Yours truly is disabled. Not by birth, but by war. I had to rebuild my self image from the ground up after decades of able-bodied existence, which wasn't easy. And it was around this time I began to notice disabled characters in tabletop, complete with miniatures and the online notoriety that goes with them. At the time I shrugged. Magic can clear that nonsense up pronto, right? It turns out that I was wrong. Some are born to disability, while others acquire it elsewhere. Regardless, reconcilation is a necessary thing.
Despite the reasonable distance we hope exists between ourselves and our favorite characters, these pen-and-paper personalities are avatars. A living extension of that part of out innermost selves wishing to become heroes fantastically equipped for adventures in narrative cause and effect. We fashion these characters in our own image and hope to live up to our best selves. Now it's easy, and probably honest enough, to admit we'd magicically eradicate our disabilities given an accomodating universe...
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But that was never the point. Ever. Not for the young (especially not for them), and not for the older (and oftentimes newly disabled) either. Those born to disability enter adolescence, already a hard enough time to be different, in constant awareness of the fact and seeking to understand where they fit in the world. Supernatural aid can mend their characters; but it almost certainly won't help them formulate a positive self image as a disabled person, which is arguably what superior roleplaying (you pick the system) should fascilitate.
And what are we telling these kids? You can be elves. Or wizards. But not disabled because disability is a bridge too far? And because disability is a stain to be washed clean in any respectable universe as though it's bad enough in real life? This (misguided) assumption fails to grasp the many benefits of roleplaying. The same goes for acquired disabilities later on, because aren't these players seeking a similar reconciliation? It's better to accomodate their wishes in its name because play's always been somewhat therapeutic...
And because we're all drawn to roleplay as a means of exploring ourselves and finding our place by way of imaginary worlds, complete with disabled characters who risk everything, heroically, and master the considerable odds against them. If this can't help people reconcile with who they are, nothing will. And maybe they recognize their inherent worth as persons, resourceful and with awesome ideas to contribute. Nothing is more old school than that, and who knows? The friendships made at the gaming table might be good for everyone.
