2024 marked the year that “Wicked,” a film with an actual disabled actor, was watched by millions of people, generating much anticipation that disabled people are finally beginning to be included in the mainstream. 2025 looks to be just as monumental for disabled people, especially those who are independently wealthy and don’t require any form of government healthcare or resources.
In fact, movie representation pales in comparison to one real-life member of the disabled community who overcame the odds to become one of the most powerful people in the entire world, and who apparently is running the United States government. Elon Musk’s ruthless ability to use his autism as his superpower has made him the most recognizable member of the disabled community, and with him pulling the strings, 2025 will most definitely be the best year ever for disabled people.
Musk’s creation and running of DOGE is great. After all, a disabled person is running it and he’s going to look after his own. Except, obviously, for disabled people who use services from Medicaid. Or SSI. Or SSDI. Or CDPAP. Or HUD. Or DOT. Or DOE. Or NPS. Or a whole host of other government departments they use but don’t know the acronyms for or simply refer to them as things like “the library.” The truth is, Musk looking after his own may be more about him protecting his investors, and not his autistic buddies watching “Sonic the Hedgehog 3” YouTube analysis on their phone while they wait for six hours in the emergency room.
Ultimately if you’re into federally contracted privately owned rocket ships, or saving a few percentage points on an unfathomably large government budget, this is the year for you! And if you’re just a movie fan who is excited for more disability representation after “Wicked” and “Sonic,” you can look forward to “The Unbreakable Boy,” a very real film releasing in February where an autistic child and his father use “faith and incredible spirit to … become unbreakable as they find joy, gratitude and courage in the most trying times.”