Fanfiction has been at the centre of the development of fan studies since Henry Jenkins’ Textual Poachers (1992) and Nancy Baym’s work on online soap opera fan communities (1993); their texts examined fans as self-reflexive producers and critical consumers, and as participants in reciprocal and emotive community-building practices.  In recent years, fan-led projects such as those supported and initiated by the Organization for Transformative Works (Archive Of Our Own, fanlore, Open Doors, and their work on fan legal advocacy) have further encouraged the development of fan scholarship and the conservation and perpetuation of fan cultures. However, disability and accessibility have not been explored in either academic or fan scholarship as crucial aspects of fanfiction practices, and disabled fans and fanfiction writers have not been included as significant contributors to online fanfiction communities.

Yet, disability and fanfiction are in a complicated relationship with one another. Fanfiction loves its disabled…