Speechless

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My favorite show on television right now has a child with cerebral palsy as the main character.  It is called Speechless, and it airs on ABC.  I have thoroughly enjoyed watching this show as it highlights some of the struggles families have with their special needs children in a humorous manner.  J.J., the main character, has spastic quadriplegic cerebral palsy and is non-verbal.  The show illustrates some of the struggles he has with speaking and with buildings that are not accessible to him but also highlights some of the ways he struggles like every other teenager in trying to be independent and navigate challenges like dating and school. 

While the show is fictional, it illustrates many of the issues children with cerebral palsy have in school and the issues many families have as they try to provide the best life possible for their children.  As an OT student we are starting to learn about neurological conditions such as CVA and cerebral palsy and interventions we can potentially use to treat such clients.  This show has opened my eyes to the impact a disorder like CP can on the entire family, not just the client. 

J.J.’s mother, Maya, is fiercely protective of her son and constantly battling with schools, businesses, and more to provide J.J. with the same opportunities as other children.  While some aspects of the show are exaggerated for comedic purposes, it has made me more aware of the adversities many parents face to take care of their children with special needs and advocate for them.  I love that the actor who plays J.J., Micah Fowler, actually has cerebral palsy.  His goal has always been to be an actor despite his disability, and he has made his dreams come true, and he is fantastic on the screen.  The fact that Micah is accomplishing his dreams despite his disability makes my OT heart happy. 

I chose this show as a part of the assignment because it has given me a better idea of what family dynamics look like for a child with cerebral palsy which has edified what I am learning in the classroom even though it is fictional.  I decided to further my knowledge of cerebral palsy by researching the different types of cerebral palsy.  Spastic cerebral palsy is the most common type, and there are four different kinds of spastic cerebral palsy depending on what limbs are affected.

Hemiplegia is a form a spastic CP in which one side is affected meaning the arm and leg of the same side.  Diplegia/ paraplegia is also in this category, and it means that both legs are affected and have motor deficits or paralysis.  Triplegia means that both arms and one leg or both legs and one arm are affected.  Monoplegia means that only one arm or one leg is affected, and quadriplegia means that all four limbs are affected.  Quadriplegic CP can also impact trunk muscles and the muscles of the mouth, tongue, and windpipe making eating and talking difficult.  This is the type of CP that J.J. has in Speechless and that Micah Fowler has in real life.     

There are also two types of nonspastic types of CP, dyskinetic and ataxic CP.  Dykinetic CP causes the muscle tone of the individual to flex and release sometimes rapidly and uncontrollably.  This fluctuating muscle tone can cause involuntary, jerky movements.  Ataxic cerebral palsy is the rarest form and causes issues throughout one’s whole body from affecting coordination, precise movements, balance, and hand control. 

I am thankful that there is a show on television that normalizes people with disabilities and helps others to relate to their daily life challenges.  I have enjoyed laughing and watching their family dynamics and learning more about cerebral palsy.  I hope the show continues for a long time and that more shows like Speechless will develop to more proportionately reflect the population of America by including more individuals with special needs in them.   


Perry, David M. “Speechless Is Breaking New Ground on Television.” The Atlantic, Atlantic Media Company, 21 Sept. 2016, www.theatlantic.com/entertainment/archive/2016/09/speechless-review-abc/500444/.

Types of Cerebral Palsy - Topic Overview. (n.d.). Retrieved March 29, 2018, from https://www.webmd.com/brain/tc/types-of-cerebral-palsy-topic-overview#2

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