Autism as a Character

Sesame Street announced today they will have soon have a character with autism joining their cast.  Elmo will be the one explaining that character's behaviors and characteristics, explaining the whys and wherefores of the character's autism to the audience.  *Insert Elmo's voice: "This is called stimming.  And now she's arranging her toys according to color, size and type, rather than actually playing with them age appropriately, and now she's having a meltdown because the tag on her shirt is rubbing annoyingly against her skin."*  Ummm, why can't the character explain these things herself?

I have mixed feelings.  I want to applaud their efforts, but I am hesitant. I've seen other tv shows attempt to address the autism issue, usually with one of two extremes--the character is either a savant (which realistically accounts for very little of the autism population), or the character is basically an undisciplined brat with a side order of a few behaviors attributed to autism.  Both give wholly unrealistic views of life with autism.  Based on those two stereotypes, Noah should be an astute student of everything while throwing massive temper tantrums as he straightens grocery store shelves alphabetically.    

We also live in a day and age in which the media, thanks to recent events in the news, mistakingly portrays autism as a mental disorder.  Based on the actions of a few, the media seems to portray all people with autism as angry, gun-weilding maniacs seeking revenge on the general population for not letting them play in all the reindeer games.

Have you met Noah?  He's nothing like any of that.

So, yes, I'm hesitant to rejoice over Sesame Street's newest character. I'm worried this will backfire. Are the producers and writers being genuine in their efforts, or is this merely an attempt to hop on the PC bandwagon? I'm concerned it will make an even bigger deal out of differences some kids, and parents, just want left alone. In calling attention to it, they are making neon billboards out of our children, rather than  allowing them to just be kids. I want to know who they are consulting to make sure they get things correct, and won't misinform the public, adding to the ignorance.  Will they stress that autism is a spectrum, so that just like neurotypicals, no two people with autism are the same, and that not all people will necessarily have the character's behaviors? Will they concentrate on the character's personality and non-autism traits, or will this character be known only for her autism traits--is she an individual or merely a diagnosis?  Will the character portray the true intelligence of a person with autism, whether that person is verbal or non verbal?  Will the character be allowed to use her diagnosis as an excuse? Will this just be another tactless attempt that only results in portraying people with autism as angry, mentally unstable individuals pitching temper tantrums when they don't get their way?  As Noah's mom, my concerns are legitimate.  I need to know they will do autism, and my child, justice.  These are real people we're talking about, not just a tv show character.

I do agree there needs to be more acceptance and knowledge of autism, but it needs to be done in a positive, well informed light.  I've said it before, and I'll say it again.  Noah has fought long and hard to just be Noah.  He doesn't want to be known as "that kid with autism."  He's so much more.  We've worked hard to raise him with the "We all have differences, it just so happens that mine has a name, no big deal" mentality.  He's worked hard to come to terms with his diagnosis and not let it get in the way of living his life.  Noah has learned to incorporate it into his every day life, and just accept this is how God made him.  God will use this, and we know there's a reason for it.

Sesame Street, I have to be honest.  I do not see this as a positive.  I do not see this as a move forward for autism.  As Noah's mom, I have to evaluate every aspect, and having done that, I do not see this as a successful step forward for the autism cause.  For the sake of our children, I do hope you will prove me wrong.