I’m reading a produced screenplay and one of the characters has autism and they’re described as being socially awkward and a bit “odd looking” which, I guess, is the stereotype. I wish just once they’d describe a version like my son — gorgeous, outgoing and amazing. 1/2

There are 1100 different variations of autism. And, yet, film and TV tend to only highlight two: The savant. And the tantrum prone child who doesn’t make eye contact and is hyper obsessive. Writers, do a bit of research. There are so many other versions than that. 2/2

Addendum: Because film and TV predisposed me to thinking one way... I had no idea my son had autism until he was officially diagnosed. And that’s because he didn’t look or act like the stereotype.

The main character I just write into my newest pilot has autism (I just projected what my son would look and act like when he was 25). But I intentionally never say it because then readers would replace the stereotype with the real (in their minds). And I just wanted him to be.

This is him btw.

And the word above should be “wrote” not “write.” Why, Twitter, no edit button????