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Apparently, there will be a new series on Dutch TV called "The A-Word" (Het A-woord).
This is once again the "autism is a burden"-trope and I have some things to say.
Safe to say, I am VERY upset about this BS and I want to share my perspective #ActuallyAutistic (Thread)
This is once again the "autism is a burden"-trope and I have some things to say.
Safe to say, I am VERY upset about this BS and I want to share my perspective #ActuallyAutistic (Thread)
I watched the trailer on tv and the whole thing was just adults swimming in their pity pool about how hard it is to have a kid like that and how strange the kid is. There was barely ANY footage of the kid himself. (2)
The series is called The A-word because, according to the official description, they lowkey think the word "autism" is dirty and don't want to say it fully and out loud. Or perhaps they are ashamed of it, I don't know, BUT autism is a medical term. It's not an insult. (3)
From the description:
"Sam is an extraordinary kid, until the word 'autism' comes into play. 'The A-Word' is a recognisable series about family, raising a kid, but mostly about the power of clear communication."
"Sam is an extraordinary kid, until the word 'autism' comes into play. 'The A-Word' is a recognisable series about family, raising a kid, but mostly about the power of clear communication."
1. They make it look like the autism DX takes away the extraordinary-ness of a kid. As if they are lesser because of it.
2. "A recognisable series..." This series is def made for those parents who feel sorry for themselves bc their kid is autistic, not to actually educate.
2. "A recognisable series..." This series is def made for those parents who feel sorry for themselves bc their kid is autistic, not to actually educate.
3. "The power of clear communication"? Are you kidding me? I don't even know what they are trying to imply, but as the most stereotyped trait of autism is "lack of communication" (aka different communication, but no neurotypical can be arsed to understand it) this is nasty.
Not to speak about the 'person first language' autistic people are generally just sick of. The kid is autistic, he doesn't have autism. It's who he is and how his body and mind work.
"The rest of the family sees that there's more going on."
How can there be "more going on" when Sam was literally born like that. Autism is only a problem if you make it out to be!
How can there be "more going on" when Sam was literally born like that. Autism is only a problem if you make it out to be!
"Eventually the diagnosis autism follows and everything changes."
This sounds like the intro of THE LAST AIRBENDER, only in this case, the world isn't ending.
Yes, a DX can change people's life for the better, but we all know it's just adults feeling sorry for themselves.
This sounds like the intro of THE LAST AIRBENDER, only in this case, the world isn't ending.
Yes, a DX can change people's life for the better, but we all know it's just adults feeling sorry for themselves.
"At first, the parents do everything to avoid the a-word. This creates emotional and hilarious moments."
Yeah, it's absolutely hilarious when adults are trying to deny and hide someone's, especially a kid's, identity.
Yeah, it's absolutely hilarious when adults are trying to deny and hide someone's, especially a kid's, identity.
The actors are also trying to make it look like all of this is so inspirational and what not. What the fuck is inspirational about some adults being ashamed to call someones diagnosis by their name and devaluing the kid and everything people saw him for before his diagnosis?
The only thing this series is going to do is feed stereotypes about autism and confirming how people perceive autism, mostly as a burden and a challenge.
Being autistic is just being different. You as a parent should adapt to your child, not expect the child to adapt to you.
Being autistic is just being different. You as a parent should adapt to your child, not expect the child to adapt to you.
Autism is NOT strange or weird.
Autism is NOT a bad word.
Autism is NOT a burden.
Autism is NOT a challenge.
You have NO right to devalue an autistic kid just because of their diagnosis.
You should NOT hold autistic people to the neurotypical standards.
Autism is NOT a bad word.
Autism is NOT a burden.
Autism is NOT a challenge.
You have NO right to devalue an autistic kid just because of their diagnosis.
You should NOT hold autistic people to the neurotypical standards.
Okay hello I need to add something:
The series is described as a 'feel good'-series. Who is this making feel good? Ableist? About themselves and their views?
The series is described as a 'feel good'-series. Who is this making feel good? Ableist? About themselves and their views?
Also, this is the Dutch adaption of the Israelic series "Yellow Peppers". I heard they have adapted it so it would fit more within Dutch culture, but why adapt it in the first place? This trope is overused and harmful!
If you look at the cast list on IMDB, the actor playing Sam (the autistic kid) is listed on the 16th place out of 22. This usually means that everyone above him has more screentime than him. That's 15 out of 22 actors, while the whole thing is about an autistic kid.
My bet is that the actor playing Sam is not autistic. Neurotypical adults don't even understand autism, how is a little kid supposed to ACT like one?
Also ALSO: It's once again a little boy. Autism in girls exists in the same rate as in boys.
But oh, I forgot. You can't make a sobstort like this about a little girl bc girls either get their diagnosis late (mid teens or later) or don't get one at all.
But oh, I forgot. You can't make a sobstort like this about a little girl bc girls either get their diagnosis late (mid teens or later) or don't get one at all.
