Autistic characters are rarely portrayed in their own right. Instead, they are used as a curiosity in order to teach the neurotypical main character valuable life lessons. The neurodivergent presence becomes a plot device — an obstacle that must be conquered and which facilitates the development of the other characters.

Social interaction pays no heed to the autist’s compass, especially not in the media industry. You can’t draw on your strengths if these conflict with the expectations of neurotypicals. Most conspicuous will be the aspects that are perceived as negative, like withdrawing, offering criticism that is too harsh, and avoiding big groups.