This summer Disney and Pixar finally released the sequel to their 2003 animated classic Finding Nemo. The sequel tells the story of Nemo’s lovable friend Dory, a blue tang fish who just so happens to suffer from short-term memory loss. In the first movie we are introduced to Dory through Nemo’s father Marlin who is swimming the open ocean to find his son. Dory who doesn’t seem to have a family of her own (or so it appears) decides to tag along. The two end up on an epic adventure and eventually Marlin and Dory are able to find Nemo with the help of a few friends along the way.
In this second movie we learn about Dory’s past and how she got separated from her parents before she ever met Marlin. We learn about the history of her illness and how she coped as a little kid. Most importantly, Dory teaches us about the positive side of managing a disability. Here are 3 lessons about disability that we can all learn from Dory.
Dory knows that being different is actually a good thing. She has had to learn how to cope with her illness and make the most of her unique situation. Dory teaches us that disability does not mean inability and that with disability comes profound knowledge and skill. She might suffer from memory loss but she also has an incredible gift. Dory is able to make a friend wherever she goes and she is able to see the best in everyone.
Dory teaches us that persistence above all else is key. When the going gets rough, “what do we do? We just keep swimming.” When Dory gets lost or forgets what she is doing, she doesn’t freak out and lose control. She keeps on swimming until she finds her way.
In the first film we met several characters who faced challenges not too different from Dory’s. We met Nemo, a clown fish with a defective fin and a shark named Bruce who can’t control his cravings for fish. We met a crustacean who is a compulsive cleaner and a fish named Flo who thinks her reflection is her sister. In Finding Dory we meet a whole new host of characters that almost make Dory seem normal in comparison. We meet a seven-legged octopus named Hank and a nearsighted whale named Destiny. Through these characters, Dory learns that everyone has their own unique se
