Artist Gives Disney Princesses Disabilities And Disorders To Advocate An Important Message
There is no doubt that Disney princesses have and always will be a great source of inspiration for artists. However, this time they are not the main characters of the story.
The series called “Royal Service Dogs” illustrates classical Disney princesses as individuals with disabilities being helped by service dogs. Arien Smith sees his art as “both a critique on the lack of disabled characters and advocacy for disability rights.”
He is also a self-identified advocate, trainer, writer, and mental health activist and wants to be able to raise awareness of the many ways that service dogs can support disabled handlers.
Scroll down the page and see what a wonderful project this is.
More info: Facebook
Cinderella
Cinderella lives with fibromyalgia, which is an invisible condition but can be disabling for many people. Your service dog help her out by removing her shoes.
Rapunzel
Here the image represents Complex PTSD and Dissociative Identity Disorder. C-PTSD is a type of response to prolonged trauma (frequently in childhood). Service dog is helping her out of a very strong dissociative state, then providing tactile stimulation for comfort and grounding.
Tiana
Tiana has Autism. Her little service dog (small dogs are also great) is not performing a task in this figure, but tasks for autistic people may include tactile stimulation, disruption of physically harmful behavior, orientation during over-stimulation episodes, and anxiety calming.
Belle
Belle has Generalized Anxiety Disorder. Her service dog is demonstrating a blocking stance so she can be alerted if someone approaches her behind.
Snow White
Snow White is allergic to some foods (the artist made reference to mace). Her service dog alert to an allergen in her food.
Sleeping Beauty
Sleeping Beauty with Narcolepsy. Your service dog is holding his head after an episode of daytime drowsiness. Narcolepsy is a neurological condition that affects sleep and arousal.
Pocahontas
Pocahontas has diabetes. Her service dog is a medical alert dog, which tells her through pawing or nudging if her blood sugar is too high or too low.
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Share on FacebookI like that you couldn't tell their disability just by looking at the pictures - reminds people that not all disabilities are visible.
I'm so glad you like my project! The intention is for them to be invisible disabilities. :)
Load More Replies...I thought that your profile picture was a dog hair on my computer screen
Load More Replies...I like that the artist did (mostly) invisible disabilities but they could have also included ones more visible to get the point across to more people.
I really like this. I have an invisible disability, and you wouldn’t believe the ignorant comments I get when out with my service dog. My dog has saved my life, she’s truly and angel. I just wish being out with her didn’t make me have to deal with explaining her, myself or why I have her. People with disabilities and service dogs just want to be out and living their best life like anyone else, without having to talk to people who think we’re there to satisfy their curiosity. Like sorry, I’m not a goddamn spokesperson for service dogs I just want to mind my own business.
Wow, I would consider it so rude for someone to ask why another person has a service dog!
Load More Replies...seal? they are calling them sea dogs sometimes, right? :)
Load More Replies...Having fibromyalgia is like that. I have a dog that cuddles with pressure and warmth when needed and a husband that takes off my shoes.
I also have fibromyalgia along with a hypothyroid and the combination leaves me wiped! My dog does seem to sense when I'm having a really bad day and stays close by. Can't imagine life without him, he cheers me up on my worst days.
Load More Replies...I have fibromyalgia, hypothyroid and diabetes and my dog makes ME take him out. Lol.
Can we as readers influence boredpanda enough to put a moratorium on Disney Princesses?
There is a difference between a food "sensitivity" and a food allergy. One is an inconvenience the other is deadly. If it can kill you I would say it's pretty significant. Panic attacks can be 100% debilitating, and being in a PTSD induced dissociative state is not only debilitating it can be dangerous. Mental disabilities or discredited on a regular basis, and it's a major problem in our society
Food sensitivity can be life altering. I've had it for years to very common foods and pretty much stopped leaving my house, stopped traveling, stopped visiting people because I never knew when a bout of severe stomach cramps or diarrhea would hit me. I didn't even know I had the sensitivities until I got tested and I'm sensitive to the most mundane things. But don't write it off because it's not life threatening, it's not a contest.
Load More Replies...Doesn't Belle suffer from Stockholm syndrom? Guess an attack dog would have helped her. I'm kidding but I found really great to show how disabilities can be more complex than what we can see. Dig a little deeper to understand people
Seeing Autism up there made my day. So few people realize what it is. As an aspie my self I thank you.
Hi everyone! I'm the artist here, Arien. If you like my work and service dogs, I'd love if you support my charitable project designing a dog-themed tarot deck! It's live on Kickstarter right now: http://kck.st/2OA0zi4 :)
I love this! I like that this shows that not everyone is perfect! IT is beautiful!
Seems like the little mermaid would be the better poster child for fibromyalgia. Then again, I suppose that only makes sense for somebody who's giving a shout out to the real, non-Disney version of the story where she got legs at the cost of feeling like she's walking on knives.
maybe identity dissorder since she was obsessed with hbeing human but not sure if she would need a service dog for that
Load More Replies...It's amazing that service animals can sense things like blood sugar--what a tremendous help
As someone living with both Epilepsy and Anxiety, I can’t tell you how thoughtful this masterpiece was to look at. (I DEFINITELY relate to Belle.)
I really like this because it is a great way to show how disabilities affect different people.
This is genius. But I know of no pug who would turn to you when there is a plate of food at pug level. I'm just putting it out there, don't hate me for speaking from experience.
I really appreciate that you included narcolepsy. It is not often recognized and like many invisible disabilities often misunderstood. I never thought of narcolepsy as one in which a service dog would be helpful, but now that you show I realize many cases in which having one would greatly help.Although mine is not severe enough to need a service dog, I have read many cases in the time I was researching narcolepsy where it was severe enough and when you add on cataplexy it makes even more sense to have a service dog around. So thank you for your art and the messages it relays.
It’s “people with autism” NOT “autistic people”. Learn how to use person-first language. Autism disorder does not define a person. The disorder just happens to be a part of a person’s life.
As someone autistic, and the artist of this project, most autistic people prefer identity first language. Anyone can use what they want, but unless your autistic yourself, it's important to accept either version.
Load More Replies...These are all serious and life altering conditions and are legitimate disabilities. Please get your ableism away from my artwork.
Load More Replies...Some of those allergies can put you in the hospital, maybe kill you. So, yeah, I'd call that something of a disability.
Load More Replies...I like that you couldn't tell their disability just by looking at the pictures - reminds people that not all disabilities are visible.
I'm so glad you like my project! The intention is for them to be invisible disabilities. :)
Load More Replies...I thought that your profile picture was a dog hair on my computer screen
Load More Replies...I like that the artist did (mostly) invisible disabilities but they could have also included ones more visible to get the point across to more people.
I really like this. I have an invisible disability, and you wouldn’t believe the ignorant comments I get when out with my service dog. My dog has saved my life, she’s truly and angel. I just wish being out with her didn’t make me have to deal with explaining her, myself or why I have her. People with disabilities and service dogs just want to be out and living their best life like anyone else, without having to talk to people who think we’re there to satisfy their curiosity. Like sorry, I’m not a goddamn spokesperson for service dogs I just want to mind my own business.
Wow, I would consider it so rude for someone to ask why another person has a service dog!
Load More Replies...seal? they are calling them sea dogs sometimes, right? :)
Load More Replies...Having fibromyalgia is like that. I have a dog that cuddles with pressure and warmth when needed and a husband that takes off my shoes.
I also have fibromyalgia along with a hypothyroid and the combination leaves me wiped! My dog does seem to sense when I'm having a really bad day and stays close by. Can't imagine life without him, he cheers me up on my worst days.
Load More Replies...I have fibromyalgia, hypothyroid and diabetes and my dog makes ME take him out. Lol.
Can we as readers influence boredpanda enough to put a moratorium on Disney Princesses?
There is a difference between a food "sensitivity" and a food allergy. One is an inconvenience the other is deadly. If it can kill you I would say it's pretty significant. Panic attacks can be 100% debilitating, and being in a PTSD induced dissociative state is not only debilitating it can be dangerous. Mental disabilities or discredited on a regular basis, and it's a major problem in our society
Food sensitivity can be life altering. I've had it for years to very common foods and pretty much stopped leaving my house, stopped traveling, stopped visiting people because I never knew when a bout of severe stomach cramps or diarrhea would hit me. I didn't even know I had the sensitivities until I got tested and I'm sensitive to the most mundane things. But don't write it off because it's not life threatening, it's not a contest.
Load More Replies...Doesn't Belle suffer from Stockholm syndrom? Guess an attack dog would have helped her. I'm kidding but I found really great to show how disabilities can be more complex than what we can see. Dig a little deeper to understand people
Seeing Autism up there made my day. So few people realize what it is. As an aspie my self I thank you.
Hi everyone! I'm the artist here, Arien. If you like my work and service dogs, I'd love if you support my charitable project designing a dog-themed tarot deck! It's live on Kickstarter right now: http://kck.st/2OA0zi4 :)
I love this! I like that this shows that not everyone is perfect! IT is beautiful!
Seems like the little mermaid would be the better poster child for fibromyalgia. Then again, I suppose that only makes sense for somebody who's giving a shout out to the real, non-Disney version of the story where she got legs at the cost of feeling like she's walking on knives.
maybe identity dissorder since she was obsessed with hbeing human but not sure if she would need a service dog for that
Load More Replies...It's amazing that service animals can sense things like blood sugar--what a tremendous help
As someone living with both Epilepsy and Anxiety, I can’t tell you how thoughtful this masterpiece was to look at. (I DEFINITELY relate to Belle.)
I really like this because it is a great way to show how disabilities affect different people.
This is genius. But I know of no pug who would turn to you when there is a plate of food at pug level. I'm just putting it out there, don't hate me for speaking from experience.
I really appreciate that you included narcolepsy. It is not often recognized and like many invisible disabilities often misunderstood. I never thought of narcolepsy as one in which a service dog would be helpful, but now that you show I realize many cases in which having one would greatly help.Although mine is not severe enough to need a service dog, I have read many cases in the time I was researching narcolepsy where it was severe enough and when you add on cataplexy it makes even more sense to have a service dog around. So thank you for your art and the messages it relays.
It’s “people with autism” NOT “autistic people”. Learn how to use person-first language. Autism disorder does not define a person. The disorder just happens to be a part of a person’s life.
As someone autistic, and the artist of this project, most autistic people prefer identity first language. Anyone can use what they want, but unless your autistic yourself, it's important to accept either version.
Load More Replies...These are all serious and life altering conditions and are legitimate disabilities. Please get your ableism away from my artwork.
Load More Replies...Some of those allergies can put you in the hospital, maybe kill you. So, yeah, I'd call that something of a disability.
Load More Replies...
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