Disabilities As Superpowers? Dad Creates World of Amazing Handicapped Heroes

Dads love to be superheroes for their kids. In this case, dad Dan White wanted superheroes for his daughter Emily, but couldn't find the perfect ones, so he decided to make them.

According to The Mighty, nine-year-old Emily was born with a condition called Spina Bifida, a birth defect which literally means "split spine," and highly affects the brain and spine. As such, dad Dan looked for superheroes to whom Emily could look up to for encouragement.

"However [after] looking around for relevant heroes for [Emily] and our new circle of friends, [I] found none!" said Dan in his website. "I also noticed a lack of positive media coverage of disability and the strong, independent kids involved." Despite the presence of superheroes all around the media, like Marvel's Avengers or DC Comics' Justice League, Dan found nothing.

Because of this apparent lack of relevant heroes, Mr. White decided to make his own superheroes who had disabilities for superpowers. The whole group composes what he has officially called the "Department Of Abilities," and sees ability in their handicap.

"I wanted a broad range of diverse characters that would be unique, original and be fun for all kids to look [to] and emulate," Dan said in an email to The Mighty. "[The characters] show the wider world that disability can be a power, that it's easy for disability to be mainstream without being frightening or misunderstood."

The characters are all unique in their own ways, and are designed to be relevant and relatable to all kids, especially to those who have disabilities. Characters include Pawsy, a cheetah with an artificial limb that makes him run up to 300 mph; Billy, a stray who is now equipped with carbon wheels and a tail for a radar and transmitter; Claypole, who died from an unfortunate experiment victim. He is now a ghost and is blind, but invincible in his fights against enemies; Azazzatz, an alien who is fitted with a very strong bionic arm; and of course, Emily, who is equipped with a multi-functional flying wheelchair.

According to The Mighty, Dan quit his job to focus on the DOF full time. He is currently working with Strongbones Charity in the U.K. to distribute the DOF and Strongbones Super Heroes to disabled kids.

Dad Dan is joined by wife Aimee and daughter Emily in promoting and spreading the material for the promising comic, and also hopes that it could be turned into a television show when it becomes successful globally.