Why 'The Good Doctor' Is Bad Medicine for Autism

[hewontgo]

On #WorldAutismAwarenessDay, three experts explain what Hollywood gets wrong about the complex and widespread disorder https://t.co/7dDs1gj7Xq
- Hollywood Reporter (@THR) April 2, 2018
April 2 is World Autism Awareness Day

Comments

[emilycup]

damn yeah I don't think I've ever seen a piece of entertainment with a poc or female (or both) autistic character. and I definitely agree that it seems like every autistic character is some kind of savant. Except on that Netflix Atypical show I think? I'm pretty sure they at least don't portray him as a savant. I don't remember very well tho.

[mingemonster]

Elementary has a (white) autistic woman who reoccurs for a few episodes

[kels]

Yeah, but she was definitely a "savant" character.

[mingemonster]

True, but Elementary is full of genius characters so it doesn't bother me so much, since her autism isn't a necessary condition for her intelligence, if that makes sense. And there's no way Sherlock would be written into a relationship with someone who isn't overly smart

[callonme_84]

👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼 thank u

[therearewords]

Didn't Moffat deny anything mental in Sherlock but just called him super intelligent and not a people's person or some nonsense?

Can't think of any poc or female autist character.

[frejasface]

Yeah. Just like having autism doesn't mean you're an awkward, snarky savant, being an awkward, snarky savant doesn't mean you have autism.

[sudols]

Yeah, I always felt like that was tumblr that came up with the thing about Sherlock?

[zoaster_toaster]

The show labels BBC!Sherlock as a "high-functioning sociopath" which A) isn't a real thing and B) just an excuse to excuse him for being a dick to everyone. Also Moffat and company have made a lot of shitty comments about autistic fans relating to Sherlock.

[frejasface]

I'm still getting used to thinking about autism as an identity to be proud of and not a developmental disorder. I mean, there is a wide spectrum but I think a lot of people who do not have autism are self-diagnosing or misdiagnosed because ~they are awkward~ and start affectionately calling themselves Aspies. Idk, I've worked with a lot of autistic kids and I have complicated thoughts.

[mingemonster]

It can be both, and sometimes for the same person. Just because something is difficult doesn't mean it isn't an integral part of you, or that that part of you isn't worthy of respect. Being autistic causes me problems, but so does being gay and being a woman.

[frejasface]

Absolutely true, that's super important

[onlytheycreate]

ia

[iznanassi]

all really good points