Shows and Films
Representation Matters!
The autism spectrum is just that… a spectrum. Everyone’s experience is unique. The shows and films below depict autistic and disabled characters. The media listed feature positive disability representation. Descriptions are from IMDB or the film website.
True Stories
Autism in Love
Description: Autism in Love follows the story of four adults with autism spectrum disorders as they search for and manage romantic relationships.
In A Different Key
Description: A true story of love, difference and the fight to belong. Follow the journey of Donald Grey Triplett, the first person ever diagnosed with autism.
Life, Animated
Description: A coming-of-age story about a boy and his family who overcame great challenges by turning Disney animated movies into a language to express love, loss, kinship and brotherhood.
Love on the Spectrum
Description: Follow people on the autism spectrum as they navigate the world of dating and relationships.
Makayla’s Voice: A Letter to the World
Description: A teen with autism unlocks a joyous world of self-expression as she shares her voice for the first time using a letter board in this short documentary.
Stories from the Spectrum
Description: From the National Autistic Society. Autistic people and their family members share their experiences of life on the autism spectrum.
Temple Grandin
Description: A biopic of Temple Grandin, an autistic woman who has become one of the top scientists in the humane livestock handling industry.
Understanding Autism
Description: 'Understanding Autism' explores the latest research in autism and how empathy and emotion can help autistic people live happier and more functional lives.
Fictional Stories
As We See It
Description: Three autistic roommates find a way to live together and strive for similar things in life. 1 Season.
Atypical
Description: Sam, an 18-year-old on the autism spectrum, decides it's time to find a girlfriend, which sets Sam's mom on her own life-changing path as her son seeks more independence. 4 Seasons.
Champions
Description: A former minor-league basketball coach is ordered by the court to manage a team of players with intellectual disabilities. He soon realizes that despite his doubts, together, this team can go further than they ever imagined. Movie Rated PG-13.
Extraordinary Attorney Woo
Description: Follows the brilliant attorney Woo Young-woo, who tackles challenges in and out of the courtroom as a rookie at a prominent law firm and a woman on the autism spectrum. TV Mini Series.
Out of My Mind
Description: Melody Brooks is navigating sixth grade as a nonverbal wheelchair user who has cerebral palsy. With the help of some assistive technology and her devoted allies, Melody shows that what she has to say is more important than how she says it. Movie Rated PG.
Parenthood
Description: The lives and tragedies of the Braverman family tree. Featuring a character. named Max, whose diagnosis and life growing up on the spectrum is a major storyline. 6 Seasons.
Peanut Butter Falcon
Description: Zak, a man with Down syndrome, runs away from a residential nursing home to pursue his dream of becoming a wrestler. Later, he meets with an outlaw who becomes his friend and coach. Movie Rated PG-13.
The Good Doctor
Description: Shaun Murphy, a young surgeon with autism and Savant Syndrome's recruited into the surgical unit of a prestigious hospital. 7 Seasons.
Wonder
Description: Based on the New York Times bestseller, this movie tells the incredibly inspiring and heartwarming story of August Pullman, a boy with facial differences who enters the fifth grade, attending a mainstream elementary school for the first time. Movie Rated PG.
Cartoons with Autistic Characters
Arthur
Description: Based on the books by Marc Brown, these are the adventures of Arthur, an eight-year-old aardvark, and his family and friends as they grow up and learn how to be good neighbors to one another. Features an autistic character, Carl Gould, who appears in Season 13.
Carl The Collector
Description: A young autistic raccoon, with a passion for collecting things, goes on adventures with his friends.
Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood
Description: The adventures of the children of the characters of Fred Rogers' Neighborhood of Make-Believe. Featuring Daniel’s friend, Max, who is diagnosed with autism.
Float
Description: A father is surprised and alarmed to discover that his son can float and tries unsuccessfully to hide him. A Pixar animated short film.
Hero Elementary
Description: A school for budding superheroes, where kids learn how to master their innate powers while exploring science. The series teaches children ages 4 to 7 how to investigate, make predictions and figure out solutions. Featuring an autistic character named AJ Gadgets.
Inside Out & Inside Out 2
Description: After a young girl is uprooted from her Midwest life and moved to San Francisco, her emotions conflict on how best to navigate her new reality. While no autistic character is specifically mentioned, this film has been known to be helpful to our community for demonstrating emotions and how to cope with them. It is noted to provide “relatable storytelling for autistic people.”
Loop
Description: In "Loop," two kids at canoe camp find themselves adrift on a lake, unable to move forward until they find a new way to connect and see the world through each other's eyes. This film breaks new ground by featuring Pixar’s first non-verbal autistic character.
Sesame Street
Description: On a special inner city street, the inhabitants, human and muppet, teach preschool subjects with comedy, cartoons, games, and songs. Features Julia, an autistic character who is nonspeaking and uses a communication device.
The Proud Family
Description: Follow the adventures and misadventures of Penny Proud as she does her best to navigate through the early years of teend-dom. The family’s toddler is diagnosed with autism.
Thomas & Friends
Description: This series follows the adventures of Thomas the Tank Engine and all of his engine friends on the Island of Sodor. Featuring Bruno the Brake Car, a character diagnosed with autism.