The new Freeform sensation Speechless, directed by Scott Silveri, was released September 21, 2016. This humorous, but realistic, TV show demonstrates the challenges of having a disability and how it impresses the daily life of a family. Micah Fowler plays the main character, J.J, a teenager with cerebral palsy. The director could not have done a better job in picking J.J’s role player, because Micah Fowler himself has cerebral palsy. According to IMDB’s website, Micah Fowler was given the part J.J solely on audition videos. Never once had the director met with Micah before being cast as J.J. With the complications of having a congenital malformation, this show adequately displays the ability in having a disability.

Maya DiMeo, a wife and mother, is overprotective of her son, J.J that has been diagnosed with cerebral palsy his whole life. This causes J.J to be sheltered and not able to experience a normal teenager life. The mom will do anything to grant J.J the greatest treatment and best life a teenager with a disability could possibly have. On the other hand, his two younger siblings have to live under the shadow of hi m. while also being cheated out of a regular childhood. The dad is not the dominate figure in the household, therefore he follows his wife’s’ steps while providing for the younger siblings.

The setting began with the DiMeo family moving into a rundown house in a new neighborhood along with a new school. The house is a home that would appear on the TV show House Hunters. Although, the mom and dad insist that the house is unique in its own way and needs no repairing. This symbolizes the DiMeo family on point, because even though the appearance is not celebrity worthy, the family has their own way in making life meaningful. Mrs. DiMeo makes enemies with the school board the first day enrolling J.J. The principle and consular realized quickly that Mrs. DiMeo was controlling and will stop at nothing to have J.J experience being a high school student with limited restrictions. For example, the mom had the school build a ramp at the front of the school for J.J. This pilot introduces the hardships a family can encounter and the sacrifices each family has to make for each other.

Despite the dysfunctional family dynamics, this appears to be a family that truly loves one another and regardless of the effort, will always have each other’s back.  This is a feel good series that will make you laugh, cry and sometimes mad.  It is awesome that prime time TV is taking an interest in addressing some real life situations on sensitive topics.