Why does it matter? For people not living with a disability or who don't have a close connection with someone who is, the consequences may be hard to see. But for me and those within the disability community, it leaves us feeling we are invisible.
If a disabled actor is cast, they are often relegated to supporting roles, yet these characters have the potential to create powerful stories that can remove some of the stigma around people living with a disability.When TV shows feature a character with a disability played by an able-bodied actor rather than an actor with a disability we can tell the difference, just as it jars when you see an American actor struggling to carry off an Australian accent.
According to data compiled by Screen Australia, while we make up 18 per cent of the Australian population, we make up just 4 per cent of characters in TV dramas. A great example of an inclusive drama is the UK soap opera Hollyoaks, which in 2018 placed an open casting call for an autistic actress to play the role of a character named Brooke Hathaway. The role went to a British disabled actress named Talia Grant.The production company worked with UK charity The National Autistic Society and theatre company Access All Areas during the creation and casting processes, as well as Grant herself when developing the character.
What an unfair criticism of a well written, highly entertaining, heartwarming show. Sam is openly depicted as a high functioning teen w/Aspergers. The comedy applies poetic license to real life for the purposes of humour. More importantly it brings Autism into ppl’s lounge rooms!
The show depicts teenagers and adults who are very high functioning. I can identify with some scenes but for others I have to concede an entitlement to artistic licence
'With the debut of its second season, the show “Atypical” is introducing five characters with autism who are members of a peer group that’s depicted on the show. All of the characters are played by individuals with the developmental disorder'
Nah sorry, I call BS. You can't relate to Sam's autism but he is a good depiction of autism. The show raises awareness about how untrained police are in responding to autistic people and his mum has her own hair cutting business for autistic kids.
‘The lead actor Keir Gilchrist isn't autistic, he's merely pretending to be autistic for the purposes of the show. ‘
As an autistic person myself, I had to stop watching it because everytime the mother opened her mouth I felt so mad.