Growing stronger: Nine decades of physical disability representation in children's media and implications for pediatric rehabilitation

This study investigates how the representation of physical disability in children's media has evolved over nine decades and its implications for pediatric rehabilitation. By analyzing 68 media productions from 1933 to 2025, the authors found a significant increase in positive portrayals of disability, especially after 2000, suggesting that these affirming representations can be leveraged by rehabilitation providers to enhance therapeutic engagement and reduce stigma.