THAT excellent BBC 1 drama series The A Word helped shine a much-needed light on autism and allowed many of us to understand it better.
Christopher Eccleston was just one of a distinguished cast in the six-part series focusing on how one family came to terms with it when their son was diagnosed with autism. Young Max Vento played the lad, Joe, with remarkable skill as his family lurched through various scenarios surrounding his autism.
It showed in particular some of the unusual behaviours involved and the overall lack of appreciation most of us have of this complex condition.
Unusually, the subject has also been figuring in popular series Holby City with character Jason Haynes, played by 24 year-old autistic actor Jules Robertson.
His outspoken behaviour forms an interesting part of his character’s development in the series, about to be made permanent there.
Plainly, autism is complicated for most of us to understand without first-hand knowledge and it is both illuminating and helpful to have it highlighted via mainstream entertainment.
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