Disabled characters to join EE

[Perdita]

Boss Diederick Santer has promised more roles for disabled actors this year. "We're making big changes," he reveals.

Viewers had complained they never see characters in wheelchairs in the Vic. "So I looked into it," he explains. "We banged a few heads together."

Access to the studios and lot at Elstree had to be improved. Now writers are working on new characters, who will arrive later this spring.

Despite dyslexia, Kara Tointon's good at learning lines as Dawn. But she had a more difficult task when younger.

"At 16 I entered a speech competition," she recalls. "I had to recite three pages of the Bible from memory in old English.

"It was one of the hardest things I've ever had to do. I went on to win the regional competition and it's one of the proudest moments in my life."

[Abigail]

I know dyslexia can affect people pretty badly (my brother in law can't read) but I wouldn't class it as a disability.

I'd like to see characters that aren't wheelchair bound. Being disabled means so much more than being paralysed or not being able to walk.

[Emmie]

I agree! I'm autistic and unless i tell people, i look completly normal! i recon they should have someone with an invisable disability and show just how hard life can be wen you look normal but your not x

[di marco]

while its a good idea, i hope that theyre bringing in disabled characters to have their own personalities/storylines and not just cos theyre disabled

[StarsOfCCTV]

I think they're probably going to bring someone whos obviously disabled, just so people can tell, if that makes sense?

Its a good idea in theory, but I'll wait to see what character they bring in.

[JustJodi]

I thought we already did the disability thing when Billy's kid with Downs was born?????

I am DEAF.. it is also an invisible disability.. unless U speak clearly and slowly I will not understand you.. when I speak you will notice my speech is heavily accented..I also sign ( not in BSL ) but in ASL/PSE/SEE ( there are various degrees of sign language and I can do them all..so I can sign with various individuals who use one type of sign ) If they do a storyline on deafness, and use a REAL deaf person,, then it makes things more realistic,, if u use a HEARING person to portray a DEAF person.. there may be HELL TO PAY.. cos there are talented deaf actors/actresses out there waiting for a break to portray THEMSELVES/as a deaf character.. same goes with some one in a wheel chair. Why stick some one in a wheel chair and hope they can portray the person:searchme: the best people to do the character is the DISABLED person themselves because they know who they are and they can portray the character better.:)
This is just my 2 euro cents worth,,

[kayuqtuq]

Isn't Ben Mitchell hearing impaired?

Carol :cool:

[Perdita]

Yes, he is, he wears a hearing aid in one ear

[LostVoodoo]

does anyone else remember that blind girl in neighbours who was played by someone that wasn't blind? that was so daft...

[Abigail]

You mean Tessa James. She's now in Home and Away.