Stop Calling Us Brave: The Problem with Inspiration Porn

At a college gym in Washington State, a poster shows an amputee lifting weights under the caption: “NO EXCUSES.” To many, it’s motivational. To disabled students like CM Wright, it’s a daily reminder that their bodies are being used to inspire others without their consent or context.

This is inspiration porn. Media that portrays disabled people as heroic just for existing. Coined by activist Stella Young, the term calls out feel-good stories that cater to nondisabled emotions while dismissing disabled voices.

It’s not always obvious. It shows up in viral videos, sentimental captions, and compliments like “You’re so brave.” These narratives may seem uplifting, but they reinforce stereotypes, ignore real barriers, and turn disabled lives into motivational props.

How to Spot It

Look for these common red flags:

Objectification of disabled people. The story focuses on how others feel inspired, rather than the disabled person’s actual experience or agency.

Lack of context or nuance. The person’s achievements are framed as extraordinary because of their disability, not because of their skill, effort, or goals.

Emotional manipulation. The content is designed to evoke pity or admiration, often using dramatic music, slow-motion footage, or sentimental narration.

Absence of systemic critique. It ignores barriers like ableism, lack of access, or policy failures, instead spotlighting individual “triumph.”

Why It's Harmful

It reinforces stereotypes that disabled lives are inherently tragic or lesser. Inspiration porn often paints disability as something to “overcome,” implying that disabled people are broken or burdened by default. This narrative erases the diversity, joy, and agency within disabled communities and reduces complex lives to simplistic pity or admiration.

It shifts focus away from advocacy, access, and equity. Feel-good stories rarely mention the real barriers disabled people face: inaccessible spaces, lack of interpreters, systemic ableism. Instead of prompting action, they spotlight individual “triumphs,” ignoring the need for collective change and policy reform.

It makes nondisabled audiences feel good without prompting real change. These stories are designed to comfort and uplift nondisabled viewers, not challenge them. They offer emotional payoff without accountability, letting audiences walk away inspired, but uninformed and inactive.

What to Share Instead

Center disabled voices, not reactions to them. Tell stories that highlight disabled people’s goals, creativity, and leadership, not just how others feel about them. Let disabled individuals define their own narratives, and make space for complexity, humor, and joy.

Focus on access, not admiration. Instead of spotlighting “overcoming,” show what access looks like in action: ramps, interpreters, captioning, inclusive design. These are the real wins—and they benefit everyone.

Celebrate community, not spectacle. Uplifting stories don’t need pity or drama. Share moments of disabled pride, culture, and connection. Whether it’s Deaf artists, disabled athletes, or everyday advocates, choose stories that reflect lived experience, not just emotional impact.

Before You Post...Ask Yourself

Before sharing that post or video, ask yourself:

Who is this story really for? Is it centering disabled voices—or just making nondisabled audiences feel inspired?

Does it highlight access or just “overcoming”? Are you showing what made the achievement possible (interpreters, ramps, support)—or framing it as a solo triumph?

Would this be empowering if the subject saw it? Does it respect their agency, or reduce them to a symbol?

Are you sharing complexity or just emotion? Does the story include context, barriers, and real advocacy—or just tug at heartstrings?

Is it performative or transformative? Will this post lead to deeper understanding, action, or change or just a fleeting “like”?

Moving Beyond the Spectacle

Disability isn't a problem to be solved or a tragedy to be pitied. It’s a natural part of human diversity, and the lives of disabled people are as rich, varied, and ordinary as anyone else’s.

By challenging inspiration porn, we're not just changing the stories we share, we're changing the world we live in. We are creating a culture where a disabled person at the gym is just a person at the gym, and their hard work is celebrated for what it is: a human pursuit, not a heroic spectacle.

Let's make space for real stories, real people, and real change.