Disney's new Out of My Mind is adapted from Sharon M. Draper's novel of the same name. The movie is about a 12-year-old named Melody Brooks (played by Phoebe Rae Taylor) who has cerebral palsy and is trying to navigate her inner voice.
Like the main character, Melody, I have had cerebral palsy since I was 18 months old. I'll tell you later what Melody and I have in common. Okay, let's follow Melody's journey (note: please do not read for spoilers).
Despite enrolling in a special education school, Chuck and Diane Brooks (played by Luke Kirby and Rosemarie Dewitt respectively) are convinced by Dr. Kathrine Ray (played by Courtney Taylor) - who is a PhD candidate and a regular visitor to the school, to enroll Melody to a different school - to be with students at a regular middle school.
At first, Chuck refuses to enroll Melody in a regular middle school but after some convincing from his spouse - Diane, he decides to give it a shot. Melody gets to experience the life of a regular middle school student weekly and she is placed in Mr. Dimming's (played by Michael Chernus) History class, The question he asks before the class starts is - Why do we need to study the past? The answer is to prepare for the future.
Melody's new classmates give her some weird looks because they have not seen a classmate and student with disability join their class but she proves she can just be like everyone else. She even got a question right on her first day! After class, she befriends a classmate named Rose Spencer (played by Maria Nash), Melody starts to feel like a regular 12-year-old, hanging out at malls with friends.
Here comes the challenging parts, be prepared! Melody and Rose's first hangout is at a space fair but when Rose sees her friends from school, Melody is left behind. Chuck told Rose to include Melody in the activities and not to leave her alone. Melody, on the other hand, wants an assistive talking device after watching a short clip of the late Stephen Hawking, who also used the device throughout his life. And again, her parents considered the device to be "too expensive" to them.
After that with Dr. Katherine Ray’s help, Melody got her assistive talking device on track and it brings the family closer! They can understand what Melody wants to express. Another challenge that Melody has to face is her friends. Let’s just say not everyone is accepting our habits and behaviour. Due to cerebral palsy, Melody has challenges to control her motor skills.
Besides that, she also faces some indirect discrimination. Mr. Dimming refuses to grade her test even though she scores a full marks on it. Due to the last-minute notice, she misses her flight to Washington DC for a national competition, she feels left out and by expressing her anger - pouring milkshake on to the assistive talking device.
Lastly, parents should listen to their children. Diane accidentally knocks over Penny on the driveway even Melody tries to warn her that the younger sibling is behind while reversing the car. I’m 27, sometimes my parents don’t understand me as a person. I don’t even have a chance to speak even though I can talk like everyone else.
As a person with cerebral palsy, I do get cut off in mid conversation when I’m with the folks, I got cyber bullied when I was 13 and more indirect discrimination. These challenges do not define less of a person with disability, I still can do the things like people of my age. I just want everyone to be treated with equality and respect, more importantly spreading kindness (and not out of sympathy).
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| I was diagnosed with cerebral palsy at 18 months old. This is me chilling at Jyuan Cafe in Ipoh, Perak. |
People with disabilities are not inspirations, they leave an impact to the world to make a difference.
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I just want to leave an impact on the world.
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You can catch Out of My Mind on Disney Plus, watch the trailer here.
“Maybe I’m not so different from everyone else after all” - Melody Brooks.
Note: The above write-up is entirely my opinion and review of the movie.
