Originally posted by Perrryyy
Good question. I gave up on this thread from a disability stanpoint, mainly because IMO, the major disabilities have been done.
/me tosses science officer back into the pool.
Speaking of pools ... way out left-field here, but what about a CGI/prosthetic dolphin as a character, with some sort of vocoder tech to allow speech? It would allow the show to address mobility/"accessibility" issues, assuming that the character normally wears a CG harness and 'wet-suit' uniform with built-in waldoes. It would also broaden the scope of the show a little (maybe more exploration of water-worlds, zero-G environments, etc). And there'd be lots of scope for subtle dolphin humour of 'dumb humans'.
BTW, for those who don't have access to the Star Trek TNG Technical Manual, the plans for the Enterprise includes a tank for dolphin navigators, so it's canon if that's important to you.
I suppose the resemblence to Seaquest DSV might put some people off, but I think it'd be different enough to work - think the dolphin crews in David Brin's Uplift books .
“Maintain the mystery, and don't try to think unthinkabilities...”
Iain M Banks, 2003, on the Art of writing good SF.