Neurodiversity Celebration Week TV/Film Recommendations
This Neurodiversity Celebration Week, we wanted to give you a few of our current recommendations.
If you’re looking for a new book to learn more about neurodiversity, or a new TV show/Film to get lost in. Or you might be looking to learn about the experiences of other neurodivergent folks, with one of our podcast recommendations!
We’re here to guide you through some of our favourites. But hey, don’t just take our word for it- give some of these a go for yourself.
Today, we wanted to recommend some of our favourite TV shows and films for Neurodiversity Celebration Week.
As with all representation in the media, it is often difficult to identify with some characters and themes. It may feel like you, or other neurodivergent people are being misrepresented.
Neurodivergent representation is often depicted by varying portrayals of autism. This is a great start, but other neurodivergent conditions like Tourette's Syndrome, Dyspraxia, and Dyscalculia, are still being left out of the media.
With this in mind, we must continue to advocate for more neurodivergent representation in the media.
Films
Everything Everywhere All At Once (Available on Amazon Prime Video) - Although there is no clear representation of neurodivergence in this film, Director Daniel Kwan spoke with Vanity Fair about how he sees his work as a vivid reflection of the ADHD mind.
Temple Grandin (Available on Amazon Prime Video) - This film, starring Claire Danes, tells the true story of Temple Grandin. Grandin is an autistic woman who became well known for her contributions towards the fair treatment of livestock, and being an autism advocate.
Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief (Available on Disney +)- Based on a novel series written by Rick Riordan, Percy Jackson is represented as a young boy, struggling at school with ADHD and Dyslexia. He comes to realise that the things he once struggled with, might help him to save the world. Young people in particular, might find themselves relating to this film.
The Big Picture: Rethinking Dyslexia (Available on Amazon Prime Video) - This documentary follows prominent figures in today's society, such as Richard Branson and David Boies, as they discuss their experiences with Dyslexia. Alongside these stories, the documentary also follows a Dyslexic teenager as he tries to overcome challenges and achieve his goals.
TV Shows
As We See It (Available on Amazon Prime Video) - The thing setting this show apart from the rest, is its use of all autistic actors for the three main characters. As We See It follows Harrison, Jack and Violet as they navigate adulthood and all the barriers society has created for them.
The A-Word (Available on BBC iPlayer) - The A-Word has been victim to mixed reviews. It features a complicated representation of autism, with Joe's autism being linked to the breakdown of a family. However, as the show progresses, characters in The A-Word become more developed and build their lives alongside Joe's, accommodating for his needs.
For more of our recommendations from Neurodiversity Celebration Week, check out our other Blog posts below.
