Introduction
Television and film exist to tell stories. Those stories, now more than ever, are representing real life and the struggles that occur daily. In a brave attempt to balance the existing “normal” characters with an increasing number of special cases, the entertainment industry has taken a leap towards showing the true demographics of America.
1 in 88 people are diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder. As the screening process has improved and the clinicians have been better able to diagnose, the number of reported cases has increased. This allows children with autism to get the help they need to work with their deficits. And it also allows Hollywood to work their magic by bringing a life to characters who have autism on television and in film.
In exploring the realities of the types of characters on screen, it became clear that the percentage of characters with autism does not match the percentage of people with autism. Instead of shaming Hollywood for this improper representation of demographics, it is important to celebrate the honest depictions of people with autism shown on screen. Many shows and movies strive to tell the stories of these characters by defining the character not by the disorder, but by whom they truly are. The same should be said for our real world. The disease does not make the person. And if Hollywood can get this right, then certainly we can too!
The examples on this site give just a glimpse into the character exploration that is taking place in film and television. A lot can be said in support of the tactics used by the producers and actors to attack this issue of autism with honesty while finding humor in it at the same time.
Enjoy!
1 in 88 people are diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder. As the screening process has improved and the clinicians have been better able to diagnose, the number of reported cases has increased. This allows children with autism to get the help they need to work with their deficits. And it also allows Hollywood to work their magic by bringing a life to characters who have autism on television and in film.
In exploring the realities of the types of characters on screen, it became clear that the percentage of characters with autism does not match the percentage of people with autism. Instead of shaming Hollywood for this improper representation of demographics, it is important to celebrate the honest depictions of people with autism shown on screen. Many shows and movies strive to tell the stories of these characters by defining the character not by the disorder, but by whom they truly are. The same should be said for our real world. The disease does not make the person. And if Hollywood can get this right, then certainly we can too!
The examples on this site give just a glimpse into the character exploration that is taking place in film and television. A lot can be said in support of the tactics used by the producers and actors to attack this issue of autism with honesty while finding humor in it at the same time.
Enjoy!
People with the condition are first and foremost individuals–not the labels applied to them