Is autism misrepresented?
Browse movies, tv shows, books and more where autism is misrepresented.
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TV Show • 2017 Report
Yes
21
No
0
11
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.
Movie • 2021 Report
Yes
21
No
0
10
RyanS
A very bad depiction of people with autism
TV Show • 1999 Report
Yes
11
No
0
7
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 • 1997 Report
Yes
11
No
0
1
SiRenfield
S15
E15
Well ummm…in Ass Burgers they claim autism is not real (at least if I recall correctly) so make of that what you will
Movie • 1988 Report
Yes
9
No
0
6
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 • 2017 Report
Yes
9
No
1
TV Show • 2013 Report
Yes
7
No
3
1
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.
TV Show • 2017 Report
Yes
7
No
0
TV Show • 2005 Report
Yes
6
No
1
1
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 • 2006 Report
Yes
6
No
0
3
SiRenfield
Pretty bad anti-autism propaganda
TV Show • 2005 Report
Yes
5
No
3
3
Dr. Spencer Reid is implied to be on the autism spectrum, but they never say it explicitly.
TV Show • 2011 Report
Yes
4
No
1
5
TheCassandraComplex
The character Hodor has autistic traits, although he is not autistic. He is very much autistic-coded with repetative behaviors, stress-induced meltdowns, and difficulties with verbal speech.* (MAJOR SPOILERS) If the “neurodiversity is supernatural” trope bothers you, Hodor’s neurodivergent traits turn out to have a supernatural cause in the canon.
*Just a friendly reminder that autism is a non-linear spectrum and many of us do have speech apraxia, expressive aphasia and other speech-language disorders as a comorbidity.
*Just a friendly reminder that autism is a non-linear spectrum and many of us do have speech apraxia, expressive aphasia and other speech-language disorders as a comorbidity.
TV Show • 2018 Report
Yes
4
No
0
2
TautologiaLgica
(spoiler)
Rosie's complete diagnose is shown on the special, she has dyrk1a syndrome, learning disability and autism
Rosie's complete diagnose is shown on the special, she has dyrk1a syndrome, learning disability and autism
TV Show • 2023 Report
Yes
4
No
3
3
sheregenerated
S2
E2
Bradley Riches, who plays James McEwan, is autistic, although it's not confirmed if the character is autistic.
TV Show • 2004 Report
Yes
4
No
0
TV Show • 2022 Report
Yes
4
No
3
TV Show • 2023 Report
Yes
4
No
0
Movie • 2009 Report
Yes
3
No
1
2
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
Movie • 2014 Report
Yes
3
No
1
4
DelilahV
While not explicitly stated in the film, Samuel displays numerous autistic traits and is seen as autistic by lots of viewers and fans of the series. This could be upsetting to some because he's also described as having "severe behavioral problems" and is neglected due to his symptoms.
Podcast Report
Yes
3
No
0
2
NebbyAxolotl
The statement giver’s cousin in MAG 54 — Still Life is mentioned to be autistic. Their autistic traits are compared to the traits of someone who turns out to not be human.
Movie • 2000 Report
Yes
3
No
1
2
1emon
Not explicitly, but a person presumed to have mental disabilities is stereotyped and mocked
TV Show • 2005 Report
Yes
3
No
0
0
StaleOrchid
Several characters are autistic coded, but it is never confirmed in show
TV Show Report
Yes
3
No
0
1
HoppipHarvest
One character is implied to be autistic. The only indications that he’s autistic are that he claims to say phrases from Paw Patrol to comfort himself (it’s only brought up once), and he alludes to liking trains (the stereotypical autistic special interest) a few times. As an autistic person myself, I felt that this was a very stereotypical and disrespectful portrayal.
TV Show • 1989 Report
Yes
3
No
0
TV Show Report
Yes
3
No
0
TV Show • 2011 Report
Yes
3
No
2
Movie • 2023 Report
Yes
3
No
0
Movie • 1968 Report
Yes
2
No
0
1
jnoj
Peter Tork found out later in life that he was autistic, but it was unknown until decades after the movie and therefore has no bearing on the plot.
Movie • 2009 Report
Yes
2
No
0
1
AngusONeillMacdonald
This whole movie is about how autism is caused by vaccines (which is false).
Video Game • 2012 Report
Yes
2
No
0
0
SiRenfield
Heavy use of “autistic people are basically literal wizards” trope