Jeff Mouse
After hearing how excited Samuel Krauss was for people to meet Jeff Mouse, I went into this episode of Donkey Hodie with high expectations. Donkey Hodie is an Emmy®-winning puppet series inspired by the funny, quirky side of Fred Rogers produced by Fred Rogers Productions and Spiffy Pictures for PBS KIDS. Knowing that Krauss, an alumnus of the 2022 Disability Belongs™ Entertainment Lab and the 2023 National Leadership Program, consulted on the episode gave me a lot of hope for the quality of disability representation, and I was not disappointed.
In this preschool series inspired by characters created by Fred Rogers, Donkey Hodie and her friends Bob Dog, Purple Panda, and Duck Duck empower kids to dream big and overcome obstacles in their own lives.
The show is introducing a new character – Jeff Mouse – in a new episode called “Hee-Hee Hider Seekers.” Jeff Mouse is an intrepid explorer and avid nature lover. He was born with congenital muscular dystrophy. Jeff is named in honor of Jeff Erlanger, a young guest who appeared on Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood in 1981. In this episode, Jeff and Purple Panda both use accessibility tools to help them on their adventure. Jeff’s grabber and binoculars and Panda’s telescope are all shown as just part of how the characters experience the world. For young viewers, seeing such tools framed as everyday supports destigmatizes them and builds early disability awareness, acceptance, and advocacy.
Jeff is an endearing character. When Donkey and Panda greet him, they are excited to go on an adventure together, and he welcomes them into something he enjoys: moth photography. I appreciated that the episode centered on his interest and let him invite his friends along to enjoy it with him.
It was an insightful narrative choice to make Panda the one who feels anxious and needs support. There’s a common trope in media where the disabled character is the one who needs help. But here, the roles shift: Jeff gets to be the one offering reassurance, which flips the usual narrative and gives disabled viewers a chance to see themselves as helpers and leaders.
A moment that really shone was when Jeff gently reassures his friends that while there are some things he can’t do, there’s so much that he can do, and he’ll ask for help if he needs it. It’s a small moment, but it’s incredibly meaningful. For many disabled people, unsolicited “help” can be frustrating or even cause more complications. Jeff’s words emphasize autonomy and agency in such a clear, confident way.
Jeff is voiced by Jay Manuel, star of TLC’s new series Jay and Pamela, who was born with osteogenesis imperfecta type 3, is autistic, hard of hearing, and a full-time power wheelchair user. Disability Belongs™ team members, including Krauss, advised on the character development of Jeff, including how he moves and uses props. Krauss spoke with Disability Belongs™ about his role in shaping Jeff’s character, the collaborative and creative process behind creating diverse stories for young audiences, and the hopes he carries for the next generation of disabled kids. Krauss is a television writer, advocate, and a gay, disabled, wheelchair-using man whose work centers on meaningful and joyful disability representation in media.
Disability Belongs™: How did you first get involved with Donkey Hodie, and what was your role as a consultant on this episode?
Sam Krauss: The great Vanni Le (Senior Manager of Entertainment Partnerships for Disability Belongs™) reached out and said there’s a project for me featuring a mouse named Jeff. Jeff Mouse is named in honor of Jeff Erlanger, a young guest who appeared in an unforgettable episode of Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood. My mandate was to assist with the authentic portrayal of this disabled character and provide insight and ideas to help breathe life into him and his story.
DB: What stood out to you about the character of Jeff Mouse when you were brought in? Did anything about him feel particularly resonant or exciting?
SK: Jeff is the picture-perfect example of how disabled people truly live in this world. Though Donkey Hodie is a land of magic and make-believe, Jeff’s ease with doing things in the way that he can (as a disabled mouse) is a true reflection of actual life. His love, tenacity, and penchant for adventures stand out and warm my soul. He’s exactly like the disabled people I’ve known my entire life. I find that truly exciting.
DB: As a consultant, what kinds of feedback or suggestions did you offer during the development process?
SK: From soups to nuts, from the floor to the ceiling, the journey started with the design of the character, sketches, creative memos, prototypes, and testing. As a consultant, I review all of it. I started sending pictures of wheelchairs, and then broadened my notes to how daily life might look for Jeff. And then, of course the script—always brilliant. Their writing team is incredible. For that, I always encouraged them when they nailed something story-wise. It’s so important to validate their instincts when they get it right and they got so much right with Jeff.
DB: Jeff uses different tools, like a grabber, an elevator, and binoculars to navigate the world. What do you think it means for disabled kids to see those tools represented as normal parts of a story, not as obstacles?
SK: For them, it means freedom. These tools are to enable us and give us our freedom. It’s to be celebrated.
DB: The episode includes a lovely moment where Jeff says, “There are some things I can’t do, but a lot of things I can do. I’ll ask for your help if I need it.” What was your reaction to that line?
SK: Tears. Just waterworks. It’s a moment that touches on disability culture in the most brilliantly simple way. It’s powerful.
DB: What do you hope young viewers, especially disabled kids, take away from meeting Jeff?
SK: I want them to know we have a culture and a community. They belong there. And all our disabled ancestors are speaking to us through these stories. All we need to do is listen.
DB: What’s one thing you wish more people in children’s media understood about disability representation?
SK: That they’re welcome to join the party—always!!
At its heart, this episode is about something really simple: disabled individuals can do the same things in different ways. That is a fantastic message for children and adults alike, and Jeff’s presence is a reminder of what’s possible when disabled voices shape the stories we tell.
“Hee-Hee Hider Seekers” premiered on April 14, 2025 on PBS KIDS and is available to stream along with other all-new episodes on PBSKIDS.org.
