This week I’d like to discuss a possible autistic character in the award winning mockumentary sitcom Abbott Elementary.
So what is Abbott Elementary about?
Abbott Elementary follows a misfit group of teachers in the fictional primary school Abbott Elementary, a severely underfunded, mismanaged public school in Philadelphia. The teachers try their best to make do with their limited resources, often with hilarious consequences.
If you haven’t seen it yet, here’s a trailer for the show:
Many viewers, myself included, believe that substitute (and later first grade) teacher Gregory Eddie, played by Tyler James Williams, is on the spectrum. While it is never discussed, Gregory displays many subtle autistic traits that add to the humour of the show, normalizing neurodiversity without the drama and labels.
Gregory is a meticulous planner (at one point he planned his entire school year literally down to minutes and seconds), that sometimes borders on OCD. There are times when it seems like he has sensory issues around colour, preferring clean walls in his classroom. He loves rules and structure, and hates anything illogical or unjust. Gregory often struggles to relate to his pupils, but is at ease with his adult colleagues as they are far more predictable than children.
He always wears his feelings on his face, with the documentary camera crew often panning to his sassy side eye to record his disapproving and uncomfortable reactions. You can get a taste of his side eye in these clips:
One episode in particular showcases Gregory’s issues with food which really resonated with me. In the episode, the staff are debating their favourite pizza places. To avoid conflict, Gregory makes up a fake pizza restaurant to throw them off the scent that he doesn’t like pizza as people never understand why. He admits to liking maybe 5 things as you can see in the clip below:
I particularly related to this episode as I often feel a similar need to lie around food related matters, like pretending that I’m not hungry when the food options are not to my tastes. It just get’s too awkward to explain.
All in all, while we cannot be sure that Gregory is autistic, he certainly paints a pretty good portrait of a high functioning autist.
Happy new year! Hope you all had an enjoyable Christmas holiday! 🙂
This week I’d like to talk about relaxed performances in the theatre and how they can be beneficial to autists.
So what exactly is a relaxed performance?
A relaxed performance is pretty self explanatory- it is a performance in the theatre where the normal rules and etiquette are “relaxed” and the ambiance is adjusted to be more sensory friendly for the audience. Oftentimes the theatre can overwhelm the senses with loud music, strobe lighting and sudden noises (I jumped so high when a prop gun went off during Phantom of the Opera!), which can make it problematic for autists.
But how is it tailored?
Different theatres will offer different experiences, but in general, a relaxed performance focuses on sensory elements such as removing strobe lighting, turning down the stage volume, and brighter house lights. The normal rules of the theatre are relaxed, meaning that the doors are not locked, you can get up and move around if you are getting overwhelmed, and many theatres even provide a designated, quiet chill out space.
As an avid lover of musical theatre, I was naturally eager to attend one, and was delighted to see that the Watergate theatre in nearby Kilkenny was putting on a relaxed performance for their pantomime performance of Aladdin. The theatre had a very detailed plan on their website for the performance to make the show inclusive for all:
The auditorium doors were opened 45 minutes ahead of the performance (way earlier than a standard show) to allow the audience extra time to come in and settle down and familiarize themselves with the room
Strobe lighting and loud/sudden sound effects were removed, and the overall lighting and sound was adjusted for a more comfortable sensory experience
The house lights remained on and low over the audience, who were free to move around as needed
They even provided a detailed preparation journey document outlining the theatre facilities, with multiple pictures to help orient visitors with the theatre to fully prepare an autist for their theatrical experience
So what did I make of it?
For me personally as a high functioning, seasoned theatre goer, it was a bit of a mixed bag. In theory, the concept is amazing, but in practice it’s a lot more difficult. The lighting and sound adjustments were great, the experience was far more relaxed without the likelihood of jumping out of my seat unexpectedly, buuuuutttt these adjustments created another sensory quandary.
So the theatre has it’s rules and etiquette for a reason- to allow everyone to hear the performance un-distracted. But, without these rules, the audience is naturally much louder than a regular performance… In a room full of uninhibited, talkative/echolalic, snacking neurodivergents with lowered stage sounds, the performance becomes difficult to hear. I often missed jokes and lines due to the sound adjustments- and this was with me sitting in the front row beside a speaker. This created a greater sensory issue for me as I was surrounded by distracting noises everywhere, with constant chatter and rustling of snacks. While this was primarily irritating for me, a more sensitive autist could have had a meltdown in this scenario. As the stage sounds were reduced, normal sound reducing earpieces would not have improved the situation.
Granted, in my experience, audiences that have large numbers of children in attendance are much louder, but the stage volumes usually counteract the increased noise threshold. As such if sound is your primary sensory sensitivity, you would be better off attending a regular performance with ear defenders or noise reducing earplugs (I highly recommend these- I tested them out at Rocky Horror Picture Show and I lost no sound quality with the volume reduction).
All in all, while the concept of a relaxed performance is good in theory, it may not be suitable for all autists.
We’ve come to the end of yet another year on this blog, how the time has flown!
I’ve had a busy few weeks so I have been a little quieter than normal lately, but I will be back to my usual schedule in the new year 🙂
As always, I just wanted to take this opportunity to thank all of my readers for their continued support this year. I appreciate each and every one of you that takes the time to stop by to read or leave comments, I see them all.
Hope you and yours have a very merry Christmas, and every blessing for 2024 (that’s scary saying that- next year marks 10 years since my diagnosis! :O
Continuing on from my last post, this week I’d like to discuss sensory rooms and how they can benefit autists.
As I mentioned in my last post, while trying out the sensory pod on the Carlow campus of South East Technological University (SETU), I also had the pleasure of trying out the campus sensory room for students on the spectrum.
But first things first, what exactly is a sensory room and how can it help autists?
Sensory rooms are designated safe, calming spaces where an autist can retreat when overstimulated. Here they can relax and stim in a room designed to stimulate the senses and regulate emotions. As with sensory pods, sensory rooms are all different, but they may have dimmed LED lighting, water features, light projections, soft furnishings, swings, textured pads, sensory toys, punch bags etc. The concept is surprisingly not a new one, dating back to the 1970’s in the Netherlands where Dutch psychologists wanted to awaken sensory perception in individuals with disabilities through sensory stimulation.
Fun fact– they were originally called ‘snoezelen’, a portmanteau of the dutch word to sniff (snuffelen) and to snooze (doezelen).
Here’s a video discussing how sensory rooms can help neurodivergents in their education:
So how did I find the sensory room?
I booked in for half an hour into the sensory room and found that like the sensory pod, it was incredibly soothing. It was so nice to be able to take some time out on the beanbag in this soundproofed room away from the hustle and bustle of the busy student centre. I wasn’t a big fan of the whirring sound from the water pipe in the room, however, one of the great things about the sensory room was that I had the power to customize my experience. I was handed 2 remotes when I walked in which allowed me to control the lighting, water features, projections etc. so I could tailor the room to my needs- an essential feature given the level of diversity in sensory needs. Like the pod, this facility would have been great to have during my third level education to take time out when assignments and exams were frying my brain.
You can check out a quick Tik Tok of the sensory room I visited here:
While facilities like this are great in an educational setting, you can also create your own sensory room at home to allow yourself or your kids some needed respite during an overload. There is no one size fits all model for sensory rooms. Different autists have different sensory needs, so being able to create your own room with sensory stimuli that specifically calm you is a game changer. Here’s a handy article that gives some tips on how to build your own room https://www.irishtimes.com/life-style/2022/10/15/a-quiet-place-how-to-build-a-sensory-room/.
This week I’d like to talk about sensory pods and how they can be beneficial for autists!
So first things first, what is a sensory pod?
A sensory pod is an enclosed space designed to be calming and relaxing for autists. Each pod can be different but they are generally soundproofed to reduce outside noise, dimly lit with LED lighting (which has been scientifically linked to behavioural improvements) and may have cushions or a comfortable mat to sit on. Pods may also allow you to adjust the temperature, play white noise, project visuals on the wall, and you can further add in sensory toys, weighted blankets, vests, plushies etc. As autists can struggle with sensory processing and overload, sensory pods are an ideal way to help manage an overwhelming situation. You can see a video about sensory pods here:
I recently booked into the sensory pod on the Carlow campus of South East Technological University (SETU) to give it a try. The university has two sensory pods in the library that neurodivergent students can avail of for time out, or even just a quiet place to study.
So what was my experience like?
I can highly recommend the sensory pod. While it was a bit awkward climbing into it as a fully grown adult in her thirties, once I was lying down in the pod it was so soothing. The room was kitted out with an interactive screen on the wall where you could avail of streaming services like Netflix to take some chill time out from your studies. There was a mirror on the wall with a panel of dials to adjust the lighting to your liking- blue, green, red, white and even no lights. The college even provided a USB mouse and keyboard that students could avail of if using the pod to study. Lying there on the squishy mat, I could easily have fallen asleep with the sounds of the library dulled around me. You would forget that you were in the middle of a busy college campus on a Friday evening!
It’s great to see a sensory facility like this for neurodivergents in an academic institution, I would love to have had something like this to study in back when I was in university (then again, I was only diagnosed as I was leaving third level education 🙃).
I also had the opportunity to try out the sensory room on campus which I will talk about in my next post.
Soo this week’s topic is a little bit unusual, but no, I assure you I haven’t lost my marbles (this time). In this post, I’m going to be looking at a weird link between autism and plastic!
A recent study has reported that autists eliminate chemical additives found in plastics from the body less efficiently than their neurotypical peers.
So what exactly are these chemical additives?
Bisphenol A (BPA) is a chemical additive used to make rigid plastics and protective coatings so it is often used in drinking containers. As a result, the chemical can leech into our drinks, which may be cause for concern as the health implications are still unclear.
BPA can mimic the effects of the hormone oestrogen which may disrupt the normal activity of the hormone, potentially contributing to cancers. The interactions are however very weak, so it is unlikely to have any lasting effects, especially as researchers have estimated that our current exposure levels to BPA are below the level associated with risk. Regardless, many remain concerned and efforts are being made to reduce our use of BPA in plastics. You may have seen many plastics for infants are marked as BPA-free as some countries have banned the use of BPA in this population as an extra precaution.
Similarly, other additives known as ‘plasticizers’ are added to plastics to make them more flexible. The additive Diethylhexyl Phthalate (DEHP) is the most commonly used plasticizer, widely used in the production of PVC. It can leach into food and drink like BPA which is concerning as it is a known carcinogen (cancer causing chemical) and can have a negative impact on male reproductive health. However, the doses consumed by humans are again not thought to be high enough to pose a risk, but the EU has banned their use in children’s toys, products and cosmetics as a precaution.
So now that we know what they are, back to autism.
As I mentioned at the start, children with autism and ADHD are not able to clear BPA and DEHP as efficiently as their neurotypical peers. Our bodies eliminate toxic substances via a process known as glucurondation, where complex compounds are broken down into smaller water soluble molecules using glucuronic acid so they can easily by eliminated from the body in urine. A recent study found that with BPA in particular, an autists efficiency to remove this chemical is 11% less than neurotypicals, and 17% less in individuals with ADHD. Researchers believe that some autists have genetic mutations that are slowing down the clearance rate making it harder to eliminate BPA from the system.
So what does this really mean?
Decreased efficiency in clearing BPA from the body means that this chemical hangs around longer, increasing exposure rates and the risk of negative health effects. As previous studies have linked BPA exposure to behavioral issues (e.g. hyperactivity, anxiety) and neurological conditions (e.g. Alzheimer’s, MS, Parkinson’s), it’s possible that BPA exposure could contribute to the development of autism.
As always while there is evidence of a link, this is just one study so it’s not worth worrying about just yet. Nevertheless, we should all be conscious of our plastic use and more careful with our disposal processes to preserve both our health and our planet.
This week I’d like to focus on the impact of autism on a specific organ of the body- the heart.
People with autism are at an increased risk of developing cardiometabolic diseases such as cardiovascular disease, heart attacks, stroke, diabetes etc. The risk of developing atherosclerotic heart disease in particular (where plaques clog up the blood vessels in the heart causing failure) is an estimated 47% higher in autists. Furthermore, there appears to be a link wherein people born with congenital heart disease (where the heart is not structured properly at birth) are 33% more likely to receive an autism diagnosis in later life.
Fun stuff…
So why autism? Why are there links to heart diseases?
One of the most plausible theories suggests that prolonged activation of the fight or flight response system (autonomic nervous system) in autists in response to stressors may be negatively impacting the heart. We all know that stress is bad, but as I’ve previously discussed, biological stress in autists tends to persist following a stressful situation when compared with their neurotypical peers, damaging the heart over time.
In terms of the link to congenital heart disease, researchers believe that alterations in blood flow to the brain caused by defects in the heart may predispose the brain to injury and developmental delays both in utero and in the postnatal period. These flow changes are thought to cause damage to white matter fibers which act like a train network connecting the brain. As a result, damage to this system could be negatively impacting learning and behaviour.
In addition to the links to heart diseases, alterations in heart systems may also be contributing to autistic symptoms. One theory suggests that alterations in the normal functioning of the fight or flight system may be contributing to a number of autistic behaviours such as meltdowns. Researchers have also noted that autists tend to have lower variability in their heart rate compared with their neurotypical peers. Higher variations in heart rate tend to indicate a more relaxed body where the rest and digest system (parasympathetic nervous system) is more active, but lower variability has been linked to difficulties recognizing emotions and social cues in addition to intellectual issues.
So the heart is seemingly far more connected to autism than we might have realised!
Prolonged periods of stress may indeed damage the heart, but with successful interventions, autists can better navigate life’s stressors. As with all disease risk, just because there is an increased risk, does not mean that it will manifest, but we should all be looking after our hearts- neurotypical and neurodivergents alike. It’s the only one we’ve got 🙂
This week I’d like to talk about the depiction of autism in the 1999 romantic comedy film ‘The Other Sister‘, starring Juliette Lewis and Diane Keaton.
Fun fact– Juliette Lewis also appeared in another film featuring an autistic character, ‘What’s Eating Gilbert Grape.’
So what’s the film about?
The film centres around mildly mentally disabled Carla Tate who has lived a sheltered life in a private school. Upon graduation, she returns home to her overprotective mother determined to earn a diploma from a local technical university so that she can become a veterinary assistant and establish her independence. Whilst at college, she meets and falls in love with Danny (who is also mentally disabled), and seeing his independent life, she further advocates for her own life and an apartment, much to the chagrin of her oftentimes controlling mother.
As a story, I enjoyed it. It was a wholesome romantic comedy that broke the mould at the time by featuring a mentally disabled couple at it’s core, showing that neurodivergents, despite our differences, want to have ordinary romantic relationships like everyone else. However, the film largely received negative views for the acting (Juliette Lewis was nominated for a Razzie for her performance) and shameless use of disability as a gimmick.
In terms of autism, this was a fairly run of the mill affair, standard stereotypical traits, but unlike the critics I found their depiction fairly inoffensive compared with other more stereotyped examples.
All in all, while not the most relatable depiction of autism when compared with other romantic movies featuring autistic couples (like ‘Mozart and the Whale‘), the film is still worth a watch 🙂
In continuation of my previous post about weighted blankets for autists, this week I’d like to discuss another weighted item- weighted plushies!
I’ve always had a fondness for soft and cuddly bears (gotta love that texture 😉 ) so when I found out that they made weighted plushies I just had to give it a whirl! I bought Sleepy the Sloth (or as he’s been renamed in our house Séamus the Sloth, which we thought suited him better) on Amazon a couple of weeks ago to see how I fared.
My sister had some fun staging him one night while I was out at a concert 😂
But first things first, what exactly is a weighted plushie?
A similar product to weighted blankets, weighted plushies are filled with beads or pellets instead of conventional stuffing to exert calming deep pressure to the skin to mimic the effect of a hug. Weighted plushies are usually much lighter than weighted blankets (Séamus is 1.5kg and my current blanket is 7kg) so they are a much more portable option when on the go with a child with autism. There are also heatable versions that you can put in the microwave so you have the double whammy of soothing weight and heat. Disney have even launched a line of weighted plushies so your favourite characters can be used for sensory relief! 😀
So how does it work?
Like weighted blankets, research is limited but they seem to work through the same mechanism. As I’ve discussed previously, autists have higher levels of stimulatory neurotransmitters and lower levels of calming neurotransmitters, meaning that our brains are more “switched on” and harder to turn off than most. The deep pressure exerted by the plushie is designed to stimulate the release of the calming neurotransmitters serotonin (which helps regulate the sleep cycle and temperature) and dopamine to relax and soothe the racing mind. It’s also thought that deep pressure can stimulate the limbic system, the emotional centre of the brain, which could potentially help calm you down during a meltdown.
So how did I get on?
Aside from all the fun we’ve had playing with Séamus, he really provides a lovely sensory experience. It’s reminiscent of having a sleeping puppy on your chest when you drape him round your neck, (minus the warmth, wriggling and gentle snuffling sounds). You get that same sense of calm wash over you like with the weighted blanket, so it’s great for when you’re sitting watching TV or travelling and need something less cumbersome. However, a plushie does not cover the entire body, so it doesn’t quite have that same fully enveloping sense of relaxation that comes from being completely covered by a weighted blanket.
All in all I would highly recommend giving a weighted plushie a try, but they can be a little pricey, so if you’re buying it for a child be sure to involve them in the decision in case they don’t like the animal/character you intend buying.
As it’s been a few years since my first post about celebrities with autism, I’ve decided to write a follow up post to discuss some other celebrities who have since discussed their experiences of autism.
Sia
Australian pop star Sia recently divulged that she was on the spectrum, 2 years after her film ‘Music‘ received backlash for it’s depiction of autism and casting of neurotypical Maddie Ziegler as a nonverbal autist. She did not admit to being on the spectrum at the time, but said that the film was based on the experiences of a neurodivergent friend (I must check out this film for a future post).
Sia has said of her diagnosis:
“For 45 years, I was like, ‘I’ve got to go put my human suit on’, and only in the last two years have I become fully, fully myself.”
SirAnthony Hopkins
Two-time Oscar winning Welsh actor Sir Anthony Hopkins was diagnosed with Asperger’s syndrome in 2014 when he was in his late 70s! The actor is quite dismissive of his autism status, calling neurodiversity a “fancy label” and says that he doesn’t feel very different after the diagnosis. He has said that autism impacts his ability to socially interact, but it also makes him quite focused which helps him in his acting career:
“I definitely look at people differently. I like to deconstruct, to pull a character apart, to work out what makes them tick and my view will not be the same as everyone else. I get offered a lot of controlling parts, maybe because that’s how people see me. And maybe I am very controlled because I’ve had to be. I don’t question it, I just take the parts because I’m an actor and that’s what I do.”
Elon Musk
Eccentric billionaire businessman Elon Musk has openly talked about his Aspergers diagnosis and how he was bullied as a child for being different, often struggling with social cues and literal thinking. His diagnosis has never held him back however, as he is now one of the wealthiest men in the world, and even became the first autistic host of Saturday Night Live (or at least the first person to admit it!). He often credits his brain as the driving force behind his success as his intense focus fuelled his specialist interest in science and technology, often spending entire nights happily programming on his computer.
Here’s a video of him talking about his experiences of autism:
Hannah Gadsby
Australian comedian Hannah Gadsby was diagnosed with autism in her late 20’s after a lifetime of struggling to fit in. She openly talks about her diagnosis in her comedy- a great way to both educate and help people see the lighter side of the spectrum. Here’s a clip from one of her Netflix specials:
Prison Break (remember that show? There’s a throwback!) and Legends of Tomorrow actor Wentworth Miller was diagnosed with autism during the pandemic in 2020 in his late 40s. He announced his diagnosis in 2021 on Instagram, telling the world of his struggles to get a formal diagnosis and how he is slowly educating himself on the world of autism.
Of his diagnosis Miller said:
“This isn’t something I’d change … immediately being autistic is central to who I am. To everything I’ve achieved/articulated.”
Dan Harmon
Writer and creator of shows like Community and Rick and Morty, Dan Harmon has self-diagnosed himself with Aspergers syndrome. When creating the character of Abed in Community and researching his character traits, Dan began to realise that he may be on the spectrum himself.
You can hear him discuss his experiences in an interview here:
Melanie Sykes
UK TV presenter and former model Melanie Sykes was diagnosed with autism in 2021 in her early 50s.
“I cannot begin to tell you the sense of relief this is for me and how much I celebrate this diagnosis.I now have a deeper understanding of myself, my life and the things I have endured.”
“I am wired a completely different way and I’m only just understanding it. Where I used to think ‘what’s wrong with me?’ now I know it’s everything that’s right with me.”
You can read more about her experiences in her book Illuminated: Autism & All The Things I’ve Left Unsaid and in the interview below:
Stephanie Preissner
Irish author and screenwriter Stephanie Preissner was diagnosed with autism in 2021 at the age of 34. She had always suspected that something was wrong, but never thought she might be autistic as the male experience fed to us in the media did not match her experiences (been there!). She had always done well in school with it’s structures and routines, but her mental health started to suffer in college as expectations were less clear. You can listen to a short interview with Stephanie about her experiences here:
BlindboyBoatclub
Now most of my international readers will not have heard of Blindboy Boatclub (one half of the Irish comedy hip hop duo The Rubberbandits) but his autism story is an interesting one. But before I get into it, for those of you wondering about his bizarre appearance, the podcaster, author and TV presenter famously wears plastic shopping bags on his face to conceal his identity 🤣. Blindboy was diagnosed with autism in his 30s following comments on his podcast from his neurodivergent listeners who remarked on how many of his worldviews aligned with their experiences of autism. Without his podcast, who knows if he would ever have been diagnosed! You can listen to his podcast talking about his diagnosis here: https://podcasts.apple.com/ie/podcast/intrapersonally-speaking/id1300577518?i=1000557413083
Just so my international readers can get an understanding of The Rubberbandits, here’s a video of their most popular parody from the peak of their fame:
Christine McGuinness
British model and TV personality Christine McGuinness was diagnosed with autism at the age of 33 having struggled throughout her teenage years, allowing her to finally understand why she is the way she is. Her 3 children are also autistic. She now advocates for greater visibility for women on the spectrum which you can see. in the video below:
Eminem
Chart topping rapper Eminem may also be on the spectrum. He has not openly discussed a formal diagnosis, but he has mentioned having Asperger’s syndrome in a couple of his songs which are famously influenced by his real life. He talks about Asperger’s in the opening lines of his 2013 song ‘Wicked Ways‘:
In interviews Eminem has talked about being very shy and awkward as a kid, often feigning illness to skip school so that he could stay home reading, writing poetry and drawing comic book characters.
It has also been suggested (but no confirmed diagnosis) that Vladamir Putin, Donald Trump, Lionel Messi and Bob Dylan also seem to demonstrate a number of autistic traits. Following the release of Christopher Nolan’s gripping biopic Oppenheimer, there has also been a lot of renewed speculation that the renowned physicist Robert Oppenheimer may also have been on the spectrum.
A Is For Aoife Not Autism 