All You Need to Know About Disability is on Star Trek
First published on July 14, 2014 and written by and contains
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“All You Need to Know About Disability is on Star Trek” leads the reader on an exploration of the future for people with disabilities as portrayed in Star Trek. Even though the connection between Star Trek and disability might not be readily apparent to everyone, Star Trek has frequently depicted many aspects of disability, chronic illness, and rehabilitation in the stories told. In keeping with its message of hope, Star Trek usually portrays the role of the person with a disability in a positive light. Dr. Lehmann weaves a tapestry where technology and science, together with humanity’s struggles for social justice, create messages about disability. The management of conflicts, interpersonal relationships, and the difficulties in interactions with those alien to us in appearance, culture, and abilities are recurring themes in Star Trek. Each episode is multifaceted, and the messages conveyed are largely dependent on the perspective of the viewer. The book spotlights messages about impairments as seen in Star Trek. Topics such as medical ethics, definitions of disability, quality of life, coping strategies, and various disabilities come alive with dialogue, expert analysis, and humor. This is Star Trek after all. In addition, interviews with a few of the scriptwriters provide new information about the inspiration for writing episodes about disability and stigma as well as empowerment and inclusion. Interviews with a few fans with disabilities and their family members provide another lens through which to view Star Trek.