A TV Series Depicting ASD: American Atypical
Atypical is a TV series created by Netflix, which depicts ASD or Autism Spectrum Disorder. This drama comedy is about what life is like for Sam Gardner, an 18-year-old boy with autism, and his family.
To write about the adventures of this character, Robia Rashid, the creator of the series, definitely did a thorough research. He enlisted the help of Michelle Dean, who works with research and treatment of ASD at UCLA. The TV series therefore tries to portray autism as realistically as possible in each episode.
Atypical, a TV series depicting ASD
‘Unlike other series depicting ASD, the authors of Atypical have deliberately stayed away from stereotypes and topics that revolve around the disorder. Rather, each episode portrays the everyday life of a young man with autism who, because of his condition, has to overcome certain challenges and difficulties every day. The series thus shows how certain typical situations you encounter as a teenager are even more complex and difficult for someone with autism.
These situations include first love, friendship, family arguments, the search for identity, personal independence, and so on. At the same time, comedy contains serious moments that invite us to think. It shows, for example, how important the family plays in the development and well-being of people with ASD. It also shows how the main character relates to his parents and his sister.
As the series progresses, we’ll see how Sam grows and develops. We also get to see how he acquires new personal resources and tools that help him meet the challenges that arise in his life. But Sam is not the only one who changes during the series. We can also see changes in his family, his girlfriends and his best friend while living their own lives.
How does this series depict autism spectrum disorder?
As we know, autism spectrum disorder is a very heterogeneous condition. In other words, all cases are very different from each other. Therefore, it goes without saying that the series does not try to paint an exact portrait of what autism is. Rather, it simply tells the story of a person’s life on the autism spectrum.
Another advantage of the TV series is that it depicts autism spectrum disorder as a condition that those who have it must live with… The series never shows ASD as a disability that hinders a person’s development. This is no small detail because it is something that many still do not understand. So thankfully, this series can help change what people think and know about this condition, which affects at least 1 in 59 Americans.
Given all this, Atypical is a series that can help the public gain a more educated perspective on ASD. The series also shows how people with autism can and should be included in our society.
