There's a reason the approach surrounding Autistic characters in media needs to change... And that reason is rooted in real world understanding. Fiction affects reality. If people see only autistic characters on tv who are white male loner science/maths geniuses, they'll think..

that an inherent part of autism is being exactly that, when it isn't. We exist in all genders, races, personalities, and fields of interest. And yet, because writers are too afraid to go outside of this stereotype that they've developed, it's so hard for non-men and poc to be...

believed as autistic because of almost every mainstream media portrayal just being a slight variation on Rain Man. I have had people genuinely not believe that i'm autistic due to being a woman with some genuine friendships and interests outside of science or maths. Media and...

pop culture, like it or not, is how huge chunks of people become informed about real world issues. And I think my, and many others', existences as human beings deserve to be shown. If you're writing an autistic character: think about a few things for a second. Do they read as...

either an "idiot savant" in the vein of Rain Man, or as a Sheldon Cooper type who, whilst able to function, is extremely limited with regards to empathy? If so, maybe change some things. Because autistic people aren't a plot device. We are real and exist everywhere. And I...

for one, believe that media should reflect that.

actually gonna use this hashtag real quick: #ActuallyAutistic community, how are all of you feeling about these few thoughts on autistic representation in the media that i just put up?