*Swears* *Mutters* *Growls* *Cries* Some days, it's one step forward, three steps back.

Okay, so last night, I was watching a repeat of Bones, which has a history of being incredibly ableist in its plots and dialog. And sure enough, the b-plot of last night's episode was the angst between the b-plot romantic couple, newly married (and now preggers) Angela and Hodgkins [sp?], over the fact that their yet unborn child will have a one in four chance of being BLIND (horrors of horrors!).

But then it ended sort of okay, with Hodgkins saying: "So what if I won't be able to teach my child to look through microscopes? We can play the piano together. Our Kid will be fine. We'll be fine; we can handle anything."

So I left the show feeling a bit more optimistic. Sure, it was still ableist. But it wasn't as ableist as it's been in the past.

Then. Then.

Then the evening news came on. And the "Health and Science" segment was all about the worries new parents have when they discover their baby isn't perfect, like they expected. And the "imperfections" they were discussing?

Being a little bit cross-eyed.

Having dandruff.

Having acne.

And the final word from the Nice Lady Baby Doctor in the White Coat of Authority[tm]? "Don't worry. Be patient, and in a month or two, your baby will be perfect" (More or less a direct quote... At least as far as I remember).

Facepalm.
Headdesk.
Headwall.
Repeat.

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While I was writing this, I had the idea for a new icon to stick on my Ableism-themed posts (on the DreamWidth side): "Monster on wheels" Y/Y?