "I'm crazy, not stupid."

** The way it plays out is that Clifford and T-Bone assume the dog needs a lot of help and Cleo believes the dog has, as she put it, "some kind of leg-losing disease" and if they came into contact with him, they too would get it. At the end of the episode, the dog calls them all out on this, explaining that while he appreciates their help, he can do things himself and assuring Cleo is not ill as she thinks.

* This was the villain's explicitly stated intention in one episode of ''JackieChanAdventures'', when he kidnapped Uncle and cast a spell that rendered Jackie mute, Jade deaf and Tohru blind so they couldn't rescue him. Needless to say, they did anyway, [[AnAesop and a lesson was learned by all.]]

* There was a episode of CliffordTheBigRedDog. It had a three-legged dog. Bit fuzzy on the details, but i'm pretty sure this trope happened.

* Deaf actress Marlee Matlin once told about her experience with the "one disability = all disabilities" when she was on an overnight flight. The flight attendant was passing out menus for dinner, and Matlin began signing what she wanted to her interpreter. The flight attendant saw her, immediately snatched the menu away, went back to her station, and returned, proudly handing Matlin [[CrowningMomentOfFunny a menu in Braille.]] Matlin [[FacePalm facepalmed.]]

Often the point of a VerySpecialEpisode. Compared this to the HandicappedBadass, who are often just fine by themselves within reasonable limits.

When some people see a person with a disability, they automatically assume that the individual is totally incapable of looking after themselves, and so treat them like a small child. Most egregiously, some people even assume that having one disability equals having ''every'' disability! These people are the ones who insist on SHOUTING AT THE BLIND, assuming they can't hear, either. These patronizing attitudes often create resentment on the part of people with disabilities.

When some people see person with a disability, they automatically assume that the individual is totally incapable of looking after themselves, and so treat them like a small child. Most egregiously, some people even assume that having one disability equals having ''every'' disability! Those people are the ones who insist on SHOUTING AT THE BLIND, assuming they can't hear, either. This patronizing attitude often creates resentment on the part of people with disabilities.

In fiction, they have little problem telling the protagonist exactly that.

When some people see a wheelchair (or, to a lesser extent, a blind person's cane or hearing aids), they automatically assume that the individual is totally incapable of looking after themselves, and so the disabled are often treated like children. Most egregiously, sometimes people assume that having one disability equals having ''every'' disability! Those people are the ones who insist on SHOUTING AT THE BLIND, assuming they can't hear, either. This patronizing attitude often creates resentment on the part of the disabled.

'''Monette''': No chair-mounted gun turret? And i thought [[EverythingIsBigInTexas he was a real Texan]].

The human world is mostly built for people with working legs, ears, brains, and eyes; anyone who doesn't have them all working draws unwanted attention. But the way people often treat disabled people can make things worse.

When people see a wheelchair (or, to a lesser extent, a blind person's cane or hearing aids), they automatically assume that the individual is totally incapable of looking after themselves, and so the disabled are often treated like children. Most egregiously, sometimes people assume that having one disability equals having ''every'' disability! Those people are the ones who insist on SHOUTING AT THE BLIND, assuming they can't hear, either. This patronizing attitude often creates resentment on the part of the disabled.

Being disabled, to put it bluntly, sucks. The world is built for people with working legs, ears, brains, and eyes; anyone who doesn't have them all working draws unwanted attention. But the way people often treat disabled people can make things worse.

When people see a wheelchair (or, to a lesser extent, a blind man's cane or hearing aids), they automatically assume that the individual is totally incapable of looking after themselves, and so the disabled are often treated like children. Most egregiously, sometimes people assume that having one disability equals having ''every'' disability! Those people are the ones who insist on SHOUTING AT THE BLIND, assuming they can't hear, either. This patronizing attitude often creates resentment on the part of the disabled.

Often the point of a VerySpecialEpisode. Compared this to the HandicappedBadass, who often just fine by themselves within reasonable limits.

* An urban legend tells a tale of a guy who has one of his car's tires deflated while in front of a lunatic asylum. While he changes the tire he puts the bolts over the rin, in the middle of the road just as a car goes through, scattering them. The man is unable to find the bolts he needs so one of the lunatic patients tells him to use one bolt from each other wheel. He does and is surprised that he had that good idea, his response? "I'm crazy, not stupid."

--> '''Monette''': ...I don't know how Dahlia sat in that chair for ten years without killling someone.
--> '''Dahlia's mom''': She did it with patience, friends and a father who helped her calculate [[RammingAlwaysWorks the proper ramming speed]] in an electric wheelchair to correct other people's assumptions.
--> '''Monette''': No chair-mounted gun turret? And i thought [[AmericanGunPolitics he was a real Texan]].

Often the point of a VerySpecialEpisode.