Beyond Stereotypes Make An Authentic Description of Autism in Books and Media

Introducation:

If you are a Netflix addict, you probably have watched The Good Doctor (series) then and
would know who Dr Shaun Murphy is. He is just tremendously incredible and inspiring!
This seven-season-long drama sequence is an ideal watch. The plot is set in California,
where an aspiring surgeon is ready to begin a new life at San Jose St. Bonaventure Hospital.
This young man, Shaun, suffers from autism and savant syndrome but is unbeatable at his
job.
He represents all autistic people because the world (sometimes) turns deaf to them. Believe
it or not, we all have seen society treating them like unaccepted members. It is
heartbreaking, but then, there are TV shows like The Good Doctor that are able to make an
authentic description.

Correcting The World’s Narrative About Autism – A Mission

Some frequent interviews with neurotypical people helped in understanding that the autism
stigma still prevails in the social order. Despite a rising international literacy rate, the basic
traits of humanity are missing in action. Hence, today, we are here to debunk the myths and
stereotypes affiliated with the neurodivergent condition.

Breaking the Labels for Autistic Individuals

We will shed some light on deciphering the social boycott of neurotypical patients, but
before that, we need to understand the labels assigned to their condition. If we take it from
the glossary, stereotypes are general assumptions regarding a certain topic. Here are a few
examples:

× A common misconception is that autistic people are not empaths, though this is
incorrect. They just uniquely express their emotion. However, even if it were true, the
ability to be compassionate can become a weakness in some situations.
× Some biassed members of society link the neurotypical disorder with aggressive genes.
What an absurd thing to say! Everybody has shortcomings, and probably theirs is not
being effective at handling several emotions all at once.
× Half of the world thinks that they are born geniuses or savants, but this is only half the
truth. The cognitive abilities can vary massively. Another highly anticipated thing is the
uniform appearance, though it remains a made-up fact. You might have an idea by now
how ridiculous the myths can be and how difficult it is to make an authentic description
of these ASD – Autism Spectrum Disorder victims.
× People also perceive them to never make a couple, but history speaks for itself, and
there are instances of autistic marriages. There is even a website called Altogether
Autism, which works to raise awareness. A blog on the page described how the best children’s book printing service has a collection for such special people.
We need more people like them to make everyone feel welcome under the umbrella of
neurodiversity because these misconceptions can be harmful misleading. Thus, we need a
way to reassure people about wakefulness.

The Significance of Media Representation

Before we move on to the actual portrayal of people with ASD, we must know the extent to
which the media can influence the depiction.
Be it books, movies or TV shows, the power to reach wise audiences through all of these
media is almost unparalleled. Imagine how it would feel as an ASD individual to see a
character that reflects their life. We are sure that it must make them feel seen, understood,
and validated about themselves. However, depth and authenticity are what matter the
most.
The correct depiction helps fix their social image because people tend to believe the fiction
as if it were true. Thus, it is a promising way of changing national and even international
perceptions. It helps everyone understand the challenges of autistic people better.
In addition, documentaries and movies break down barriers, promote inclusiveness and
generate empathy in the hearts of the able-bodied. The relatable media role models can
also make people accept and respect their unique mindset.

The portrayal of Autism in Mainstream Media – True or Not?

The representation is beneficial only if it is realistic instead of being positive or negative. The
world deserves the truth, and a few writers, producers, publishers and directors are doing
the job flawlessly.

A prime example of this is the medical drama series – The Good Doctor. It was appreciated
to make an authentic description, and hands-down, we are dedicated fans of Freddie
Highmore, who played Shaun’s character. It is challenging to pull off those expressions,
atypical behaviours, and fidgeting moves, but not only did he do it, but he also ate it. In
addition, it was a big, risky leap to take as an actor. Give him an Oscar already!

Other than this, there is the movie ‘I am Sam’ (2001), where an autistic father fights for
custody of his abandoned daughter. The jury thinks that he is not empathetic and wise
enough to look after the 11-year-old; however, he beats the odds. He even taught the cold-
hearted lawyer the value of family and the strength of love. It makes you do impossible
things!
Finally, through strong literature masterpieces like ‘Amelia and Me’ by Melinda, The Reason
I ‘Jump by Naoki and ‘The Magic of Inclusion’ by Julie. You are missing some amazing stuff in
life if you do not give them a read. If you think you can contribute to this cause and have an
idea in mind, go for book print Ireland to draft a book that can make a change in the literary
world. We can even find kids’ illustrative books that teach them about the ASD condition.
Such as:
→ A Day With No Words by Tiffany Hammond
→ The Brain Forest by Sandhya Menon
→ The Autistic Boy In The Unruly Body by Gregory C. Tino
→ When My Brain Is Messy by Tania Wieclaw
→ Beth and the Bracelets by Jessica Falconer

All of these movies, shows, and literature efforts have a bottom line where they talk about
three aspects of an ASD patient’s life. It helps people relate to their lives so here is a brief
account of all that you need to know.

Symptoms Experiences Challenges
Struggling to communicate sensory overload in crowded

places

Coping with everyday
conversations

Repetitive behaviour Comfortable in fixed routine

schedules Finding educational sources
Narrow interests Unable to make friends Managing mental health
issues
Difficulty in adapting Issues finding a job or partner Overcoming workplace
conflicts

Sensory sensitivities Misunderstanding social
situations

Rarely easy access to
healthcare facilities

Q. What is an example of autism misinterpreted in the media?
The movie Rain Man shows that the protagonist has photogenic memory and extraordinary
arithmetic skills. However, it is a possibility in ASD victims, not a compulsory reality.
Q. What Disney character has autism?
We apologise if you did not know it earlier, but the little red-haired mermaid ‘Aerial’
suffered an intellectual disability. It was difficult for her to read cues in social settings.
Q. Is Sherlock Holmes autistic?
None of his traits is capable of associating him with this condition; hence, no, he is not an
autistic person. Just born special with a rare genius mind.

                                                                  The Bottom Line

The world is constantly evolving. Hence, now is the perfect time to not only embrace the
mental health taboo but also be welcoming towards the victims. They are already suffering,
so the least we can do is not be a 100 th in their 99 problems. Is it too much to ask for? We
hope not.

Our first step as a society towards this noble cause is to Make An Authentic description of
ASD people in our mainstream media platforms. We need to make sure the representation
is accurate, and if not, then we must raise our voices about it.
Similarly, as a society, we can celebrate the autistic people around us while also pushing for
improvement in how they are looked upon by the world. For that reason, whoever you are,
whatever talent you possess, just make the most of it and help make a difference!