Is autism misrepresented?
Browse movies, tv shows, books and more where autism is misrepresented.
Inaccurate or stereotypical depictions of autism spectrum disorder.
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Movie • 2021 Report
Yes
81
No
4
28
RyanS
A very bad depiction of people with autism
TV Show • 2017 Report
Yes
68
No
2
29
DeenGray
The show says that autistic people are useless unless they have "savant"-like skills, and that our autism causes us to be bigoted. This is basically what a white suburban Christian mom who runs a mommy blog’s idea of autism is.
TV Show • 2005 Report
Yes
40
No
13
7
shaymin
a doctor with autism is portrayed very stereotypically and is shown to be rude and cold. many other doctors make fun of her before finding out shes autistic, and even after she says she is, she refers to it as aspergers. theres a mention if curing autism later in the show i believe.
Movie • 2009 Report
Yes
38
No
1
15
Autismcreatureirl
It's a film made by autism speaks, which has a long known history of misinfo and harm to autistic people.
The way is shown here isn't any better. That's it
The way is shown here isn't any better. That's it
TV Show • 1997 Report
Yes
38
No
4
2
mooingbreadjj
S15
E15
In episode "Ass Burgers", it's stated that Asperger's Syndrome (a form of autism) isn't real. Stan was also falsely diagnosed with Asperger's Syndrome in the same episode, though it was probably just depression.
TV Show • 2017 Report
Yes
38
No
2
TV Show • 2013 Report
Yes
28
No
11
2
Okamidani
The character in question says they are 'on the spectrum' also that they are 'closer to Asperger's' and that they have some 'UNDIAGNOSED PERSONALITY DISORDERS' ***Small spoilers**** the mixture of disorders and where he is on the spectrum allows him to profile killers for the FBI.
--The best term to describe the character in question is when someone says: "There isn't a word yet for what SO AND SO is."---
-- If autism is misrepresented then so to are 'various undiagnosed personality disorders' ---- Even then, if they are misrepresented they are only done that way to enhance a character to make them a better 'cooler' more interesting detective. ---- What they end up doing or not doing as that character is not chalked up to their autism or personality disorders ****MORE SPOILERS****** it is chalked up to something beyond the character's control - something that is done to them.
--The best term to describe the character in question is when someone says: "There isn't a word yet for what SO AND SO is."---
-- If autism is misrepresented then so to are 'various undiagnosed personality disorders' ---- Even then, if they are misrepresented they are only done that way to enhance a character to make them a better 'cooler' more interesting detective. ---- What they end up doing or not doing as that character is not chalked up to their autism or personality disorders ****MORE SPOILERS****** it is chalked up to something beyond the character's control - something that is done to them.
Movie • 1999 Report
Yes
27
No
1
12
jdpamv
Peter describes being in a waiting room with an autistic woman and she’s seen and heard screaming. Pretty terrible misrepresentation NGL.
TV Show • 2017 Report
Yes
23
No
7
5
greenseaturtle
Actual person with autism here: this show is actually a mixed bag in terms of representation. While Season 1 can come off as a bit backward and stereotypical, Keir Gilchrist's performance becomes more nuanced and well-researched in later seasons, and there are several actual autistic actors in the form of Sam's support group. I wouldn't go so far as to say that watching this show makes someone an expert on ASD, but I found myself enjoying and relating to it.
Movie • 1988 Report
Yes
22
No
3
14
RyanS
Rain Man has a complicated legacy in it's depiction of autistic people. It's long been criticized for perpetuating the autistic savant stereotype, but it also dispelled other myths and misconceptions about autistic people and improved awareness of how autistic people have been failed in accommodations.
TV Show • 2007 Report
Yes
22
No
0
9
cha0ticneutralsystem
Sheldon is the stereotype of savant autistic who is smart but socially inept and often gets away with some really fucked up things because he is quirky. To clarify I don’t think he is actually canonically autistic but coded to resemble autistic people. The actor even said he “studied Asperger’s”, which means the actor isn’t autistic and he used an outdated, antisemetic and ableist model of autism to base his character on and based it around “high functioning” models. Sheldon is also shown to be extremely bigoted, much like the rest of the boys and depicted at asexual and a romantic which is a trope used to infantilise and desexualize autistic people
Movie • 1997 Report
Yes
18
No
0
5
throughourphantoms
Kazan, who has some developmental or intellectual disability, has a lot of harassment and dehumanization done towards him, but he’s also given the math genius stereotype
TV Show • 2010 Report
Yes
15
No
0
7
cha0ticneutralsystem
Asperger’s is an outdated, racist and antisemetic term and is used to describe Sherlock being autistic. He is also a white male autistic savant trope who has supernatural-like powers from his autism that balance out or nullify the disability part of his autism. ASPD and personality disorders are also misrepresented as “sociopaths” and so on. Sherlock is also called a “sociopath” derogatorily so I’m unsure if he actually has ASPD and is having a term used on him that does apply to him but is used in a perjorative way or they are trying to say that him being autistic makes him a “sociopath”
Movie • 2006 Report
Yes
14
No
0
8
SiRenfield
Pretty bad anti-autism propaganda
TV Show • 2011 Report
Yes
13
No
9
Movie • 2018 Report
Yes
12
No
1
5
SiRenfield
Ooooh yes, serious indigo child vibes here considering how they call autism the next step of human evolution and treat it like a superpower in a way that’s rather condescending
Movie • 2009 Report
Yes
11
No
0
7
AngusONeillMacdonald
This whole movie is about how autism is caused by vaccines (which is false).
TV Show • 1989 Report
Yes
10
No
5
4
jdpamv
Ralph Wiggum could be seen as a stereotype of autistic children, though. There’s also an outdated portrayal of a special education class in one episode.
Movie • 2017 Report
Yes
9
No
4
4
GalaxyFurb
the antagonist is autistic-coded imho and has very few redeeming qualities
Movie • 2000 Report
Yes
9
No
2
5
1emon
Not explicitly, but a person presumed to have mental disabilities is stereotyped and mocked
TV Show • 2009 Report
Yes
9
No
0
Book Report
Yes
8
No
7
4
fleshprocessor
there are insensitive jokes about autism, as well as autism used as an insult, but no character is explicitly autistic- or even really implied to be through coding. (at least, definitely not on purpose.)
Book Report
Yes
7
No
2
1
Autismcreatureirl
Whiteout, an autistic coded character, is often infantilized by even her own brother.
TV Show • 1989 Report
Yes
7
No
1
Movie • 2004 Report
Yes
7
No
2
Book Report
Yes
6
No
1
3
jdpamv
Protagonist is a stereotype of autistic people. He’s also ableist to higher support children which is implied to be an autistic trait but they’re completely separate and this conflation is harmful.
Movie • 2011 Report
Yes
6
No
2
2
Kellygator
As a toddler, Kevin’s mother questions his pediatrician as to whether or not his delayed ability to speak could be a sign of autism, but that is the only time that autism is discussed and Kevin is not diagnosed with autism.
TV Show • 2007 Report
Yes
6
No
1
2
S1
E1
There are characters who are veey mean-spirited autistic stereotypes. First one that comes to mind is Mandy in iAm Your Biggest Fan. The main characters really hate this 10-year-old for being annoying.
TV Show • 2007 Report
Yes
6
No
4
1
imogenc
Debatable imo. JJ is far from being an awful depiction as he’s a generally likeable, good hearted & sympathetic character, and many of his autism-related struggles are treated with the same balance of seriousness and humour as other characters’ problems. He has friends and ends up in a romantic relationship despite continuing to have autistic traits, and is generally portrayed as both autistic & human rather than being an emotionless robot or having to become more ‘normal’ to fit in. However, aspects of his portrayal are a little dated and/or play into some damaging stereotypes (e.g. use of the term ‘aspergers’ which is no longer a diagnosis, being especially creepy & loserish around girls, some of his struggles being played for laughs at his expense, a lack of clarity in the script around his experiences and accommodations etc). His friends can be somewhat ableist and cruel to him but this fits both the culture at the time and the general attitudes of the characters to their peers, and they’re shown to care about him deep down.
TV Show • 2013 Report
Yes
6
No
0
0
roww
not explicitly stated, but there is a character who has a type of mental disability, possibly autism