Dr Sheldon Cooper The Big Bang Theory
Easily the most debated character on our list is Dr. Sheldon Cooper of The Big Bang Theory. Does Sheldon actually have Aspergers, and if so, does the show make fun of those on the Spectrum or embrace them through such a quirky, yet lovable character? While we arent totally sure about the answer to those questions , we think co-star Mayim Bialik is right on the money with her statement on the matter: OCD was the topic of my thesis when I did my doctorate. I think that Sheldon would definitely be on the spectrum, as we say. I actually dont think that I would give him the diagnosis of Aspergers. I would give him Obsessive Compulsive probably moderate to severe, Generalized Anxiety Disorder, possibly Social Anxiety Disorder but not pure Aspergers as we know it.
Dont Shy Away From Funerals Or Visitations
Visiting a loved one on their deathbed or attending a funeral can give a child a way to say goodbye, so consider giving them this opportunity if they want it .
If your child will attend, make sure they know what to expect. In addition to the fact that prior preparation is generally important for those with autism, there is often a great deal of emotion and tears at funerals and visitations, so your child needs to know about this ahead of time so theyre not blindsided by the ways in which others grieve. In line with point number 5, they also need to know that crying is neither forbidden nor expected of them.
Communication And Social Interaction
Organizations interested in spreading awareness about autism and how to be autism friendly, such as The Autism Directory, have created training programs for communities to illustrate how people with autism may communicate or interact differently from neurotypical people, or people without autism. There are also suggestions for how to modify one’s reaction to improve communication. Some training examples are:
- When one finds out that someone may not be able to look them in their eyes, one should realize that they are not trying to be rude, and it is uncomfortable for them to do so.
- A person may have difficulty understanding or figurative expressions and interpret a phrase literally. By speaking directly and factually, like saying “It’s easy” as compared to “It’s a piece of cake”, one is more likely to understand the line.
- Body language, facial expressions, gestures, and turning away from someone may be cues that are missed by an autistic person. This is another opportunity for one to be direct and factual, realizing that their body language or social cues may not be picked up.
- The person may have limited vocabulary or speech perception. Patience is helpful here. Allow time for the person to comprehend what was said. Ask how you can help. If they use sign language or a symbol set to communicate, adapt as you are able.
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Brick Heck The Middle
The Middle is about a run-of-the-mill Midwestern family and their many exploits . The youngest son in the family is Brick who, though he has never officially been diagnosed with anything specific, has all of the tics and quirks of one on the Spectrum. Indeed, Brick has at least one blogger in the online Aspergers community convinced that someone involved in the show has an autistic kid. We dont know about that, but we do know Brick has every quality that makes an especially lovable character.
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Key Points To Remember About Sensory
- Not every sensory-friendly movie is the same experience.
- The movie remains the same.
- Changes usually occur in how you see it.
- Changes often occur in how you listen to it.
- Many children and families are likely in the audience.
- Understand that more sensory-friendly movies are for children.
- The audience may be noisier.
- The volume is not as loud.
- People may be allowed to bring their own snacks.
- Expect children to move around in their seats.
- Expect people to move around in the theatre.
- Finally, movie theatres may offer additional help such as:
- Wheelchair seating
- Noise-cancelling headphones with direct sound
- Earmuffs
Special Needs movies Special Needs screening
Finally, it is important to know that sensory-friendly movies and relaxed performances are two different things.; While events that are sensory-friendly do have things in common, aspects of the experience are not identical. Relaxed-performances are live shows and not movies.
If you like movies and documentaries in general, are you interested in watching a mini-documentary about being sensory-friendly? Then, check out, Too Busy. Too Noisy. Too Bright.
Autism Movies For Adult Audiences
The Accountant
Stars: Ben Affleck, Anna Kendrick, J.K. SimmonsLength: 140 Minutes
As a math savant uncooks the books for a new client, the Treasury Department closes in on his activities, and the body count starts to rise.
The Lighthouse of the Whales El Faro De Las Orcas
Genre: Biography, Drama, RomanceStars: Maribel Verdú, JoaquÃn Furriel, JoaquÃn RapaliniLength: 110 minutes
Lola travels with her autistic son, Tristan, to Patagonia to meet Beto, a wildlife keeper who has a very special relationship with wild orcas. Tristan has shown a strange empathy and stimulus response to the killer whales. Lolas determination to fight for the improvement of her son, Tristans peculiar personality and his relationship with nature will make their lives change forever.
Lola viaja con su hijo autista, Tristán, hasta la Patagonia para encontrarse con Beto, un guardafauna que tiene una relación muy especial con las orcas salvajes. Tristán ha mostrado una extraña empatÃa y respuesta de estÃmulos ante las orcas. La determinación de Lola de luchar por la mejora de su hijo, la peculiar personalidad de Tristán y su relación con la naturaleza harán que la vida de todos ellos cambie para siempre.
Rain Man
Stars: Dustin Hoffman, Tom Cruise, Valeria GolinoLength: 133 Minutes
Mercury Rising
The Good Doctor
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Autism And Odd: What You Need To Know
By C. Dixon
Kids act out. Its part of growing up. They need to learn what their limits are, how to appropriately channel their emotions, how to interact with others, and how to handle not getting what they want all the time. Tell some toddlers No, and you may get sweet acquiescence and understanding or you may get a tantrum, a smack, or a fountain of tears.
But when your child is older in preschool or elementary school and they regularly seem to struggle with authority, or theyre constantly angry if they dont get their way, there may be an underlying issue at hand. If their behavior seems extreme and lasts for a period of at least six months, they may have Oppositional Defiance Disorder .
But its a tricky thing to figure out. How do you know if you just have a strong-willed, emotional child or one with ODD? If your child is autistic and struggles with expressing if theyre overwhelmed or frustrated, they may react similarly to one with ODD by getting angry, having a meltdown, or acting defiant.
So whats the difference?
Well explain.
What Else To Expect
More often than not, sensory-friendly movies are for children.; Consequently, there will be more children and families in the audience. Importantly, that means increased noise from the audience. As well as movement in the seats and throughout the theatre. In some instances, the movie theatre will allow people to bring their own food.; As a result, it can create additional noise of crinkling packaging.
Some theatres may loan out earmuffs. Whereas others may loan out weighted lap pads. These are examples of sensory tools. Sensory tools help patrons enjoy the movie.
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A General Bit Of Advice To All Into Film Clubs
Just start. In many ways, the biggest barrier you can face is not quite having the courage to take those first, tentative steps. There may be many reasons for this hesitation, whether uncertainty over the technical setup, concerns with time commitment or maybe just a fear of lack of interest but you never until you get started.
When I set up my own film club, I had no prior experience running one and no one else to assist me but I got started anyway using the community building platform Meetup. Slowly but surely my club grew, even to the point where, in December 2019, I hosted a well-attended autism friendly screening at Deptford Cinema in London, which boasted a special Q&A with an actress who starred in Avengers: Age of Ultron no less.
Where Can You Find A Sensory Friendly Screening
We have collected a few below. Let us know of any we can add.
- Closed and Open Captions available.;
- Look for the orange “Sensory Friendly Film” icon ;next to the session times to see which cinemas and sessions are screening these films.;
- Dendy;Sensory friendly films are designed for families living with autism and other sensory needs. ;
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Let Them Grieve In Their Own Way
Whether neurotypical or autistic, people grieve in all sorts of ways. Some will go through an entire box of tissues in a day, while others wont shed so much as a tear. Some will seek company and support, and others may withdraw and need time alone. During spells of grief, autistic people may experience meltdowns, shutdowns, extreme anxiety, anger, hypersensitivity, and avoidance. Or they may not show any outward signs at all.
There is no right or wrong way to grieve a loss, so provide support as your child grieves rather than scolding or shaming them for how they reacteven if they smile or laugh .
The Jungle Book This Saturday The 13th
Directed by Jon Favreau , based on Rudyard Kiplings timeless stories and inspired by Disneys classic animated film, The Jungle Book is an all-new live-action epic adventure about Mowgli , a man-cub whos been raised by a family of wolves. But Mowgli finds he is no longer welcome in the jungle when fearsome tiger Shere Khan , who bears the scars of Man, promises to eliminate what he sees as a threat. Urged to abandon the only home hes ever known, Mowgli embarks on a captivating journey of self-discovery, guided by panther-turned-stern mentor Bagheera , and the free-spirited bear Baloo . Along the way, Mowgli encounters jungle creatures who dont exactly have his best interests at heart, including Kaa , a python whose seductive voice and gaze hypnotizes the man-cub, and the smooth-talking King Louie , who tries to coerce Mowgli into giving up the secret to the elusive and deadly red flower: fire. The all-star cast also includes Lupita Nyongo as the voice of the fiercely protective mother wolf Raksha, and Giancarlo Esposito as the voice of wolf packs alpha male Akela.
Its currently earned a 100% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Common Sense Media has given it their Great For Families seal of approval.
Maintaining the buoyant heartbeat beneath all the digital flash, Favreau never loses sight of the fact that hes making an adventure story for children.; ;Andrew Barker·Variety
The Jungle Book, film review Groundbreaking and magical 5 Stars The UK Independent
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How Is Autism Spectrum Disorder Treated
There is no cure for autism, but treatment can make a big difference. The younger kids are when they start treatment, the better.
Doctors, therapists, and special education teachers can help kids learn to talk, play, and learn. Therapists also help kids learn about making friends, taking turns, and getting along.
Raymond Ray Babbitt Rain Man
Rightfully considered the breakthrough film for characters on the autism spectrum, Rain Man is a 1988 film about Raymond, an autistic savant, and his selfish brother Charlie . Dustin Hoffman won an Academy Award for his portrayal of Raymond, and has long been praised for his realistic and respectful performance, which he based on close observations of two real-life autistic individuals. While scientific discoveries over the last three decades have brought about some controversy surrounding Raymond being an autistic savant, the film remains an important step in the evolution of the portrayal of characters on the autism spectrum.
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Forrest Gump Forrest Gump
Few;PC words to describe the classic character of Forrest Gump are used for the entirety of the movie, but a number of people in the Autism Spectrum community recognize the lovable Forrest as one of their own, one with autism. One particular blogger cites Forrests literal interpretation of speech, his superior performance of things that follow rigid patterns , and his incredible ability to maintain a singular focus . Like so many other characters in the world of entertainment, Forrest Gump does not have any official diagnosis. Still, the fact that so many people find they can relate to the genuine, caring, and successful Forrest gives this character, book, and film meaning and value.
Dr Alfred Jones Salmon Fishing On The Yemen
Salmon Fishing on the Yemen is a 2011 film about a fisheries scientist, Dr. Alfred Jones, who receives an unusual request from a wealthy sheik: bring the sport of salmon fishing to Yemen. This presents all sorts of challenges, of course, one of which is the fact that Alfred seems to lie somewhere on the Autism Spectrum. Most notably, this presents a problem as he begins to fall in love with a businesswoman played by Emily Blunt. As screenwriter Simon Beaufoy describes, is spectrum autistic, rude, humorless, apparently passionless. However, in a moment of weakness he reveals his care and love for Harriet by making her a duck sandwich.
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What’s It Like To Have Autism Spectrum Disorder
A kid with autism might have trouble:
- talking and learning the meaning of words
- making friends or fitting in
- dealing with changes
- dealing with loud noises, bright lights, or crowds
Kids also might move in an unusual way or do the same thing over and over .
A kid with autism may have a little trouble with these things, or a lot. Some kids need only a little bit of help, and others might need a lot of help with learning and doing everyday stuff.
Autism Friendly And Neuro
- Timing: find a regular slot in the week that works for your members and stick to it. It helps many on the autism spectrum, me included, for events scheduled to be fixed in date and time. For starters, this allows us to plan around such occasions well in advance, and is also a source of comfort as we can block out a portion of time that was previously empty.
- Broaden the reach: tailor the club not only to those on the spectrum but also ‘neurodivergent’ individuals more broadly. ‘Neurodivergent’ encompasses any individual whose neurological development is atypical. Aside from autism, film screenings could also easily be adjusted to work for pupils with dyslexia, epilepsy, Tourette’s syndrome, and other associated neurological conditions.
- Signposting and communication: in plain language prior to the scheduled screening, clearly indicate what pupils can expect from the session and whenever feasible, include maps and/or photos of the screening space so that the environment can be pre-visualised. Explain any issues that may arise , which could increase certain individual’s stress or anxiety levels.
Now go forth and prosper! You can begin by checking out our main;Into Film Clubs page.
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Ways To Help A Child With Autism Deal With Death
By A. Stout
Death is a natural part of life. It is something that none of us are immune to and all of us are guaranteed to experience. But for a child experiencing this type of permanent loss for the first time, it can be confusing and difficult to grasp. Whether its a beloved pet who is crossing the rainbow bridge, a grandparent, family friend, or some other loved one, you might be at a loss for words as to how to explain this normal yet difficult phenomenon to a sweet and innocent child, especially if that child has autism.
Luckily, you are not alone in this experience; experts and autistic people have some tips and pieces of advice to share with you. Read on to find out how you can help during this painful time.
Dr Temperance Bones Brennan Bones
Aspergers in women is often much harder to detect and diagnose due to symptoms that are often subtle and widely varying, which may explain why female characters with Aspergers are so rare. But one such female Aspie is Dr. Temperance Bones Brennan on the hit crime drama Bones. Though actress Emily Deschanel and series creator Hart Hanson will only go as far as to say that Brennan almost has Aspergers, the series heroine displays a number of telltale signs: a lack of interest in being social, a sharp intellect and knack for scientific facts, and an elementary understanding of sarcasm. Aspergers or not, Brennan is easily one of the most interesting and likable characters on TV.
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