A dad lovingly made her daughter with disability into a comic book hero, noting that there were none that her daughter can relate to. To keep her going, "The Department of Ability" was created, which her daughter becomes the superhero flying in a wheelchair.
The Department of Ability
Wanting to represent the community of persons with disability in a positive light, Dan White wrote "Department of Ability," a comic book which stars a superhero character with disability inspired by her daughter, Emily. Today says that the "Department of Ability follows a story of a wheel-chair bound superhero whose powers came from her disability. The superhero works alongside other characters with the same limitations, who were able to generate powers from their weaknesses.
Parenting reports that Emily White was born with Spina Bifida and hydrocephalus. Spina Bifida is a type of a neural tube defect that affects the spine and nerves. Hydrocephalus, on the other hand, is a condition where the brain has massive amounts of excess fluid. Given these depressing conditions, the parents looked for a way to lift up Emily's spirits. However, Dan couldn't find anything from the mainstream media that Emily can relate to.
"We searched and searched, and we just couldn't find anything in the entertainment industry that related to her," Dan shared with Today. "So I decided to create it. The community of persons with disability is so dear to me, and I want to see them represented in a more positive light."
The Community of Persons with Disability
The project was initiated when Emily was just three years old, and over the years, the comic book has gradually evolved, nearing completion. Likewise, the "Department of Ability" has garnered worldwide popularity especially from persons with disability and underrepresented community. While he may have given up the promotion and creative duties, he now focuses on the creation and publication of the comic. He also serves as inspirational speakers at local organizations.
He believes that children with disability deserved to be represented more positively, without the usual sad melody that often accompanies them. These kids are more than their wheelchairs, he said. Dan hopes that "Department of Ability" will encourage children with disability all over the world to realize that they are more than their limitations.
Check out the "Department of Ability" at the London Book Fair as Dan plans to promote the comic book at the event. To know more about the comic book, check out the video below:
