A big part of raising awareness and acceptance for people with disabilities is making their stories part of popular culture. Check my list of TV series that have regularly featured characters or performers with special needs, and add a review of these or other shows I've missed.
Alphas
Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images
Show: Alphas
Network: SyFy
On the Air: 2011-
Character of Interest: Gary Bell (Ryan Cartwright), a young man with autism whose abilities as a "human antenna" make him valuable to a crime-fighting team of people with extraordinary abilities.
The Big Bang Theory
Photo by Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images
Show: The Big Bang Theory
Network: CBS
On the Air: 2007-
Character of Interest: Sheldon Cooper (Jim Parsons), a theoretical physicist and all-around quirky fellow thought by many viewers to have Asperger syndrome.
Bones
Photo by Michael Buckner/Getty Images
Show: Bones
Network: FOX
On the Air: 2005-
Character of Interest: Dr. Temperance "Bones" Brennan (Emily Deschanel), a forensic anthropologist who looks to a lot of viewers like a person with Asperger syndrome.
Covert Affairs
Photo by Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images
Show: Covert Affairs
Network: USA
On the Air: 2010-
Character of Interest: Auggie Anderson (Christopher Gorham), a blind CIA analyst who's a tech whiz, a sidekick for the newbie agent played by Piper Perabo, and a chick magnet.
Criminal Minds
Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images
Show: Criminal Minds
Network: CBS
On the Air: 2005-
Character of Interest: Dr. Spencer Reid (Matthew Gray Gubler), eccentric and multiple-degree-holding member of the team that profiles serial killers and other dangerous criminals.
Glee
Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images
Show: Glee
Network: Fox
On the Air: 2009-
Characters of Interest: Artie Abrams (Kevin McHale), a glee-club member who uses a wheelchair; Becky Jackson (Lauren Potter), a cheerleader with Down syndrome.
Grey's Anatomy
Photo by Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images
Show: Grey's Anatomy
Network: ABC
On the Air: 2005-
Character of Interest: Dr. Virginia Dixon (Mary McDonnell), a cardiac surgeon with Asperger syndrome who appeared in several episodes of the series' sixth season.
Life Goes On
Show: Life Goes On
Network: ABC
On the Air: 1989-1993
Character of Interest: Corky Thatcher (Chris Burke), at the start of the show a high-school student with Down syndrome and a member of the family the series focused on.
The Middle
Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images
Show: The Middle
Network: ABC
On the Air: 2009-
Character of Interest: Brick (Atticus Shaffer), youngest child of the Heck family, an odd little fellow whose quirky ways and habit of repeating things in a whisper has some viewers wondering if he's on the autism spectrum. Whether the character is or not, the show remains of special-needs interest for Shaffer, who has osteogenesis imperfecta.
Modern Family
Image by Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images
Show: Modern Family
Network: ABC
On the Air: 2009-
Actor of Interest: Sarah Hyland, who plays Haley Dunphy, revealed in May of 2012 that she was diagnosed with kidney dysplasia at age 9 and received a kidney transplant from her father in April 2012, at age 21.
