Back to the trend of the day: RJ Mitte dies at 34
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Disabled Characters Played by Disabled Actors: 10 TV Shows

Across 350 scripted shows from 2016 to 2023, only 21% of disabled characters were played by actors with the same or a similar disability, and the two best-reviewed exceptions were made by deaf and disabled creators themselves.

  • No. 1: This Close
  • 10 places

01Final list

The leading AIs each built their own list of ten independently. Here is one result that is easy to check: every place has a reason, a source, and the list of AIs that included it.

Order: from most to least AI agreement.

A bright badge means this AI put the entry on its list. A dim badge means it did not.

  1. 1

    This Close

    Two deaf artists created, wrote and star in it. Critics called it smart and funny, a friendship story where deafness "isn't a twist".

    Included it: Claude, ChatGPT, DeepSeek. Did not include: Meta.

    In their lists: Claude: 1 · ChatGPT: 1 · DeepSeek: 4

    What each AI noted 3
    • Claudeplace 1

      The first series written, created by and starring deaf artists for a mainstream audience, and it earned a Peabody nomination.

      Source ↗
    • ChatGPTplace 1

      Two deaf creators made the show they wanted to see—and built a funny, adult story around two best friends.

      Source ↗
    • DeepSeekplace 4

      Deaf creators hired deaf people and made deafness ordinary, messy and romantic.

      Source ↗
    3 AIs put it here
    Source ↗
  2. 2

    Special (Netflix)

    Ryan O'Connell has cerebral palsy, and he created, wrote and stars as a gay man with CP. A reviewer with CP praised how rare a disabled lead is.

    Included it: Claude, ChatGPT, DeepSeek. Did not include: Meta.

    In their lists: Claude: 2 · ChatGPT: 6 · DeepSeek: 3

    What each AI noted 3
    • Claudeplace 2

      Ryan O'Connell wrote it, created it and stars in it as a gay man with cerebral palsy. Season 1 holds 96% on Rotten Tomatoes from 25 reviews.

      Source ↗
    • ChatGPTplace 6

      Its lead describes himself as “an accident victim” to get hired—and then starts rewriting the terms of his life.

      Source ↗
    • DeepSeekplace 3

      Eight episodes, one creator-star with CP, and no inspiration-porn ending.

      Source ↗
    3 AIs put it here
    Source ↗
  3. 3

    Speechless (ABC)

    Micah Fowler, who has cerebral palsy, plays JJ as a sarcastic teen. A disabled writer and community consultants worked on it, but sources disagree about how many disabled writers there were.

    Included it: Claude, ChatGPT, DeepSeek. Did not include: Meta.

    In their lists: Claude: 6 · ChatGPT: 2 · DeepSeek: 2

    What each AI noted 3
    • Claudeplace 6

      The first broadcast-network comedy to give a major recurring role to an actor with a disability, and its creator's brother has cerebral palsy.

      Source ↗
    • ChatGPTplace 2

      Its wheelchair-using teenager gets to be a sarcastic, complicated kid—and disability-savvy writers helped shape the jokes.

      Source ↗
    • DeepSeekplace 2

      A family sitcom where the wheelchair user is the centre, not the lesson.

      Source ↗
    3 AIs put it here
    Source ↗
  4. More about the top three ↓
  5. 4

    Everything's Gonna Be Okay (Freeform)

    Every autistic character is played by an autistic actor, led by Kayla Cromer as Matilda. TIME called her performance lived-in and said she is the show's heart.

    Included it: Claude, ChatGPT, DeepSeek. Did not include: Meta.

    In their lists: Claude: 3 · ChatGPT: 8 · DeepSeek: 6

    What each AI noted 3
    • Claudeplace 3

      When one autistic actress lost the lead to another, the creator wrote her a part too.

      Source ↗
    • ChatGPTplace 8

      Its autistic sibling is the family’s adventurous heart, not a diagnosis waiting to be explained.

      Source ↗
    • DeepSeekplace 6

      An autistic lead and an autistic consultant made the awkwardness feel like life, not a lesson.

    3 AIs put it here
    Source ↗
  6. 5

    Switched at Birth (ABC Family)

    It cast deaf actors in several deaf roles, aired TV's first all-ASL episode and won a Peabody. But Daphne's actor, Katie Leclerc, lost her hearing later in life than the character did.

    Included it: Claude, ChatGPT, DeepSeek. Did not include: Meta.

    In their lists: Claude: 5 · ChatGPT: 9 · DeepSeek: 1

    What each AI noted 3
    • Claudeplace 5

      It aired TV's first all-sign-language episode, with deaf actors in deaf roles and interpreters on set so they could talk with directors directly.

      Source ↗
    • ChatGPTplace 9

      It put ASL on a mainstream teen drama’s stage, but the deaf community’s casting debate never disappeared.

      Source ↗
    • DeepSeekplace 1

      The show that made ASL a prime-time language, not a Very Special Episode.

      Source ↗
    3 AIs put it here
    Source ↗
  7. 6

    Breaking Bad (Walter White Jr.)

    RJ Mitte had cerebral palsy, like Walt Jr., and won SAG-AFTRA's Harold Russell Award. Still, his is the show's only prominent disabled role, and no disabled writers are credited.

    Included it: Claude, ChatGPT, DeepSeek. Did not include: Meta.

    In their lists: Claude: 8 · ChatGPT: 3 · DeepSeek: 9

    What each AI noted 3
    • Claudeplace 8

      RJ Mitte has cerebral palsy like his character and later became an advocate; he died on 12 October 2026 at 34.

      Source ↗
    • ChatGPTplace 3

      Walt Jr.’s most important scene is a family confrontation, not a lesson about disability.

      Source ↗
    • DeepSeekplace 9

      Mitte's Walt Jr. was written with CP and played by an actor who had it — rare for 2008.

      Source ↗
    3 AIs put it here
    Source ↗
  8. 7

    Echo (Marvel, Disney+)

    Alaqua Cox is deaf and an amputee, like her character Maya Lopez, and deaf writers worked on the show. Critics have not reached a clear view of the deaf portrayal.

    Included it: Claude, DeepSeek. Did not include: ChatGPT, Meta.

    In their lists: Claude: 7 · DeepSeek: 5

    What each AI noted 2
    • Claudeplace 7

      Marvel's first Indigenous-led series stars a deaf Menominee actor who is also an amputee, directed by a Navajo filmmaker.

      Source ↗
    • DeepSeekplace 5

      Marvel's first deaf amputee lead came with deaf writers and an ASL master in the room.

      Source ↗
    2 AIs put it here
    Source ↗
  9. 8

    As We See It (Prime Video)

    Three autistic roommates are played by three autistic actors. NPR called it incisive, while other critics said the camera still favors their neurotypical aide.

    Included it: Claude, DeepSeek. Did not include: ChatGPT, Meta.

    In their lists: Claude: 4 · DeepSeek: 7

    What each AI noted 2
    • Claudeplace 4

      Three autistic roommates played by autistic actors, from the creator of Parenthood, whose own son is on the spectrum.

      Source ↗
    • DeepSeekplace 7

      Three autistic leads, but critics said the camera still belonged to the neurotypical coach.

      Source ↗
    2 AIs put it here
    Source ↗
  10. 9

    The Last of Us (HBO)

    The show made the game's Sam deaf, and deaf actor Keivonn Woodard became the first Black deaf actor nominated for an acting Emmy.

    Included it: ChatGPT. Did not include: Claude, Meta, DeepSeek.

    In their lists: ChatGPT: 5

    What each AI noted 1
    • ChatGPTplace 5

      A game character became a deaf Black boy on television—and earned a historic Emmy nomination.

      Source ↗
    1 AIs put it here
    Source ↗
  11. 10

    Ralph & Katie (UK)

    Both leads, newlyweds with Down syndrome, are played by actors with Down syndrome. The Guardian called it pure joy, and it won an RTS inclusive-practice award.

    Included it: ChatGPT. Did not include: Claude, Meta, DeepSeek.

    In their lists: ChatGPT: 4

    What each AI noted 1
    • ChatGPTplace 4

      The newlyweds get the sitcom spin-off: ordinary domestic hiccups are the engine, not an inspirational arc.

      Source ↗
    1 AIs put it here
    Source ↗

02More about the top three

The ranking is above. Here is more about the three places at the top: what they are, why they are here, and what is worth knowing.

The three are not measured the same way: two shows were made and led by disabled creators, while Speechless has a disabled lead actor but no disabled creator is named.

1This Close

No. 1 — This Close. On the lists of 3 of 4 AIs; median place there: 1. The AIs ranked it first because deaf creators wrote it and star in it, making deafness ordinary in a funny friendship story.

Did you know

  • The creators pitched the show to studios, and executives asked why the characters had to be deaf. They then made it themselves. Their pilot, funded through Kickstarter, cost $250 and premiered at Sundance in 2017.

    Source ↗
What it is
Comedy-drama about two deaf best friends, made by deaf artists.
Its edge
Deaf people worked on and in front of the camera, not just in the lead roles.
Who it suits
Suits viewers who like grown-up comedy and subtitles; less for those wanting a conventional sitcom.
  • Disabled roles, disabled creatorsCreated by two deaf artists

Wikipedia · Wikidata

Why it is here

  • About 25 deaf people worked in front of and behind the camera on season 1, extending the show’s deaf representation beyond its two deaf leads. [Source](https://laist.com/shows/the-frame/a-show-that-demands-close-listening)

    Source ↗

  • Season 2 grew from 6 to 8 episodes, giving its deaf-created series more room for its characters’ stories. [Source](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/tv/story/2019-09-11/this-close-sundance-shoshannah-stern-josh-feldman)

    Source ↗
History

  • In 2018, This Close made a rare leap from short online episodes to a full series: Sundance Now gave it its first straight-to-series order. Its earlier shorts had screened at Sundance in 2017. — AMC Networks

    Source ↗
Keep in mind

  • The New York Times critic found it more conventional than the best half-hour dramedies, with familiar relationship and family situations. Much of it is in sign language with subtitles, and it streamed on Sundance Now.

    Source ↗
Where to go further

  • Start with season 1. Watch how the show uses sign language, with subtitles, for everyday talk between two deaf best friends in Los Angeles. The page lists the cast, awards, and background on how the show began.

    Source ↗
Compare the top three ↓

2Special (Netflix)

No. 2 — Special (Netflix). On the lists of 3 of 4 AIs; median place there: 3. The AIs placed it second because Ryan O'Connell, who has cerebral palsy, created, wrote and stars in it as a gay man with CP.

Netflix headquarters
Coolcaesar at English Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons
ENTRENAMIENTO ONE PIECE (1)
Ferfive · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons

Did you know

  • Season 1 of Special was made of short episodes of about 15 minutes. In season 2 the episodes grew to half an hour. Netflix then ended the show after that second season.

    Source ↗ ✓ confirmed by several AIs
What it is
Short-episode comedy about a gay man with cerebral palsy, based on its star's life.
Its edge
One disabled person created, wrote and stars, so the story is told from the inside.
Who it suits
Suits viewers who want a personal, funny story; it ended after two seasons.
  • Disabled roles, disabled creatorsCreator with CP stars in it

Wikipedia · Wikidata

Why it is here

  • The second season shifted from 15-minute episodes to half-hour episodes, allowing more space for Ryan’s life beyond disability. [Source](https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2021/may/25/ryan-oconnell-i-was-born-into-an-able-ist-hellhole)

    Source ↗
What people say

  • I can’t wait to point to my billboard right now and say, ‘I’m just fine,’ — Ryan O'Connell, in TheWrap

    Source ↗

Video: Memory, Explained | FULL EPISODE | Vox + Netflix · Vox

Compare the top three ↓

3Speechless (ABC)

No. 3 — Speechless (ABC). On the lists of 3 of 4 AIs; median place there: 2. The AIs put it third because a disabled actor plays JJ, and it was the first network comedy with such a major role.

Did you know

  • Speechless premiered to 7.38 million viewers. The audience then shrank each season, and season 3 averaged 3.11 million. ABC cancelled the show in May 2019, after three seasons.

    Source ↗ ✓ confirmed by several AIs
What it is
Family sitcom about JJ, a sarcastic teen with cerebral palsy.
Its edge
It reached a broad network audience, with a disabled actor in a major recurring role.
Who it suits
Suits families wanting a mainstream comedy; less for those wanting a disabled creator's own voice.
  • Disabled roles, disabled creatorsLead actor has cerebral palsy

Wikipedia · Wikidata

Why it is here

  • Speechless was the first broadcast-network comedy to give an actor with a disability a major recurring role: Micah Fowler played JJ, who has cerebral palsy. [Source](https://www.televisionacademy.com/features/news/features/good-call)

    Source ↗

  • The series ran for 63 episodes over 3 seasons, following JJ as a teenager with cerebral palsy. [Source](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Speechless_episodes)

    Source ↗
Keep in mind

  • One viewer with cerebral palsy said JJ relies on an aide to speak for him, while modern speech devices could do that. The viewer felt the actor could do more than the role allows. This is one person's view.

    Source ↗

  • Plugged In gave a mixed review. It praised the show's insight but said it feels a lot like ABC's The Middle with wheelchair accessibility, and that some of its humor can be foul.

    Source ↗
What people say

  • This is earth shattering. — Louise Kinross, Holland Bloorview

    Source ↗
Where to go further

  • Start with the first episode of season 1 to meet JJ and the DiMeo family. The list shows all three seasons. It does not say where to stream now, so check that separately.

    Source ↗

Video: The birthplace of the alphabet in Ancient Egypt - BBC · BBC

Compare the top three ↓

The top three side by side

This CloseSpecial (Netflix)Speechless (ABC)
In the AIs' lists3 / 43 / 43 / 4
Disabled roles, disabled creatorsCreated by two deaf artistsCreator with CP stars in itLead actor has cerebral palsy
Put first byClaude, ChatGPT——

Places with the same number of AIs are ordered by their average place in the AIs' own lists.

More ratings

03Worth knowing

What the AIs noticed while building the list.

Disabled characters made up only 3.9% of characters in 350 scripted shows from 2016 to 2023, and 21% of them were played by actors with a similar disability.

Noticed by:
Included it: Claude, ChatGPT, DeepSeek. Did not include: Meta.
Source ↗

The share of disabled roles going to non-disabled actors is quoted as 95% (2016, 2021), 80% (2019) and 79% (2025). These figures cover different years and use different definitions.

Noticed by:
Included it: Claude, DeepSeek. Did not include: ChatGPT, Meta.
Source ↗

The yearly authentic-casting rate swung from 33.3% in 2016 to 9.4% in 2018, because yearly samples are small.

Noticed by:
Included it: DeepSeek. Did not include: Claude, ChatGPT, Meta.
Source ↗

Disability stories are mostly on film: only about 16% of disability-themed titles were regular series. Sources put the film share at 65% to nearly 70%.

Noticed by:
Included it: Claude, ChatGPT, DeepSeek. Did not include: Meta.
Source ↗

Atypical, left off this list, was criticized for casting a non-autistic lead. Season 2 added 8 autistic actors and an autistic consultant.

Noticed by:
Included it: Claude, DeepSeek. Did not include: ChatGPT, Meta.
Source ↗

04Questions people ask

Should disabled actors play disabled characters?

Most disability advocates say disabled actors should be considered first when a role calls for a disability. In 2016–2023, only 21% of disabled TV characters were played by actors with the same or a similar disability.

Source ↗
Should non-disabled actors play disabled characters?

Critics call it "cripping up" when it takes scarce roles from disabled performers. RespectAbility estimated that about 95% of disability roles went to non-disabled talent in 2021.

Source ↗
How many disabled characters are played by disabled actors?

About one in five: 21% across 350 scripted series from 2016 to 2023. Disabled characters were just 3.9% of all characters.

Source ↗
Why do studies give 95%, 80% or 79% for non-disabled actors in disabled roles?

They cover different years and definitions: all disability roles in 2016, an op-ed estimate in 2019, and same-or-similar casting of characters in the 2025 study.

Source ↗

05How we counted

In plain words, no formulas.

1The question

Top 10 TV Series Where Disabled Characters Are Played by Disabled Actors

2Why this topic

The reader gets casting data, who wrote the show and how disabled viewers responded, all in one list. Each published report covers only one of these.

3Where it applies

English-language scripted TV and streaming, worldwide

4What we looked at

  • Share of the show's disabled characters played by actors with the same or a similar disability
  • Whether disabled writers or consultants worked on the series
  • How critics and audiences received the disabled characters' storylines
  • Whether the character has a full life and story beyond the disability
  • Ruderman Family Foundation and Geena Davis Institute, scripted TV 2016–2023 — Disabled characters across 350 scripted series and the share played by actors with the same or a similar disability (21%);
  • UCLA Hollywood Diversity Report: Streaming Television in 2024 — Share of lead actors in top streaming scripted shows with a known disability (14.4%). It counts performers, not whether they play disabl
  • Nielsen and RespectAbility, Visibility of Disability (2021) — About 3,000 disability-themed titles out of more than 90,000; about 16% were regular series. It also covers how disabled viewers judge por
  • Rotten Tomatoes — Critic and audience scores for each season, used to check reception. They do not measure whether a portrayal is authentic.

5Who ranked

The leading AIs, each building its own list of ten independently and naming a source for every place: Claude, ChatGPT, Meta, DeepSeek.

6How the places were set

The same entry written differently by different AIs was counted as one. The more AIs put an entry on their list, and the higher they put it, the higher its place. "AI agreement" shows how many of the AIs had it on their own list. Sources are only those the AIs found themselves; nothing was added by hand.

06Each AI's own list

🇺🇸 Claude10 places · 4 notes

The same question, answered by Claude alone. The final list above combines all the AIs.

  1. 1
    This Close (2018–2019, Sundance Now)

    The first series written, created by and starring deaf artists for a mainstream audience, and it earned a Peabody nomination.

    Source ↗
  2. 2
    Special (Netflix, 2019–2021)

    Ryan O'Connell wrote it, created it and stars in it as a gay man with cerebral palsy. Season 1 holds 96% on Rotten Tomatoes from 25 reviews.

    Source ↗
  3. 3
    Everything's Gonna Be Okay (Freeform, 2020–2021)

    When one autistic actress lost the lead to another, the creator wrote her a part too.

    Source ↗
  4. 4
    As We See It (Amazon Prime Video, 2022)

    Three autistic roommates played by autistic actors, from the creator of Parenthood, whose own son is on the spectrum.

    Source ↗
  5. 5
    Switched at Birth (ABC Family, 2011–2017)

    It aired TV's first all-sign-language episode, with deaf actors in deaf roles and interpreters on set so they could talk with directors directly.

    Source ↗
  6. 6
    Speechless (ABC, 2016–2019)

    The first broadcast-network comedy to give a major recurring role to an actor with a disability, and its creator's brother has cerebral palsy.

    Source ↗
  7. 7
    Echo (Marvel/Disney+, 2024)

    Marvel's first Indigenous-led series stars a deaf Menominee actor who is also an amputee, directed by a Navajo filmmaker.

    Source ↗
  8. 8
    Breaking Bad (AMC, 2008–2013), Walter White Jr.

    RJ Mitte has cerebral palsy like his character and later became an advocate; he died on 12 October 2026 at 34.

    Source ↗
  9. 9
    Game of Thrones (HBO, 2011–2019), Tyrion Lannister

    Tyrion broke the pattern of little people as novelty roles, yet Peter Dinklage still says Hollywood needs more dwarf women and people of color on screen.

    Source ↗
  10. 10
    Atypical (Netflix, 2017–2021)

    Popular, but critics and autistic commenters faulted its non-autistic lead, no autistic writers and a consultant as the main on-set autism input.

    Source ↗

What Claude noticed

Disabled characters were only 3.9% of characters across 350 scripted shows (2016–2023), and only 21% of them were played by actors with a similar condition.

Source ↗

Most disability stories are on film, not series. Of about 3,000 titles with significant disability themes, only about 16% came from regular series.

Source ↗

The TV pattern repeats on the page: shows made by disabled creators (This Close, Special) tend to get the warmest reviews, while the list's lowest entry, Atypical, drew the sharpest criticism for having no autistic writers.

Source ↗

RJ Mitte's death on 12 October 2026 revived the question of how long a disabled actor from Breaking Bad could stay on screen; he was also an advocate and founded The Mitte Foundation, which offered grants and scholarships.

Source ↗
🇺🇸 ChatGPT10 places · 4 notes

The same question, answered by ChatGPT alone. The final list above combines all the AIs.

  1. 1
    This Close (2018, United States)

    Two deaf creators made the show they wanted to see—and built a funny, adult story around two best friends.

    Source ↗
  2. 2
    Speechless (2016–2019, United States)

    Its wheelchair-using teenager gets to be a sarcastic, complicated kid—and disability-savvy writers helped shape the jokes.

    Source ↗
  3. 3
    Breaking Bad (2008–2013, United States)

    Walt Jr.’s most important scene is a family confrontation, not a lesson about disability.

    Source ↗
  4. 4
    Ralph & Katie (2022, United Kingdom)

    The newlyweds get the sitcom spin-off: ordinary domestic hiccups are the engine, not an inspirational arc.

    Source ↗
  5. 5
    The Last of Us (2023–, United States)

    A game character became a deaf Black boy on television—and earned a historic Emmy nomination.

    Source ↗
  6. 6
    Special (2019–2021, United States)

    Its lead describes himself as “an accident victim” to get hired—and then starts rewriting the terms of his life.

    Source ↗
  7. 7
    Sex Education (2019–2023, United Kingdom)

    Isaac calls out a school that can afford a meditation room but not a working elevator.

    Source ↗
  8. 8
    Everything’s Gonna Be Okay (2020–2021, United States)

    Its autistic sibling is the family’s adventurous heart, not a diagnosis waiting to be explained.

    Source ↗
  9. 9
    Switched at Birth (2011–2017, United States)

    It put ASL on a mainstream teen drama’s stage, but the deaf community’s casting debate never disappeared.

    Source ↗
  10. 10
    Hollyoaks (1995–, United Kingdom)

    A soap regular with dwarfism gets plots about work, relationships and family, not just visibility.

What ChatGPT noticed

The Ruderman–Geena Davis study’s 21% figure is a share of disabled characters authentically cast across its sample, not a score for any one show.

Source ↗

Nielsen found that nearly 70% of disability-inclusive titles it examined were films, while TV series made up about 16%.

Source ↗

RJ Mitte’s death at 34 was reported by the Associated Press on October 12, 2026; this ranking concerns representation and does not rank people or deaths.

Source ↗

A character can be authentically cast and still face a contested portrayal: Switched at Birth’s deaf ensemble was praised, while Daphne’s specific casting and signing choices drew criticism.

Source ↗
🇨🇳 DeepSeek10 places · 4 notes

The same question, answered by DeepSeek alone. The final list above combines all the AIs.

  1. 1
    Switched at Birth (2011–2017)

    The show that made ASL a prime-time language, not a Very Special Episode.

    Source ↗
  2. 2
    Speechless (2016–2019)

    A family sitcom where the wheelchair user is the centre, not the lesson.

    Source ↗
  3. 3
    Special (2019–2021)

    Eight episodes, one creator-star with CP, and no inspiration-porn ending.

    Source ↗
  4. 4
    This Close (2018–2019)

    Deaf creators hired deaf people and made deafness ordinary, messy and romantic.

    Source ↗
  5. 5
    Echo (2024)

    Marvel's first deaf amputee lead came with deaf writers and an ASL master in the room.

    Source ↗
  6. 6
    Everything's Gonna Be Okay (2020–2021)

    An autistic lead and an autistic consultant made the awkwardness feel like life, not a lesson.

  7. 7
    As We See It (2022)

    Three autistic leads, but critics said the camera still belonged to the neurotypical coach.

    Source ↗
  8. 8
    This Is Us (2016–2022)

    One blind actor turned a time-hopping family drama into a blind musician's full life.

    Source ↗
  9. 9
    Breaking Bad (2008–2013)

    Mitte's Walt Jr. was written with CP and played by an actor who had it — rare for 2008.

    Source ↗
  10. 10
    Atypical (2017–2021)

    Eight autistic actors in season two could not fully make up for a neurotypical Sam.

    Source ↗

What DeepSeek noticed

Only 21% of disabled characters on scripted TV from 2016 to 2023 were played by actors with the same or a similar disability — nearly four in five were not.

Source ↗

Disabled characters were just 3.9% of all characters across 350 shows, even though nearly 30% of the U.S. population identifies as disabled.

Source ↗

Disabled viewers were 8% more likely than non-disabled viewers to say TV portrayals of disability are inaccurate.

Source ↗

RespectAbility estimated that about 95% of available disability roles were still going to performers without disabilities in 2021.

Source ↗