"As We See It": A Step Forward In Representation
“As We See It” promotional image featuring actors Rick Glassman, Sue Ann Pien, and Albert Rutecki.
Autism representation in the media has been a subject of intense debate, especially when it comes to the depiction of adults and teens with autism. It seems as though most of the time, the media portrays characters with autism as highly functioning, stoic white men who are highly intelligent or skilled in one particular subject, or someone that is not interested or good at socializing. Although it is true that some individuals with autism may exhibit these traits, the fact that this is the most repeated trope for characters with autism creates a stereotype which may be harmful to those who do not fit the mold—something that is not representative of the spectrum. Most significantly, most roles for characters with autism in the media go to actors who are not autistic. This was a subject of controversy with singer-songwriter Sia’s film Music, in which neurotypical actress Maddie Ziegler was cast as a non-verbal autistic child and her portrayal of the actions of the character were interpreted as “mocking” by some.
It seems like things might be changing for the better, however. Recently, a new eight episode show titled “As We See It” came out on Amazon Prime Video, featuring three actors on the spectrum. The shows follow the lives of three adult roommates on the spectrum as they pursue their goals while facing the challenges that come with trying to be more independent. Another way that the show improved on representation is by having an Asian woman as one of the main casts instead of just the traditional white male, showing that autism is something that impacts all sorts of people.
One of the other things one can appreciate about the show is that the journeys, goals, and level of support of the three characters varies. For example, Jack ( Rick Glassman) struggles to maintain his job while becoming an advocate for his sick father. Violet (Sue Ann Pienn) wants a boyfriend in hopes of becoming more “normal”. And Harrison (Albert Rutecki) struggles to go outside due how overwhelming it is for his senses. All three main characters are different from one another instead of just fitting into one specific mold, and all three of them deviate from the stereotype of “stoic, antisocial savant”. They all have their own personalities and ways of seeing the world and even though they need some support, they work hard to overcome their problems and there are wholesome moments that show that life with autism is not as gloomy as some people might think.
The show can be watched on Amazon Prime Video, see a trailer below.