Reframing the Disability Narrative

Rating: 9/10 (25 July 2016)

Finding Dory continues and further explores the disability narrative, as it was touched upon in Finding Nemo. It presents to the viewer the complex and often difficult narrative of both raising a child with disability and growing up with one. Finding Dory pushes the disability narrative phenomenally and shows the perspective of not only the main character and what it is like to live with a disability but the perspectives of the other characters that Dory interacts with on a daily basis.
The film wrestles with the narrative that Dory needs to be with people to protect her because of her disability. But the movie reframes the narrative through the moments that capture Dory being placed at odds to believe in herself. It all builds up to her being alone again and instead of giving up she follows her instincts; she follows what she does best and is ultimately what leads her to her parents. She uses her instincts ("What Would Dory Do") and shows the viewers and other characters at the rehabilitation center how disability is not a hindrance but rather a unique gift.
The movie doesn't stop there and shows perspectives of what it is like living with those who do have disabilities. The parents show the all too real fear of letting their child whom they love and whom they see as perfect going out into the world. Marlin on the other hand shows a deep friendship with Dory but a protective one. As he embraces Dory's disability, their friendship shows that sometimes it can get in the way of the ones you love, Nemo.
This movie shows the beauty of observing the journey of self-acceptance and discovery. This movie reframes the disability narrative as one that is not a weakness or a life of needing constant care of loved ones but one where there can be triumph and success. Not only do we get to see Dory's journey of coming into her own but we get to see the other characters wrestle with letting Dory go on her own. This translates into a wider message of how we can and must see people holistically and not just for their disability. That people are more than just their disability and that we should not just look at the ways that disability is limiting but the ways that it can be strength. It paints a picture of what it may look like to reframe the disability message we see within our society and to rather than see it as impairment for our society is to value the entire person. It is the heart of a person that truly matters as seen by the lovable and compassionate Dory. Dory extends this to each character she encounters by seeing who they truly are and not by their impairments or even anger (Hank the Septoctupus) but by their hearts. Finding Dory provides the viewer with the posture and grace that needs to be extended to everyone we interact with, even the ones that we don't fully understand at first.