Histrionics of Autism in the Media and the Dangers of False Balance and False Identity on Neurotypical Viewers

Abstract

Abstract Contemporary US media increasingly portray autism "positively."Based on critical realism and guided by the Disability Studies in Education (dse) framework, three television shows - Atypical, Touch, and The Good Doctor - with fictitious Autism Spectrum Disorder (asd) character(s) are qualitatively analyzed to understand the impact of the media's portrayal of autism on the perceptions of neurotypical educators from the perspective of a disabled teacher educator. Autism in the three comedydrama series is portrayed as a savant syndrome of White heterosexual male experience affecting middle-class families. These portrayals of asd are less representative of the autism community and therefore lead to two prominent television strategies of misleading information - false balance and false identity. Since media are not neutral informers, entertainers, educators, and persuaders, it is vital for consumers especially educators to engage in dse informed critical literacy to ensure the consumption of meaningful information about autism. Keywords