Disability rights advocates call the viral reaction to Kodi Lee's America's Got Talent performance "inspiration porn"

HuffPost

The Center for Disability Rights says last week's Twitter and media reaction to Lee, who is blind and autistic, is a "perfect example" of how many media outlets use the unfortunate stereotype of disability being a “tragedy” to create “an inspiring story of overcoming.” The nonprofit says "inspiration porn" is when “people with disabilities are portrayed as ‘inspirational’ for doing the same things as everyone else.” The original YouTube video featuring Lee was originally titled, “Kodi Lee Defeats Autism and Blindness With Music," implying that his disabilities are burdens that need to be overcome. "Kodi Lee’s disabilities are as much a part of his identity as one’s heritage or culture," says the Center for Disability Rights. "While we agree that Kodi Lee is incredibly talented with his voice and piano skills, we want to be clear that one can be both talented and disabled. By trying to inspire others by showing how Kodi Lee undergoes mundane tasks such as sitting down at the piano, we are only further marginalizing people with disabilities.”