Episode 25: Atypical, and how autism representation has and hasn’t progressed since Rain Man (with Eric Michael Garcia)

PSYCHOCINEMATIC

TRANSCRIPT HERE

Our 25th episode has the brilliant Washington DC based journalist, author and autism advocate Eric Michael Garcia joining Steph to discuss Netflix’s extremely polite series Atypical (2017-2020). We drag it just as politely, and discuss what it does well, what it neglects, and what promising ideas it doesn’t really flesh out. We also discuss the problems with autism parenting culture, and whether we should like Zahid or not (But we should definitely love Casey).

Check Eric’s work out at his website http://www.ericmgarcia.net/. Follow him on Twitter @EricMGarcia where he occasionally pisses off Kathy Griffin, and Instagram @ericmgarcia14 . Order his book ‘We’re Not Broken’ here!

Listen to You’re Wrong About and You Are Good (formally Why Are Dads) too.

Content Warning: ableism, physical violence, abusive behaviour, discussion of cancer.

NOTE: This podcast is not designed to be therapeutic, prescriptive or constitute a formal diagnosis for any listener, nor the characters discussed. The host is not representative of all psychologists and opinions stated are her own personal opinion, based on her own learnings and training (and minimal lived experience). Host and co-hosts do not have the final say and can only comment based on their own perspectives, so please let us know if you dispute any of these opinions – we are keen for feedback!

Host: Stephanie Fornasier

Cohost: Eric Garcia

Editor: Nicholas Fornasier

Music: Michael Watson

Artwork: Bronte Poynts

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REFERENCES

• Neurotribes, The Legacy of Autism and the Future of Neurodiversity by Steve Silberman | 9780399185618 | Booktopia
• ‘Atypical’ Creator Robia Rashid on Depicting Autism on TV (vulture.com)
• How Season 2 of ‘Atypical’ Improves the Show’s Depictions of Life as an Autistic Person - The New York Times (nytimes.com)
• Growing Up With Autism, She Never Saw Herself On TV. Now On ‘Atypical,’ She Strives To Show Others With Disabilities ‘Characters They Can Relate To.’ (forbes.com)
• Autistic Voices, Community Members, And Experts Look Back (And Forward) At Autism Representation On TV | Decider
• Here's what Netflix's Atypical gets right (and not so right) about autism - ABC News
• Atypical: A Novel Portrayal of Individuals With Autism Spectrum Disorder | American Journal of Psychiatry Residents' Journal (psychiatryonline.org)
• michelle dean – A Is For Aoife Not Autism
• What Netflix comedy Atypical gets right and wrong about autism | US television | The Guardian
• Why Netflix's Atypical Fell Short as Autistic Representation | Time
• 'Atypical' Season 4: What Netflix show got right about autism - Los Angeles Times (latimes.com)
• ‘Atypical’ Cast Autistic Peer Group Actors to Increase Representation | The Mighty