History Series / Speechless

The series follows the [=DiMeo=] family, led by take-charge matriarch Maya (Driver), who does everything in her power to give her son JJ (Fowler), who has cerebral palsy, a normal teenage life. Unfortunately for the rest of the family --father Jimmy (Creator/JohnRossBowie), brainy middle-child Ray (Mason Cook), and hyper-competitive youngest Dylan (Kyla Kenedy)-- this has resulted in entire neighbourhoods avoiding them and having to transfer schools six times in the past two years thanks to Maya's abrasive personality and inability to get other schools to accommodate JJ better. As the series begins, another move has taken the [=DiMeos=] to "the worst house in the best school district" (in this case, best also meaning mainstream) so that JJ can have a permanent aid in his classes. Though the initial aid is a poor fit, JJ soon befriends the school groundskeeper, Kenneth (Cedric Yarbrough) and appoints him as his voice, and the family finally begins to settle in.

''Speechless'' is an ABC sitcom which premiered in 2016, starring Creator/MinnieDriver and introducing Micah Fowler.

The series follows the [=DiMeo=] family, led by take-charge matriarch Maya (Driver) who does everything in her power to give her son JJ (Fowler), who has cerebral palsy, a normal teenage life. Unfortunately for the rest of the family --father Jimmy (Creator/JohnRossBowie), brainy middle-child Ray (Mason Cook), and hyper-competitive youngest Dylan (Kyla Kenedy)-- this has resulted in entire neighbourhoods avoiding them and having to transfer schools six times in the past two years thanks to Maya's abrasive personality and inability to get other schools to accommodate JJ better. As the series begins, another move has taken the [=DiMeos=] to "the worst house in the best school district" (in this case, best also meaning mainstream) so that JJ can have a permanent aid in his classes. Though the initial aid is a poor fit, JJ soon befriends the school groundskeeper, Kenneth (Cedric Yarbrough) and appoints him as his voice, and the family finally begins to settle in.

The series has been lauded as groundbreaking for casting Fowler, [[DisabledCharacterDisabledActor who also has cerebral palsy]], in the role of JJ. It was cancelled on May 10th, 2019, after three seasons.

* OutnumberedSibling: Dylan. In one episode, she even expresses frustration over having to share a bedroom with both of her brothers.

* PoliticalCorrectnessGoneMad:

** Kenneth and JJ exploit the general public's outlook on JJ's situation in"I-n-s-Inspirations."

The series follows the [=DiMeo=] family, led by take-charge matriarch Maya (Driver) who does everything in her power to give her son JJ (Fowler), who has cerebral palsy, a normal teenage life. Unfortunately for the rest of the family --father Jimmy (John Ross Bowie), brainy middle-child Ray (Mason Cook), and hyper-competitive youngest Dylan (Kyla Kenedy)-- this has resulted in entire neighbourhoods avoiding them and having to transfer schools six times in the past two years thanks to Maya's abrasive personality and inability to get other schools to accommodate JJ better. As the series begins, another move has taken the [=DiMeos=] to "the worst house in the best school district" (in this case, best also meaning mainstream) so that JJ can have a permanent aid in his classes. Though the initial aid is a poor fit, JJ soon befriends the school groundskeeper, Kenneth (Cedric Yarbrough) and appoints him as his voice, and the family finally begins to settle in.

* RealityEnsues: It's often noted how the family has financial problems, so it's not that surprising to learn in "D-i-Ding" that Kenneth had to take a second job since being JJ's aide doesn't cover his various bills.

The series follows the [=DiMeo=] family, led by take-charge matriarch Maya (Driver) who does everything in her power to give her son JJ (Fowler), who has cerebral palsy, a normal teenage life. Unfortunately for the rest of the family --father Jimmy (John Ross Bowie), brainy middle-child Ray (Mason Cook), and hyper-competitive youngest Dylan (Kyla Kenedy)-- this has resulted in entire neighbourhoods avoiding them and having to transfer schools six times in the past two years thanks to Maya's abrasive personality and inability to get other schools to accommodate JJ better. As the series begins, another move has taken the [=DiMeos=] to "the worst house in the best school district" (in this case, best also meaning mainstream) so that JJ can have a permanent interpreter in his classes. Though the initial interpreter is a poor fit, JJ soon befriends the school janitor Kenneth (Cedric Yarbrough) and appoints him as his voice, and the family finally begins to settle in.

The series follows the [=DiMeo=] family, led by take-charge matriarch Maya (Driver) who does everything in her power to give her son JJ (Fowler), who has cerebral palsy, a normal teenage life. Unfortunately for the rest of the family --father Jimmy (John Ross Bowie), brainy middle-child Ray (Mason Cook), and hyper-competitive youngest Dylan (Kyle Kenedy)-- this has resulted in entire neighbourhoods avoiding them and having to transfer schools six times in the past two years thanks to Maya's abrasive personality and inability to get other schools to accommodate JJ better. As the series begins, another move has taken the [=DiMeos=] to "the worst house in the best school district" (in this case, best also meaning mainstream) so that JJ can have a permanent interpreter in his classes. Though the initial interpreter is a poor fit, JJ soon befriends the school janitor Kenneth (Cedric Yarbrough) and appoints him as his voice, and the family finally begins to settle in.

** JJ's new school falls into this in a meaningless, and still ignorant, manner. They changed their mascot from a viking (which represented pillaging and toxic masculinity) to a sea slug (which has both male and female genitalia) to appear more inclusive, but their wheelchair ramp is in the back of the school and doubles as a ramp for the garbage bins.