Representation Matters
This publication is included in the Autistic Autism Scholarship Project. one author of this publication is identified as autistic in the project.
About the autistic author markerHetrick, L. (2026). Representation Matters. Research in Arts and Education, 2026(1), 64-76. https://doi.org/10.54916/rae.161985
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Abstract
This article critically examines television portrayals of autistic characters in Atypical, Extraordinary Attorney Woo, It’s Okay to Not Be Okay, The Good Doctor, Community, and Sesame Street through qualitative content analysis informed by the affirmative model of disability and critical disability studies. It interrogates stereotypes such as the savant trope, explores authentic casting debates, and considers cultural and pedagogical implications for art education. Drawing on scholarship and lived experience as an autistic educator, the study argues that media representations shape public and educational perceptions, advocating for inclusive practices that affirm neurodivergent identities and dismantle ableism in visual culture and classrooms.
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