Why would this be a bad idea. Well lets say that you are a kid who does not go to an inclusive school. A kid that has never had a disabled neighbor or friend. When you go to the cinema and see people with disabilities portrayed in movies you think " That is what disability looks like because that is all I have seen in terms of disability. This is bad because its just acting and at best its an interpretation of how a person with a disability is suppose to act .
We used to do the same thing to African Americans in the days during slavery and reconstruction. It was called a minstrel show. White Actors were black makeup and acted a fool for entertainment. It was horrible. Here is a small clip. of what it was like.
If it wasn't ok back then then it currently isn't ok to have able bodied characters portray disabled ones. Actors with disabilities can do a better job portraying those disabilities for the simple fact that we understand the disability because we live with it every day. One of the best movies I have seen about inclusion is Yo Tambien or Me Too. Its a romantic drama about a young man with Down Syndrome portrayed by an actor with the same disability, who falls in love with an average women. This movie does a good job by creating a character that defies the stereotypes that are typical for characters with disabilities. I highly recommend watching it.
On a related note today is Spread the Word to End the Word today. In my town I have heard the word less which I believe means that the event is working. Words are powerful and have meanings deeply rooted in American Culture. These are not ok to use or say. Words matter. Here is a post I wrote on the topic a few years back.
BTW I really liked the theory of everything but I wish that the actor had an disability.
