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In Star Trek, Chekov represented a future where the U.S. & Russia were allies (though the TOS Earth was clearly not one government, as Kirk would often mock Chekov's biased Russian history). In TNG, Worf represents a future where the Federation & Klingons are allies. It's less overtly political.

disability rep in the 90's Treks (both TNG and DS9) was both extremely hit or miss in how it's aged and a complete gut punch when it landed correct.

It's difficult because the setting is a future with faster-than-light travel and literal artificial hearts. I don't think it's "erasure," per se, to suggest that my son's mobility challenges would've been something easily corrected in the womb in the 24th century.

Even today's prenatal care likely prevents issues that might've killed or permanently disabled a child a century ago. My wife's aunt lost a child 50 years ago and the tragic knowledge is that the child would've likely lived if born today (far better ICU treatment for premmies)

DS9's "genetic engineering as autism metaphor" both makes me cringe like hell and gives the best anti-institutionalization monologue I can remember being on TV (at Siddig's insistence iirc)