Depictions of autism in the media—whether fictional or nonfictional—influence the wider public’s perception of autism, both positively and negatively. Two of the more well-known portrayals of autism are Sheldon Cooper from the Big Bang Theory as well Raymond Babbitt, the historically common math savant played by Dustin Hoffman in Rain Man. With a flat affect and a genius IQ, these portrayals—both of white, middle-class men, notably—are familiar yet far from universal.
The media not only reflects cultural attitudes, it helps to construct them, and we have seen firsthand how media stereotypes can shape public perception in ways that are limiting, misleading, and at times harmful, perpetuating clichés and ultimately erasing the real diversity of autistic lives. In this article, we explore the disconnect between how autism is portrayed on screen and what research and lived experience tell us about the autistic community. Drawing from recent studies and personal insight, we offer suggestions for reducing stigma and call for a more nuanced, respectful, and inclusive approach to storytelling.
Recently, autism has received attention in mainstream media, including fiction (movies, TV, and literature) and nonfiction (newspapers, social media) and, more recently, on social media platforms such as YouTube, Facebook, Instagram and TikTok (Bakombo et al., 2023; Mittmann et al., 2024). Research findings suggest that while the portrayal of autism in media varies, stigma is most prominent in newspapers, movies, and TV, often with a negative tone and stereotypical portrayal, such as savantism (Mittmann, 2024). In contrast, literature often has a more diverse and positive representation, and social media tends to have a more supportive tone (Mittmann, 2024).
Savantism seems to be overrepresented in the media (Nordahl-Hansen, Øien et al., 2018), leading to the belief that most people with autism have extraordinary or even superhuman skills. Yet, contrary to what the media presents, savant-like skills are seen in less than 30% of people with autism (Howlin et al., 2009). Additionally, most portrayals seem to represent young white males (Dean & Nordahl-Hansen, 2022; Prochnow, 2014). While it is true that autism is more commonly diagnosed in males (with a ratio of 4.3:1; Fombonne, 2003), this stereotypical representation still fails to cover the diverse distribution of all genders and races (Pham et al., 2022).
Autistic adults on television are often written through an ableist lens, characterized as pitiable, socially awkward, unpredictable, and unable to understand or control their emotions, or infantilized and treated in a paternalistic or condescending manner (Kolakowski, 2018). Additionally, despite the growing movement toward actors with diverse ethnic, sexual, or gender orientations playing characters with similar identities, most autistic characters continued to be played by neurotypical performers, arguably weakening the authenticity of their portrayals (Ito, 2022).
Studies that investigated autistic characters in literature (Akhtar et al., 2022) found that 81% of characters were children and that most books tend to center on repetitive behavior rather than social difficulties seen in autism (Kelley et al., 20218). However, other studies show that many books are capable of portraying autistic characters in a positive, authentic, and nuanced manner, emphasizing autistic individuals’ resilience (Belcher & Maich, 2014; Tharian et al., 2019). The focus on children perpetuates narratives of vulnerability and dependence, reinforcing the idea that autism is primarily a childhood issue and marginalizing the experiences of autistic adults. This selective framing strengthens societal power dynamics, where children are viewed as in need of protection and intervention, while autistic adults are rendered invisible or irrelevant in the discourse (Zhou & Guan, 2024).
Thankfully, there is more awareness now than ever before about autism in the general population. For better or for worse, the growth of social media has provided a platform for wider discussions about autism, with more channels through which autistic voices can be heard, leading to mainstream media picking up the content and distributing messages to a wider variety of news consumers. This has allowed for long overdue opportunities to dispel myths and misconceptions people have traditionally held about autism, and it is more common for conversations to happen with, instead of about, autistic people. The authors of this article have also observed this trend at academic and professional conferences where speakers, including researchers and clinicians, are disclosing their autistic identity along with their professional credentials when presenting about autism-related topics.
One drawback to the increasing number of avenues for discussion, however, is that misinformation can spread just as rapidly as accurate, factual information. Some might argue that erroneous information garners more engagement than ideas backed by science because it can be sensationalized more easily, and as a result, the lines between journalism and entertainment are even more blurred.
Yet, if the public’s attention is more easily drawn to entertainment, why not use entertainment sources to educate the public? That brings us to the idea of reducing stigma, which is a great opportunity that writers and producers of movies, TV shows (fiction and reality), and docudramas have to bring factual information to the public based on both science and the lived experiences of autistic people. This is an awe-inspiring responsibility and a tremendous undertaking, one that can only happen by first listening to and engaging with autistic people as both storytellers and consumers of media.
As an autistic adult, I (second author) am one such consumer of media. I can remember vividly the loneliness and isolation I felt as a child, which was only compounded by not seeing any characters that I could relate to in TV shows or movies. The first time that I did see characters like me—on the NBC sitcom 3rd Rock From the Sun—is permanently etched in my memory. How they reacted to situations and the confusion they felt from social interactions with other people, all felt achingly familiar, but my jubilation soon dimmed when I realized these characters were all aliens who had come to Earth to study human beings.
It became clear as time went on that any representation I was to find would come in the form of autistic “coded” characters—characters with mannerisms and behaviors that looked and felt autistic despite these characters not being specifically labeled as autistic. The number of explicitly autistic characters on television has increased in recent years, but with the vast majority of the behind-the-scenes creative team (writers, directors) being neurotypical, many depictions veer into stereotypes that, if not outdated, are frequently inaccurate or even offensive. The character of Sam on the show Atypical is presented more as a walking checklist of autism symptoms than a fully realized human being, and while we were shown the internal lives of his neurotypical parents and sister, Sam’s own inner life was not acknowledged, and remained woefully unexplored throughout the show.
With the advent of the Netflix show Love on the Spectrum, autistic adults have had the opportunity to represent themselves on camera and to speak openly about the challenges of getting into and maintaining romantic relationships. In 2021, I was approached about the prospect of taking part in the U.S. version of the show as the dating coach. While this ultimately did not come to fruition, I am grateful for the consideration and to see autistic adults authentically being who they are on a platform that will give the autistic community so much more visibility. As a relationship coach and autism sexuality advocate, I am also hopeful that Love On the Spectrum will spur important and necessary conversations and reduce stigma around autism, sexuality, and sexual health.
Several years ago, I was interviewed for the documentary In A Different Key, based on the bestselling book by John Donvan and Caren Zucker, which then premiered on PBS in December of 2022. The book tells the story of Donald Triplett, the first person to ever be officially diagnosed with autism, and the movie features interviews with autistic individuals and families all across the spectrum. The film is intended for an audience of people who know very little about autism and has proven that giving autistic people a platform to speak for themselves and share these stories authentically is and continues to be a powerful tool for education and the fight against stigma. And for autistic children and young adults who consume this media, it provides the hope of seeing what the future can be like and the relief of knowing that they are not alone.
Now is an exciting time, and there are more opportunities than ever for the world at large to gain a better understanding of and reduce the stigma against autism. Autistic members of society should not only be included but also lead these efforts to address barriers to acceptance and participation. Reducing stigma by dispelling misconceptions and sharing rich stories of individual lives is essential, and the media and entertainment industry have the power to use storytelling to reach so many. With that reach comes the responsibility to do it correctly, and that means facilitating change by telling stories in collaboration and partnership with autistic people.
Dr. Valerie Gaus is a psychologist, licensed by New York State and board-certified in Behavioral & Cognitive Psychology by the American Board of Professional Psychology. She has been practicing for 30 years, providing mental healthcare to autistic and other neurodivergent adults who are dealing with anxiety, depression, trauma, and stress-related problems. She approaches therapy using a positive, neuro-affirming cognitive-behavioral framework. She has written articles, chapters, and books on these subjects, including Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy for Adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder, 2nd Edition (2019, Guilford Press) and Living Well on the Spectrum (2011, Guilford Press).
Amy Gravino, MA, is an autism sexuality advocate and Relationship Coach in the Center for Adult Autism Services at Rutgers University. She is also the President of A.S.C.O.T Consulting, which offers autism consulting, college coaching, and mentoring services for organizations, schools, individuals on the autism spectrum, and their families. Amy is an international speaker who has given TED talks, spoken twice at the United Nations for World Autism Awareness Day and presented worldwide to audiences on a variety of topics related to autism, with a dedicated special focus and research on the subject of autism and sexuality. Ms. Gravino obtained her Master’s degree in Applied Behavior Analysis from Caldwell University in 2010 and is the co-creator of the AASK (Adult Autism and Sexuality Kit) sex education curriculum. Amy was the 2024 recipient of the Marblejam Center’s Global Autism Advocacy Award and currently serves as a founding member of Autism Speaks’ Emerging Leaders initiative and on the Boards of Directors of Yes She Can, Inc. and the Golden Door International Film Festival of Jersey City. She has co-authored a chapter on autism and sexuality in the Handbook of Quality of Life for Individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder. Amy’s work has also been featured in Spectrum, the leading online news source for autism research, and other outlets. Visit www.amygravino.com to learn more.
Jill Krata, PhD, CLC, is the Owner of Evolve Autism and Family Coaching. For more information, please email DrJill@evolveautismandfamilycoaching.com.
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I recommend the show Patience which is a British show that came out earlier this year. It only has 3-4 episodes but it is one of the better representations and it was about a young women. She works at a police department in evidence and uses her way of organizing all the files to assist the police in cases. She is not depicted as a savant but rather using her logical and critical thinking skills versus emotion to be helpful which I relate with strongly. Not sure if it is streaming anywhere but you can probably find somewhere to download it. The character is played by an autistic actor.