Hey look, I’m (not) on TV: autistic people reflect on autism portrayals in entertainment media

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Thom-Jones, S. (2022). Hey look, I’m (not) on TV: autistic people reflect on autism portrayals in entertainment media. Disability & Society, 39(6), 1484-1501. https://doi.org/10.1080/09687599.2022.2150602

Publication date: 29 Nov 2022 Added to AutiHub: 6 Jul 2026 Type: Article Article language: English
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Authors

Publication authors
1
Publication authors identified as autistic
1 / 1 (100.0%)
  1. Sandra Thom-Jones *

Abstract

Portrayals of autistic characters in entertainment are becoming increasingly common across a range of media platforms, including movies, television series and novels. No longer is the autistic character a bit part or a minor story arc, we are seeing mainstream television series with autistic characters as protagonists and their autism as the focus of the story. The jury is out as to the educational value of these portrayals, with both positive and negative outcomes being posited. However, to date the ‘jury’ has consisted of non-autistic people commenting on the accuracy and impact of fictional portrayals of autism. This study sought the perceptions of autistic people on the ways they are currently portrayed in entertainment media, finding that the entertainment industry has a lot to learn about accurate, meaningful and respectful portrayal of the autistic experience.Points of interestThere has been a dramatic increase in the portrayal of autistic characters in entertainment mediaThere is disagreement about whether these portrayals increase autism acceptance or further stigmatise autistic peopleThis study, led by an autistic researcher, explored the views of 29 autistic researchers on autism in entertainment mediaThere was a consistent recognition that the majority of portrayals of autistic people in entertainment media reinforce existing stereotypes, use the autistic character as a plot device or present the autistic person as a burdenThe findings suggest that there is a need for more diverse, accurate and positive portrayals of autistic characters in entertainment media

Bibliography cited by this reference

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Bibliography inclusion overview

These indicators describe the cited bibliography imported for this publication. Cited-reference metrics use the cited-reference total as denominator. Cited-author metrics state whether they use all cited-author occurrences or only occurrences linked to authors already integrated in the AutiHub database. They use cached links between cited authors and authors integrated in the AutiHub database. Last computed: 16 Aug 2026 11:31.

Cited references
25
Total cited references integrated for this publication.
Cited references with an identified autistic author
1 / 25 (4.0%)
Cited author occurrences identified as autistic
1 / 51 (2.0%)
Among occurrences linked to AutiHub author records: 1 / 10 (10.0%). Distinct cited authors identified as autistic: 1 / 46 (2.2%).
Cited author occurrences linked to AutiHub author records
10 / 51 (19.6%)
Distinct linked cited authors: 6 / 46 (13.0%)
Linked cited-author occurrences not identified as autistic
9 / 10 (90.0%)
Among linked cited-author occurrences only. Across all cited-author occurrences: 9 / 51 (17.6%). Distinct linked cited authors not identified as autistic: 5 / 6 (83.3%).
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