{"id":2236,"date":"2015-04-26T09:00:41","date_gmt":"2015-04-26T13:00:41","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/disabilityinkidlit.com\/?p=2236"},"modified":"2020-12-08T19:10:01","modified_gmt":"2020-12-08T19:10:01","slug":"happy-endings-and-overcoming-autism","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/disabilityinkidlit.com\/test\/2015\/04\/26\/happy-endings-and-overcoming-autism\/","title":{"rendered":"Happy Endings and Overcoming Autism"},"content":{"rendered":"

Often, autistic characters\u2019 happy endings center around them \u201covercoming\u201d their autism.<\/p>\n

Jessica Corra highlighted several examples in her post about trends regarding autism plots<\/a>; \u00a0an in-text example can be found\u00a0in\u00a0Colin Fischer <\/em><\/a>by Zack Stentz & Ashley Edward Miller. Colin\u2019s aversion to touch is an important trait. Yet, at the end, these lines occur (edited to prevent spoilers):<\/p>\n

Then Colin felt a strange sensation. He realized Melissa was holding his hand. In fact, she most likely had been holding it for the last few seconds … He did not recall her touching him.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Colin reached out to help.<\/p>\n

[Character\u2019s] outstretched hand froze an inch from Colin\u2019s, suddenly uncertain. He\u2019d never seen Colin touch anyone on purpose, and the consequences of unwanted physical contact were well documented. … Colin splayed his fingers, reaching further.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

[Character] grinned. Colin grinned too. He was not mirroring [character], and he was not following a script. He felt JOY.<\/p>\n

Colin\u2019s parents stood together at the kitchen window. They watched in silence, struck by the effortlessness of their son\u2019s play and the ease of his connection to [character]. The sight was unprecedented.<\/p>\n

Mrs. Fischer smiled. \u201cHe\u2019s really gonna be okay, isn\u2019t he?\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

\"Cover<\/a><\/center><\/div>Another example: at the end of the movie Mercury Rising<\/em><\/a>, Simon \u2014 who didn\u2019t initiate physical contact with anyone throughout the film, even his parents \u2014 gets up and unexpectedly hugs Bruce Willis\u2019s character. And in the movie Silent Fall<\/em><\/a>, the autistic character never uses his own voice … except in the climax and denouement, in a moving development.<\/p>\n

Basically, in a lot of fiction featuring autistic characters, that\u00a0autism appears to be the primary conflict. The plot revolves around the character\u2019s differences causing some kind of fundamental conflict, which then needs to be resolved.<\/p>\n

The popularity of those plotlines is understandable. Autism can be complicated, after all\u2014a lot of people\u00a0struggle with either the condition itself or people\u2019s lack of understanding. It’s important to write about those struggles honestly.\u00a0What concerns me is when authors see only one possible resolution: a \u201csoftening\u201d of autistic traits. The character learns a valuable skill and their life improves.<\/p>\n

Even in books where the plot doesn\u2019t revolve around the character\u2019s autism, this can be an outcome, often manifesting as a sign of character growth. A character who struggles with touch spontaneously hugs someone. A character who struggles with friendship adjusts their behavior and makes a friend. A character who relies on scripts or a schedule loosens up.<\/p>\n

All characters must evolve throughout a novel, of course. Such is the nature of character development. Autistic people learn, change, and cope like anyone else. However, when a character is autistic, many authors appear to see only one route for character growth: effectively making the character less autistic.<\/p>\n

Whether the plot revolves around this change or it\u2019s only a byproduct of character growth, this trope can be framed in one of three ways:<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. The character is now less autistic, and this is, apparently, a good thing.<\/strong>This ties in with the highly problematic disability cure trope<\/a>.<\/li>\n
  2. The character is not less autistic, but because they\u2019re learning to adjust\/cope\/fake it, they manage to appear<\/em> more neurotypical.<\/strong>This approach is much more realistic. Learning certain skills can be\u00a0beneficial, and it makes the character no less autistic. However, there\u2019s rarely any acknowledgment of the complexity of learning neurotypical traits<\/a>.<\/li>\n
  3. The character is not less autistic, but they\u2019ve simply accepted this one person\/situation.<\/strong>This certainly happens in real life, but the framing is often iffy: it\u2019ll be heart-rendingly touching in inspiration-porn fashion<\/a>, or it\u2019ll be used to signify how special that person\/situation is, which reduces the autistic character to some kind of litmus test of character worth.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    There\u2019s an awful lot to unpack here. Let\u2019s explain some of the issues involved, particularly with regards to the first two points.<\/p>\n

      \n
    1. It sends a troublesome message when autism is the fatal flaw the character must rise above, and this is portrayed as touching or inspiring.<\/strong>
      \nIn this trope, autism is the bad guy, the obstacle to be overcome. It\u2019s not seen as just a difference, but as something to be fixed and mitigated in a way that other, supposedly \u201cnormal\u201d character traits aren\u2019t. It\u2019s difficult to be an autistic person in a world that views autism so negatively. For many\u00a0people, autism is such an inherent part of their\u00a0personalities that, regardless of any struggles they may\u00a0have,\u00a0it\u2019s exhausting and damaging to be constantly told that they must change in order to be a full, accepted person.<\/p>\n

      Storylines that present autistic traits as something to be fixed reinforce those views, and their implications affect autistic people every day. Parents encourage \u201cquiet hands.\u201d Teachers restrain kids to their chairs. Doctors pressure people into uncomfortable \u2014 sometimes painful \u2014 eye contact. Therapists force kids into speaking even when it supplants their more natural methods of communication.<\/p>\n

      But autism can\u2019t be cured, and isn\u2019t a series of superficial behaviors to be mitigated. Some people can manage behaviors,\u00a0if they\u00a0choose<\/em>, but those behaviors aren\u2019t innately bad. Autistic people\u00a0have reasons for behaving the way they\u00a0do.<\/a> Routine is often used to keep anxiety at bay. Stimming and self-soothing do exactly that \u2014 stimulate or soothe. Why should anyone be forced to tamp down on harmless behaviors, when they may be their best method of communicating or coping?<\/p>\n

      If a character screams in pain, the solution shouldn\u2019t be to stop their screaming: it should be to understand why they\u2019re screaming, and address that pain, instead.<\/p>\n

      Presenting a character\u2019s minimized autistic traits as unquestioningly healthy, positive character development tells readers that is the desired outcome for autistic people.<\/p>\n

      Please don\u2019t reinforce these notions for the sake of a pat ending.<\/li>\n

    2. Character development centering around \u201cresolving\u201d an autistic trait is done an awful lot.<\/strong>
      \nThe popularity of this plotline sends the message that this is the only conflict autistic characters\u00a0can have. While autism can certainly affect <\/em>many\u00a0conflicts, it doesn\u2019t need to be either the source or the resolution of them. Autistic characters\u00a0can have all the same conflicts neurotypical characters can.<\/p>\n

      Make your character grow, yes. But consider whether they really need to \u201covercome their autism\u201d in order to do so.<\/p>\n

      If authors\u00a0do want to center the plot on their autism, let\u2019s read about a character exploring and learning to understand their own behavior. Teach them self-acceptance, self-advocacy, and coping skills. That <\/em>would be nice to see for a change.<\/li>\n

    3. Don\u2019t \u201csoften\u201d autistic traits as easy shorthand for meaningful growth.<\/strong>
      \nSometimes, a character \u201covercomes\u201d certain autistic traits, but it\u2019s not something they actively aimed to achieve throughout the novel. Take for example the sections from Colin Fischer <\/em>I quoted. The character never practiced touch or working without scripts. He received therapy to improve his social skills, yes, and was puzzled when interacting with people, but he didn\u2019t seem to care an awful lot on a personal level. So why is the resolution quoted above a happy ending?<\/p>\n

      If \u201covercoming autism\u201d isn\u2019t the character\u2019s goal, then such a development only makes sense from a non-autistic person\u2019s understanding of what would make an autistic person happy. People\u00a0see autistic\u00a0traits as flaws, so surely, autistics\u00a0suffer from them? Surely, they\u2019d be delighted if those traits are somehow magically resolved as a result of whatever adventure they experienced?<\/p>\n

      That may be the case for some autistic people, but many are perfectly content the way they are and insulted when told otherwise. Passing as neurotypical is not always a number one goal; employing that kind of character development without any build-up relies on blanket assumptions of what constitutes a happy ending for autistic people.<\/p>\n

      Make sure your ending makes sense for the individual character’s goals and concerns.<\/li>\n

    4. Many of the\u00a0struggles autistic people have relate to their\u00a0environment, the people around them, or their lack of understanding of themselves.<\/strong>\u00a0I would like to see more books where that\u2019s addressed.
      \nInstead of a character learning to deviate from their routine, how about a character learning about why that routine is so important to them?<\/p>\n

      Instead of a character learning to accept touch, how about others learning not to touch them?<\/p>\n

      Instead of a character learning to tolerate\u00a0the noise of the school bus, how about their parents or school making accommodations so they don\u2019t have to deal with the school bus at all?<\/p>\n

      It\u2019s dangerous \u2014 nay, it\u2019s cruel \u2014 <\/em>to shift the responsibility of autistic behaviors onto autistic people alone. Helping characters cope with extra input is fine and dandy, but when that’s presented as the only possible way for such a plot to resolve \u2014 when it’s often strenuous, flat-out impossible, or results only in people hiding their discomfort rather than working through it \u2014 it’s problematic. Those plotlines absolve those around the autistic person of responsibility and pressure the autistic person to accept situations that aren\u2019t necessarily in their best interest.<\/li>\n

    5. Some autistic people can learn neurotypical behavior, but authors must understand the context.<\/strong>
      \nFor one, even if autistic people can learn certain skills, they\u2019re just that \u2014 learned skills.<\/strong> They can help, but they\u2019re not the be-all end-all they\u2019re often made out to be. Some autistic and mentally ill people who struggle with their condition\u00a0embrace the idea of therapy as a \u201ccure.\u201d It can be heartening to believe it\u2019s possible to triumph completely over the negative aspects of a disability; it\u2019s logical for a character to desire that same thing, and for an author to present it as a happy ending.<\/p>\n

      But being able to \u201cmanage\u201d autism doesn\u2019t make it go away. Learned skills don\u2019t come automatically or easily, and they don\u2019t change underlying thought processes or experiences. They just allow people\u00a0to adjust certain\u00a0behaviors. Certainly, learning social skills and strengthening one’s communication skills\u00a0is often helpful, but it shouldn’t be glossed over that these learned skills can require immense, exhausting\u00a0effort. In a worst-case scenario, that effort can destroy functioning in other areas and can lead to burn-out, stress, depression, and anxiety.<\/p>\n

      It\u2019s not uncommon to hear from autistic adults who were forced into certain behavior early in life and who are now trying to un-learn that, as it\u2019s not their healthiest or natural state of being. Some autistics wish they could stim to release tension or energy, but aversion therapy has turned their stimming into a trigger for trauma.<\/p>\n

      Don\u2019t present learned skills as an easy fix.<\/p>\n

      For another, many autistic people are given therapy to learn neurotypical behaviors, without understanding their own autistic behavior first.<\/strong> Neurotypical behavior is presented as the only desirable option. Autistic people are\u00a0rarely given the opportunity to learn why they\u00a0do what they do, what triggers or what soothes\u00a0them, and that there\u2019s nothing wrong or shameful about being the way they\u00a0are.<\/p>\n

      In other words, there\u2019s immense<\/em> social and familial pressure to accept therapy and change their\u00a0behavior.<\/p>\n

      So, while learning neurotypical skills can be useful, it should be presented as a choice, without pressure, and with the autistic person given a full understanding of the politics, downsides, and alternatives.<\/p>\n

      I\u2019m not anti-learning\/anti-therapy \u2014 I myself wish I\u2019d learned certain skills sooner in life. I\u2019m just pro-understanding the complexities.<\/p>\n

      Finally, these therapies are often dangerous.<\/strong><\/p>\n

      Healthy therapy presents learned skills as tools to use when they’re advantageous to the autistic person, something they\u00a0can turn on and off. It’s in addition to<\/em>, not instead of<\/em>, intended to help autistics navigate situations within the confines of their limitations and abilities. Instead, therapy is often designed to fully replace existing behaviors, even if those behaviors are harmless to others and helpful to the autistic person<\/a>.<\/p>\n

      At worst, therapies used on autistic children and adults can be classified as literal torture<\/a>.<\/p>\n

      I say this not to lecture people or scaremonger; it\u2019s just that every time an autistic person speaks out against therapy, neurotypicals will tell us it\u2019s for their\u00a0own good and that they\u2019re shooting themselves in the foot by rejecting help.<\/p>\n

      The truth is, therapy isn\u2019t always designed to help autistic people. Often, the focus is on making them\u00a0easier to deal with for their\u00a0environment, without their\u00a0environment bothering to make itself\u00a0easier to deal with in return.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

      When I sigh at yet another instance of \u201covercoming autism\u201d as character development, it\u2019s not because I don’t think autistic people shouldn’t be allowed to triumph over autism-related difficulties, and it’s certainly not\u00a0because I don\u2019t want autistic characters to change and grow. It\u2019s because this issue is more complicated than many people\u00a0realize. However good an author\u2019s\u00a0intentions may be, when they show a character merrily shedding some or other autistic trait and improving in life, it\u2019s hard to reconcile that with the real-life context and implications.<\/p>\n

      I won’t lie \u2014 it can be difficult to pull this off as an author. I ran into this issue again and again with my upcoming book, as its autistic protagonist does <\/em>struggle with her autism a lot, yet I didn’t want to write the autism as The Enemy, or have her “beat” it at the end. But since autism is so weaved into our entire being, a lot of different kinds of character development could be interpreted as blandly \u201covercoming autism\u201d even when not intended as such. It took a lot of effort to frame this the right way.<\/p>\n

      That\u2019s what this comes down to: Don\u2019t be afraid of having your autistic character grow as a person. All characters do.<\/p>\n

      Simply pay attention to how you frame that growth.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

      Autistic people learn, change, and cope like anyone else. However, when a character is autistic, many authors appear to see only one route for character growth: effectively making the character less autistic.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":2332,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_generate-full-width-content":"","kt_blocks_editor_width":""},"categories":[57],"tags":[140,94,70],"genre":[],"age_category":[],"disability":[7],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/disabilityinkidlit.com\/test\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2236"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/disabilityinkidlit.com\/test\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/disabilityinkidlit.com\/test\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/disabilityinkidlit.com\/test\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/disabilityinkidlit.com\/test\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2236"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/disabilityinkidlit.com\/test\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2236\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":7038,"href":"https:\/\/disabilityinkidlit.com\/test\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2236\/revisions\/7038"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/disabilityinkidlit.com\/test\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2332"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/disabilityinkidlit.com\/test\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2236"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/disabilityinkidlit.com\/test\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2236"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/disabilityinkidlit.com\/test\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2236"},{"taxonomy":"genre","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/disabilityinkidlit.com\/test\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/genre?post=2236"},{"taxonomy":"age_category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/disabilityinkidlit.com\/test\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/age_category?post=2236"},{"taxonomy":"disability","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/disabilityinkidlit.com\/test\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/disability?post=2236"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}