Final paper

Running Head: AUTISM AND MEDIA 1
Gender and Autism Portrayal in the Media
Sarah Orr
SOC 3070-001
December 13 2016

AUTISM AND MEDIA 2
Abstract
In this research, the portrayal of autism in the media is analyzed. This paper examines findings
from various researchers who analyzed autism portrayal in various media platforms. From the
literature review, online survey, interviews, and content analysis, it is suggested that there is little
information on how autism is portrayed, and that many portrayals are stereotypical. The research
aims to raise awareness of these issues in the hopes of portraying more accepting messages about
people with autism and other disabilities in society. It is proposed that the portrayal of autism
and other disabilities in the media should be further studied.

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Gender and Autism Portrayal in the Media
The research topic is the portrayal of autism in the media. More specifically, it involves
whether men or women might see autism portrayals in the media more or less frequently than the
other and how they perceive those portrayals. The research question is: “How do men and
women feel about how autism is portrayed on television, in films, literature, and newspapers?” In
order to answer this question, one must look into social research and sociology. Sociology is
interesting because it attempts to explain why people act the way they do, and the underlying
social forces that shape society. One aspect of sociology and social research is the inclusion or
rejection of certain people, specifically individuals with autism. This topic is important because
there is little information on autism portrayal in the media and how it can impact how society
views people with autism. The ways that people with autism are portrayed in the media and how
people without autism perceive those messages can help raise awareness of autism and
encourage people to be more inclusive of those who are different. By answering how men and
women might perceive autism, more awareness of how society perceives autism can be gained,
as well as diverse ideas from individuals with autism that could help benefit society.
Literature Review
Autism Spectrum Disorder has gradually been on the rise, according to Fraiser-Robinson.
It was estimated in 2010 that 1 in 68 children were affected by autism spectrum disorder
(Fraiser-Robinson, 113). Autism is defined by the American Psychiatric Association’s
Diagnostic and Statistical Manuel of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) as “a series of developmental
disabilities characterized by the existence of repetitive behaviors or activities, such as rocking
movements, hand clapping or obsessively arranging personal belongings” (113). Along with the
rise of autism rates, there has also been a prevalence of portrayals of autism stereotypes in the

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media. The literature review will discuss the ways autism has been portrayed in television, film,
newspapers, and literature.
Autism in Television
Autism has been portrayed in television in a variety of ways. In one study, Kang (2015)
analyzed TV frames using frequency analysis (Kang, 250). The study found that child, cause,
and personal story were the top three issues identified in network TV news (Kang, 245). In other
words, issues about children with autism, possible causes of autism, and personal stories were
presented most frequently. Kang also found that the personal (episodic) responsibility frame
outnumbered the social (thematic) one (245). Individual responsibility focuses on the origin of a
problem (in this case, autism) and social responsibility focuses on the people who have the
power to control the problem (Kang, 248). The news focused more on the origins of autism,
rather than how people in society could find ways to benefit the autism community. Kang
concluded that surveying the audience, and news about autism would provide information on
how autism is perceived by the public. The results could also improve understanding of autism
over time (Kang, 257).
Another study by Acosta-Alzuru (2013) analyzed a television protagonist, Micaela, who
had Asperger syndrome. Her goal was to examine “the tensions of creating/consuming a
protagonist intended to deliver a message of nonexclusion, who is bound by the telenovela
genre’s codes and the strains between television’s commercial and social responsibility facets”
(Acosta-Alzuru 125). For the study, she interviewed actors, audience members and the writers,
she did participant observation and textual analysis (Acosta-Alzuru, 126). She found that it was
hard to find actors to accurately portray Micaela, and although the show helped deliver an
accepting message regarding individuals with autism, more work needs to be done in raising

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awareness of autism. The fact that it was hard to find actors with autism to portray Micaela,
reflects a dominant neurotypical (non-autistic) culture in society, with little understanding of
autism in general.
She also mentions that society has a great opportunity to talk more about autism and
“listening to those with autism has never been a more available option, and it is one that those
who are in the business of making cultural representations of the condition need to take up”
(Acosta-Alzuru, 126). In other words, autism needs to be brought to the surface in the media and
people with autism need to have their voices heard. This study contradicts Kang (2013) who
focused on stories in the news instead of a TV show. Unlike Acosta-Alzuru (2013), Kang
analyzed how individuals with autism were portrayed realistically in the news, when medical
diagnoses were used to portray them.
Autism in Film and Video
Aside from the stereotypical “mathematical geek” portrayal of autism in Rain Man, other
films present autism in various ways. Holton (2013) analyzed the film Parenthood and the
autistic character Max. Holton found that the film did not focus on Max’s experiences, instead
the episodes “emphasize his behavior associated with Asperger’s Syndrome, and others’
reactions to him” (Holton, 2013). The approach placed more importance on his diagnosis of
autism and not on his feelings. Avoiding the portrayal of the feelings of individuals with autism
in the media can result in the isolation, and dehumanization of individuals with autism in the real
world. When this portrayal is “disseminated to a large enough audience, can create an illusory
image of disability based on cultural expectations that alienate disability and disabled
individuals” (Holton qt. Drake, 2010; Thomson 1996, 1997). Broderick (2010) claims that the
media portrays autism in this way because popular culture creates images of autism by

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“employing representations of the diagnosis as a disease necessitating preventions, treatments,
and a cure” (Holton qt. Broderick, 2013). One of the explanations for these portrayals is Erving
Goffman’s theory of social stigma (1963). Goffman viewed stigma as behaviors or reputations
that are seen as harmful in society. This causes an individual to be mentally classified by others
using harmful stereotypes, rather than being accepted as ”normal.” In this case, stigmas of autism
are often portrayed in the media.
The study on Parenthood is similar to Hanley (2014), who analyzed articles about autism
research and treatments. Both studies analyzed media that focused on the impacts of autism, and
ignored the personal experiences of autistic individuals. Unlike Kang (2015), this study focused
more on the societal perspective of autism instead of a familial viewpoint. Holton found that the
autism portrayal focused on “isolation and fear, with more emphasis on familial and societal
concern than individual perspectives” (Holton 2013). Reactions from society are given
importance, while individuals with autism are ignored. Aside from the focus on the condition of
autism over the individual, autism portrayal in other videos can be beneficial.
In Orta (2016), a survey was used to determine how perceptions of autism changed after
teens watched a video clip. One hundred thirty high school students were sampled for the
research and it was a 2-group quantitative, experimental design to determine whether
observational learning could impact a change in how teens viewed other teens with Aspergers
(Orta, 49). After watching the videos, the teens took the ADTP attitude survey. The findings
showed that the teens who watched the video clip of teens with autism had more positive attitude
scores than the teens who did not. In terms of the context, the videos served as an educational
tool for the teens to learn about the experience of individuals with autism. Murray (2006) states
that “accurate representations of ASD can affect how teens perceive, accept, and interact with

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peers with ASD” (Orta qt. Murray 2016). This is a manifestation of the social leaning theory,
which states that people learn about the world around them by watching other people’s behavior
(N.E. Miller and J. Dollard, 1941).
Furthermore, Orta (2016) claims that the media can help promote positive attitudes
toward people with ASD and reduce negative stereotypes. This would also lead to more
opportunities for teens with ASD to learn social behavior (Orta, 2013). Similar to Holton’s
research, Orta (2016) involved using the media to portray autism in a certain way, in an attempt
to change the perspectives of the audience. Orta used the media to portray individuals with
autism in accepting ways, similar to Acosta-Alzuru (2013) who created a protagonist with autism
for a television show. These studies suggest that awareness of autism is increasing, but there is
little attention on individual struggles and experience with autism.
Autism in Newspapers
Autism has been mentioned in newspapers and the news. In one study, McKeever (2013)
used a content analysis when reviewing articles about autism from 1996 and 2006 in The New
York Times and The Washington Post. The findings revealed that “the human frame was most
prevalent, followed by the policy frame, followed by the science frame” (McKeever, 2013). The
science frames decreased over time, while the policy frames increased. He also found that the
government, people in the medical field, families, and nonprofit organizations were the most
common sources (McKeever, 2013). This suggests that over time, there was less focus on
biology and quantitative data and more focus on personal experiences of individuals with autism.
This was similar to Kang (2013) study, when he found that personal stories about autism were
common in television news. The focus on personal experiences of autism and an increase in

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acceptance, were also shown in Orta (2016) and Acosta-Alzuru (2013). On the flip side, other
reports have portrayed autism in stereotypical ways.
Tang and Bie (2016) analyzed Chinese newspapers that presented autism in a certain
way. The newspapers analyzed stigmas and ages of people with autism. The findings showed
that the reportage of autism increased over time, but the presentation was often biased (Tang &
Bie, 2016). In other words, autism was portrayed in narrow stereotypical ways. The most
common stereotypes portrayed individuals with autism as savants, children, or parents (Tang &
Bie, 2016). Tang and Bie (2016) contrasted with Orta (2016). Orta (2016) claimed that the media
can be used to positively portray autism and help people understand individuals on the spectrum.
For example, in the study, the videos showed groups of individuals with autism discussing
friendships and relationships using communication strategies different from mainstream
communication (Orta, 2016). Tang and Bie (2016), on the other hand, demonstrated that there
are negative stereotypes of autism that need to be addressed, as shown in the Chinese newspaper
study when the individuals with autism were labeled as children, savants, and other limiting
roles. Furthermore, McKeever (2013) and Tang and Bie (2016) all suggest that more research
needs to be done to help media officials and journalists better understand autism and how to
accurately portray it (McKeever 2013, Tang & Bie, 2016). These portrayals tie to the agenda-
setting theory, which explains that if a topic is presented frequently in the news, people will
perceive it as more important. (Max McCombs & Donald Shaw, 1968). In relation to the studies,
if autism is portrayed in stereotypical ways more frequently like Tang and Bie (2016), in an
accepting way like Orta (2016) or in a neutral medical perspective (Kang 2015), then the
audience will likely believe the messages more over time.
Autism in Literature and Magazines

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Hanley (2014) examined autism in literature from 1970 to 2013. Hanley (2014) found
that the most common themes in the articles focused on autism research, treatments, and other
quantitative information. The articles portrayed autism in a scientific way and ignored the
personal experiences of individuals with autism. Hanley (2014) contrasted with McKeever
(2013) who claimed that there was less focus on the scientific aspect of autism and more focus
on personal experiences of individuals with autism on the news. Hanley (2014) suggests that
other texts need to be analyzed critically and that autistic people need to be further supported. In
contrast to this study, there are other magazines that have focused on more in-depth aspects of
autism.
Bertilsdotter, Brownlow, and O’Dell (2015) studied how magazines portray autism. More
specifically, they analyzed articles written for Empowerment, a Swedish advocacy magazine
(219). Bertilsdotter et. al (2015) suggested that both the parental view of autism and the
dominating medical view have portrayed children with autism as problematic (throwing
tantrums, being socially isolated from their peers etc.) and the negative construction of autism by
the medical community is automatically accepted (Bertilsdotter qt. Farrugia, 2009; Goin-Kochel
& Myers, 2005; Gray, 1994; Orsini, 2009; Orsini & Smith 2010). The parental view was
generally more accepting of autism, whereas the medical view focused on the flaws of the
disorder.
This study relates to the quantitative findings in Hanley (2014). Both studies focus on
autism being portrayed in terms of the flaws and the conditions of the disorder. However, in the
Swedish magazine, autism is portrayed in an accepting, empowering way. Normalization, de-
institutionalization, and inclusion have helped change the lives of people with developmental
disabilities (Lovgren, 2013) and Empowerment is a reflection of that ideology.

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In terms of the methodologies, thirty articles of Empowerment were published between
2002 and 2009. (Bertilsdotter et. al 223). Individuals without autism (also called neuro-typical)
and those with autism came together at a summer camp to have fun and interact with each other
(Bertilsdotte et. al 223). The results showed that there were two types of discussions that were
portrayed in the magazine: the reformist and the separatist (Bertilsdotter et. al 229). The
reformist view emphasizes on bringing individuals with and without autism together and
including autistic individuals in organizations. The summer camp experience was a reflection of
the reformist view. In contrast, the separatist view focuses on autistic individuals having space to
share their experiences, while excluding those without autism. Bertilsdotter et. al (2015)
conclude that this division was shown in Empowerment and that the voices of autistic individuals
are not being heard as a result of a neuro-typical dominated society (230).
Methodology
For the quantitative and the qualitative research, the question was: “How do men and
women feel about how autism is portrayed on television, in films, literature, and newspapers?”
The participants taking the surveys and talking in the interviews, were asked questions regarding
how they thought autism was portrayed in various media platforms. The research question
changed in the content analysis, when the focus was specifically on how autism was portrayed in
songs on YouTube. The question was: “How is autism presented in the media that influences
how men and women, respectively, perceive it?”
In the quantitative research process, the sample consisted of thirty-one UCCS students. A
survey was administered online through SurveyMonkey on November 3rd, and sent to classmates
via Blackboard. Availability sampling and non-probability sampling were used due to time
limitations. The sample size was originally going to be forty students, but was cut down, due to

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time constraints. This reduced sample size, skewed the results and reduced validity. The majority
of the students who took the survey were white females, and this created a bias.
In the qualitative research process, the sample size was six participants who participated
in the interviews. After reviewing the consent forms, and asking demographic questions, the
participants were asked questions involving what they thought about how autism was portrayed
in the media. They were also asked what they thought the media and society should do to change
the portrayals of autism in the media and how to encourage other people to become more aware
of the issue. The sample size was also very small, like the sample size in the survey. The white
female majority bias was also present in the interviews. In addition, some of the interviewees
appeared distracted because of the environments they were in, (dorm rooms) or their moods at
the time (tired in the evening).
In the content analysis, a sample of ten songs on YouTube were analyzed. The items that
were coded were the title, URL, and date of the songs, as well as key words that appeared a
certain number of times in the lyrics. In addition, imagery, colors, the tones of the songs, the
target audience, and the emotions they conveyed were also coded. The items were organized on a
coding sheet and further analyzed. Like the survey and the interviews, the sample size was small,
but still enough to get decent information. One of the issues was that one of the songs was hard
to understand, because the songwriter was rapping too fast to adequately code. Other videos only
displayed the lyrics on the screen, making it hard to code for imagery and emotion in the video.
There were other things that were not coded for, such as the backgrounds of the artists, and the
common stereotypes of autism.
In the survey, some of the questions were “what is your gender?” and “what is your
race?” for the demographic variables. The survey asked how many hours on average did the

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participants watch the news, TV, and been on social media. By asking questions, other variables
were operationalized, such as familiarity with autism, perceptions of autism portrayal,
stereotypes shown in the media, and whether they thought autism was portrayed in a positive,
negative, or neutral way. For the survey, the independent variable was gender, and the dependent
variable was the frequency of autistic traits shown in the media. The hypothesis was: men are
more likely than women to view daily, stereotypical, portrayals of autism in the media. From the
literature review, several studies were conducted to determine how autism was portrayed on TV,
in the news, in film, and literature. Hanley (2014) and Holton (2013) found that autism was
portrayed in a scientific way, with little regard for the personal experiences of the individuals
with autism. On the other hand, Kang (2015), McKeever (2013), and Acosta-Alzuru (2013)
found that autism was portrayed in accepting ways that focused more on the feelings of the
individuals. Contrasting the previous two studies, Tang and Bie (2016) found that Chinese
newspapers portrayed limiting autism stereotypes and labeled individuals with autism. These
studies show that the type of message portrayed, as well as the demographics of the audience,
can impact how society and the culture perceives individuals with autism, both in the media, and
in real life. This is further supported with Goffman’s social stigma theory, and the agenda-setting
theory.
For the survey and the interviews, confidentiality had to be ensured and the questions
were checked to determine that they did not pose emotional threat to the participants. Editing the
questions and getting approval was time consuming, especially for administering the survey. To
handle the issues, the consent form was shown at the beginning of the online surveys for the
participants to look at. The interviewees were introduced to the consent form before the
interviews began. Some of the questions may have been uncomfortable and personal for the

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participants to answer such as “How familiar are you with autism?” The interviewees may have
felt uncomfortable when they knew that they were being observed and notes were being taken.
They may have changed their answers/behavior, which would skew the results of the research.
Conceptualizing and operationalizing the variables was difficult, because it was hard to
figure out which variable to code for. It was time consuming editing the survey questions and
making sure they fit with IRB guidelines. Coding in SPSS was tedious and took many hours to
complete. Conducting the interviews required more time to find the interviewee, plan a time to
meet, then ask all the questions. In the content analysis, some of the songs were hard to
understand and code for. The sample size was limited in the survey, interviews, and content
analysis. Non-probability sampling was used because there was no list of all the students at
UCCS available. There was a white female majority bias in both the survey and the interviews.
Findings
A sample of thirty-one participants answered the questions in the survey. The majority of
them were white females. The independent variable was gender, and the dependent variable was
the frequency of autism portrayals in the media. It was hypothesized that men are more likely
than women to view the stereotypical portrayal of autism in the media more often. For questions
3-5 that asked how often the participants watched the news, TV, or been on social media, 58.1%
of the participants did not watch the news, 29% did not watch TV, and 32.3% spent 1 hour on
social media. 41.9% of the sample of participants said they were somewhat familiar with autism,
regarding the question that asked how familiar the participants were with autism. Furthermore,
when the participants were asked how often they thought autism was portrayed in stereotypical
ways in the media, 35.5% of participants said that the media often portrays autism in

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stereotypical ways, while another 35.5% said only sometimes. Only 19.4% said very often, and
9.7% said rarely. These statistics are shown in Table 1 below.
Table 1
Crosstab
What is your gender?
TotalFemale Male Other
On a scale of 1 to 5, how much
do you think themedia
influences perceptions of
autism?
A little Count 0 3 0 3
% within On a scale of 1 to 5,
how much do you think the
media influences perceptions of
autism?
0.0% 100.0% 0.0% 100.0%
% within What is your gender? 0.0% 30.0% 0.0% 9.7%
% of Total 0.0% 9.7% 0.0% 9.7%
Some Count 6 2 1 9
autism?
66.7% 22.2% 11.1% 100.0%
% of Total 19.4% 6.5% 3.2% 29.0%
Much Count 10 3 0 13
autism?
76.9% 23.1% 0.0% 100.0%
% of Total 32.3% 9.7% 0.0% 41.9%
A great deal Count 4 2 0 6
autism?
66.7% 33.3% 0.0% 100.0%
% of Total 12.9% 6.5% 0.0% 19.4%

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Total Count 20 10 1 31
autism?
64.5% 32.3% 3.2% 100.0%
% of Total 64.5% 32.3% 3.2% 100.0%
For the question that asked how often did they think the media focused on the fear of
autism, 51.6% of the participants said that the media rarely focuses on the fear of autism. For the
question that asked how often did the participants think that the media portrays individuals as
scholars, 35.5% of the participants said that the media rarely portrays individuals with autism as
scholars, vs 3.2% who said very often. For the question that asked how often did the participants
think the media focuses on research and treatment of autism, 48.4% of the participants said that
the media rarely focuses on research and treatment for autism, vs 3.2% who said very often. For
the question that asked how often did the participants think that the media portrays individuals
with autism as having no friends, around 38.7% of participants said that the media often portrays
individuals with autism as having no friends vs 3.2% who said never, and 9.7% who said very
often. For autism perception, 41.9% said that the media influences perceptions of autism often.
In terms of gender, 64.5% of the participants were female, 32.3% were male and 3.2%
identified as a different gender. Females said that spent a total of 20 hours on social media,
compared to 10 hours for males. 1 female said 17 hours. The mean for how often they watched
the news was .45, TV watching was 1.97 and social media was 2.84. Three males and three
females said they were unfamiliar with autism, while only two males and two females said they
were very familiar with autism. Nine females and four males said they were somewhat familiar
with autism.

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For the question that asked how familiar the participants were with autism, 3 males and 3
females said they were unfamiliar with autism, while only 2 males and 2 females said they were
very familiar with autism. 9 females and 4 males said they were somewhat familiar with autism.
8 females said that the media sometimes portrays autism in stereotypical ways, compared to 2
males. 7 females said often, compared to 4 males. 3 males and 3 females said very often. In
terms of whether autism was seen as being portrayed in a positive, negative, or neutral manner,
11 females said negative, and 8 males said negative. 5 males and 5 females said neutral. None of
the participants said that the media portrays autism in a positive way. For autism perception, 10
females said that the media influences perception of autism often, compared to 3 males. The
crosstab of gender and the perception of stereotypical portrayals of autism is shown in Table 2.
Table 2
Crosstab
On a scale of 1 to 5, how often
do you think autism is portrayed
in stereotypicalways in the
media?
Rarely Count 2 1 0 3
how often do you think autism is
portrayed in stereotypicalways
in the media?
66.7% 33.3% 0.0% 100.0%
% of Total 6.5% 3.2% 0.0% 9.7%
Sometimes Count 8 2 1 11
in the media?
72.7% 18.2% 9.1% 100.0%
% of Total 25.8% 6.5% 3.2% 35.5%

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Often Count 7 4 0 11
in the media?
63.6% 36.4% 0.0% 100.0%
% of Total 22.6% 12.9% 0.0% 35.5%
Very often Count 3 3 0 6
in the media?
50.0% 50.0% 0.0% 100.0%
% of Total 9.7% 9.7% 0.0% 19.4%
in the media?
64.5% 32.3% 3.2% 100.0%
% of Total 64.5% 32.3% 3.2% 100.0%
With the crosstab comparing gender and how many hours per day the participants spent
on social media, the result was .002, indicating there was significance between the variables. The
numbers in the other chi squares were greater than 0.05, thus there was no significance. This is
shown in Table 3, comparing gender and the participants’ perceptions of how much the media
influences perceptions of autism. The results are not significant, because .143 is greater than
.005.
Table 3
Chi-Square Tests

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Value df
Asymptotic
Significance (2-
sided)
Pearson Chi-Square 9.591a
6 .143
Likelihood Ratio 10.066 6 .122
Linear-by-Linear Association 1.394 1 .238
N of Valid Cases 31
a. 10 cells (83.3%) have expected count less than 5. The minimum expected
count is .10.
In the interviews that were conducted, such as the one with Emily, many of the
interviewees had not been exposed to autism on social media and television. All of the people
that were interviewed said that people with autism should be treated with respect like everyone
else, and have the opportunity to share their stories. This results in two findings: 1. there is little
awareness of how autism is portrayed in the media and 2. many people with autism (and other
disabilities) are overlooked or ignored when it comes to them trying to share their stories. For
example, Josh claimed that “many people are afraid of things they do not understand,” (ex.
autism). This suggests that more work needs to be done in educating other people about the
influence of stereotypes, the media, and the various obstacles that many people with autism
struggle to overcome.
The research question was: “How do men and women feel about how autism is portrayed
on television, in films, literature, and newspapers?” Two males and four females were
interviewed. Josh watched TV and the news frequently, while Patrick did not. Diana did not
watch TV or get on social media often, Jasmine only occasionally, Emily used social media
frequently and Bethany used social media around three hours a day. Based on these results, it is

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impossible to tell whether men or women are exposed to autism portrayal in the media more
frequently.
The participants expressed their views on autism portrayal in different ways. When asked
about how he felt autism was portrayed in the media, Josh said that the media perpetuates
negative stereotypes and “misrepresents people who have autism.” Patrick, on the other hand,
said that he did not watch much media, and claimed that he was not exposed to autism portrayal
in the media. Diana said that there was not enough portrayal of autism in the media other than
the “extreme, ablest, and illogical” anti-vaccine posts she saw on Tumblr. Jasmine said that she
did not pay much attention to the media. Emily said that there were a lack of portrayals, while
Bethany said that autism was portrayed as a “bad” disorder to have. Based on the interviews with
Josh, Diana, and Bethany, this suggests that some men and women claim that autism is portrayed
in negative, stereotypical ways. Also, from other interviews with Jasmine and the other
participants, some people claim that they have not been exposed to autism portrayal in the media.
There is little difference on how men and women perceive autism portrayal due to a variety of
responses from both genders.
In addition, the survey results show that females were more likely than males to view
autism portrayal in the media more often. This contradicts the hypothesis, which claimed that
men would view autism portrayal more frequently. However, the number on the chi square was
.148, which did not show significance. Therefore, it is impossible to tell whether men or women
are exposed to autism more often than the other is. Like the interviews, the majority of
participants in the survey were white females. This bias is likely a factor in the contradiction of
the hypothesis. In fact, females spent 20 hours on social media compared to 10 hours for males
in the survey. Many of the interviewees said that they did not know much about how autism is

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portrayed in the media. One of the results for the survey question supports this: out of 31
participants, 10 females and 6 males said they rarely saw the media focus on the fear of autism
compared to the other participants. For another question, 9 females said they were only
somewhat familiar with autism compared to 4 of the males. Both the survey and the interviews
had an unequal gender bias, with females outnumbering males. The participants in both studies
either claimed that the media portrays autism in negative stereotypical ways, or the participants
had little knowledge of autism portrayal in the media.
Based on the data gathered from the content analysis, the songs portrayed autism in many
ways. First, some of the songs such as “We’ll Get By” and “When the Children Cry,” portrayed
autism in sad ways. This was shown when the songwriter sang, “my autism is like a prison”
twice, and the words “when the children cry” were mentioned several times in the second video.
There was a black and white picture of a woman, presumably a mother, looking stressed in the
second video. This would imply that autism is portrayed as a disorder that is stressful for parents
of children with autism, and that people with autism are suffering from it. This is further
supported in another song “I’m in Here” with the word “crying” being used five times and a
statement that said that there was “no known cause and no cure. Yet!” These videos portrayed
autism as a disorder that needs to be fixed.
Second, autism was portrayed in more positive, hopeful ways in other songs. In “Don’t
Give Up On Me”, there was a theme of loving, being nurtured, and being cared for. The images
showed a mother hugging her autistic son. In “Reach For You,” the words “you are perfect” were
mentioned twice, representing a mother telling her autistic child that he is amazing just the way
he is. In “I’ll Never Give Up On You,” some of the words used in the description were “love,”

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“faith,” “patience,” and “determination.” These themes add a humanistic quality to autism and
individuals with autism.
Third, many of the songs encouraged the general audience to understand what people
with autism go through. Scott James sang, “Imagine what it’s like to be me,” in “Through My
Eyes.” “The Girl Inside” also reflects the theme of individuals with autism sharing their stories
and their longing to be understood by society. This is also shown, when “I’m in here” was
mentioned four times in the lyrics in video eight. In “So It Goes” the subtitles said that people
with autism “want to make friends, share their talents, and work.” The main goals were to raise
awareness for autism, and convince other people that individuals with autism are people who
have feelings, like everyone else.
Based on the survey, interviews, and content analysis, more information could be
gathered about autism portrayal in the media. First, it was discovered that many people are not
exposed to accurate portrayals of individuals with autism in the media. Jasmine mentioned in one
of the interviews: “I haven’t paid much attention to the media.” When asked about stereotypes,
she replied “stereotypes exist to make people different.” Other people who are only exposed to
detrimental displays of autism in the media, would likely associate everyone with autism as
having those stereotypical traits. Second, there is little portrayal of autism in an accepting,
understanding way in the media. Diana explained that American society places social privilege
on people without physical or mental disabilities, and oppresses people who have disabilities.
She claimed that the stereotypical portrayals are used by “neurotypical people who have
internalized stereotypes about autism.” These stereotypes appear on TV, in the news, on social
media, and other media platforms; ranging from showing children with behavioral problems, to
loners, to skilled geniuses. The stereotypes and social bias leads to misunderstanding of autism

AUTISM AND MEDIA 22
by many individuals. Next, based on the statistical evidence from the survey and the comments
of autism portrayal from the participants, it is difficult to tell if or how men and women differ on
their perceptions of autism portrayal. The responses from both the survey and the interview were
diverse responses from men and women. Next, based on the content analysis, more information
was gathered on how autism is portrayed in the media. First, autism is often portrayed as a
disorder that needs to be treated, especially in children. These negative perceptions often relate to
stereotypes of autism (children lost in their own worlds, being loners, behavioral problems, etc.)
Previously, in the interviews, several of the participants said that they saw autism being
portrayed in stereotypical ways in the media. Josh, for instance, said that the individuals with
autism were portrayed as “neurotic” and “outcasts.” Similarly, in the survey, 51.6% of the
participants said that the media portrays autism in a negative manner. The songs “When The
Children Cry” and “We’ll Get By” are examples of autism negatively being portrayed as a
disorder that needs to be cured.
Conclusion
It is suggested that there is little information on how autism is portrayed in the media,
particularly if the audience is not exposed to autism in the media. This was demonstrated by
some of the interviewees, as well as many survey participants not being familiar with autism
portrayal. The research also suggests that many portrayals of autism are limiting and revolve
around stereotypes of autism, as demonstrated by some of the songs in the content analysis.
Based on the data from the survey, females were more likely than males to view autism portrayal
in the media more often on a daily basis, thus contradicting the hypothesis. Since there were a
variety of different opinions, as well as an unequal number of men and women in the survey and

AUTISM AND MEDIA 23
interviews, it is impossible to tell if or how men or women view autism in the media more often
than the other.
There were several limitations in the research. First, in the survey, for the question that
asked if the media portrays autism in a positive, negative, or neutral manner, one participant did
not provide an answer. There was no data provided for question 13 that asked the participants to
explain their answers, because, the data was not numerical. Second, as the results were analyzed
in SPSS, it was hard to figure out whether to tell if the number was significant or what chi square
to use. The decimals between 0-1, the answers with dates, and the less than one hour answers
were rounded to 0 in SPSS. This was done because it was an easier way to calculate the data.
Third, this was an availability sample based on convenience and a non-probability sample. The
research was based on judgement, rather than random assignment. Fourth, the sample size was
thirty-one and it was too small to make adequate conclusions. Originally, the sample size was
forty students, but the size was reduced due to time constraints. Furthermore, the majority of the
survey participants were white and female, a likely factor in the contradiction of the hypothesis.
There are several limitations to the interviews. First, there was an unequal bias of men
and women that were interviewed; the majority were white women. Second, the sample of six
interviews was too small to make adequate conclusions. Third, unlike the survey, the interviews
cannot be repeated again to get the same results. Fourth, many of the interviewees said that they
had not been exposed to autism portrayal in the media frequently. In addition, some of them
appeared to be distracted or tired during the interviews. Finally, a non-probability sample was
used, based on judgement rather than random selection in the ideal research process. This was
done because there was limited time to complete the project. Missing data, a small sample, an
unequal bias of gender, and a non-probability sample are the main limitations of the research.

AUTISM AND MEDIA 24
The content analysis had several limitations. First, the sample size of ten was too small to
make adequate conclusions. Second, there were several items that were not coded for, such as the
backgrounds of the artist, common stereotypes of autism, etc. The stereotypes were not coded for
because the focus was on the imagery and emotions of the songs. It was hard to code for certain
stereotypes because they were not explicitly shown in the videos. Next, the research is not valid
in that there are no statistics or facts to support the research. The research process is not reliable,
because it cannot be repeated again to get the same results for the qualitative perspectives.
Furthermore, it was hard to understand some of the lyrics in a couple of the songs; therefore, the
song could not be analyzed adequately. Some of the videos only had the lyrics shown, and did
not show video clips of people. This was an issue because the imagery and the emotions of the
song could not be coded.
It is recommended that more research should be conducted not only on the portrayals of
autism in the media, but also on the aspects that influence perceptions of other disabilities.
Focusing more on social media in the literature review, explaining the stereotypes of autism, and
exploring other demographics such as age and socioeconomic status would contribute to further
research. It is also recommended that experimentation of the impacts of portrayals of autism in
the media, be conducted. Expanding this research could lead to awareness of people with
physical, mental, and psychological disorders. Greater acceptance of individuals with disabilities
would create a better society. Perhaps perceptions of people with disabilities will take a positive
turn in the future.

AUTISM AND MEDIA 25
Addendum
Overall, this research project was a great learning experience. It was great to experience the
process of making a survey, interviewing UCCS students, and analyzing songs. This project
showed that a great amount of information could be gained from various methods, even if it is
hard to classify at times. The main strengths were the diversity of methods used: quantitative,
qualitative, and content analysis. This allowed for statistics and the personal experiences of the
participants to support the research. It was enjoyable to learn how different people perceived the
portrayals of autism in the research methods. The interviews provided the most in-depth
information to answer the hypothesis and research questions.
However, there were several weaknesses in the research. The limitations were small sample
sizes in all three methods used and a non-probability sample. The participants in the survey and
the interviews were mostly white females. Although the survey, interviews, and the content
analysis were fun to do, starting the process, coding, and editing took a long time to do. The
literature review was also tedious to do. If there were more time to do the research, more surveys
would have been administered to have a larger sample size. The interviews would have had a
larger sample size outside of UCCS, as well as a more diverse population of participants would
be interviewed. There also would have been more time to double check the coding from SPSS. If
it came to doing this project again, the topic would likely stay the same, except go into more
depth on the stereotypes. Experimentation on media portrayals would also be a method to look
into, with approval from the IRB and the resources available to use. Other media platforms
would be investigated, like blogs, websites, books, and other forms of media. What are other
ways that social research is conducted? How can social research be used for careers in social
work and counseling?

AUTISM AND MEDIA 26
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Appendix
https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/Preview/?sm=brcMabVvAudzXdnviuJTbPwi7VR
7Sh4fnRW8xUPSJoD09Sbt1BuDOhpFpwouR8MY
https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/VV7NZLK
Crosstab
On a scale of 1 to 5, how often
do you think autism is portrayed
in stereotypicalways in the
media?
Rarely Count 2 1 0 3
in the media?
66.7% 33.3% 0.0% 100.0%
% of Total 6.5% 3.2% 0.0% 9.7%
Sometimes Count 8 2 1 11
in the media?
72.7% 18.2% 9.1% 100.0%
% of Total 25.8% 6.5% 3.2% 35.5%
Often Count 7 4 0 11
in the media?
63.6% 36.4% 0.0% 100.0%
% of Total 22.6% 12.9% 0.0% 35.5%
Very often Count 3 3 0 6
in the media?
50.0% 50.0% 0.0% 100.0%

AUTISM AND MEDIA 31
% of Total 9.7% 9.7% 0.0% 19.4%
in the media?
64.5% 32.3% 3.2% 100.0%
% of Total 64.5% 32.3% 3.2% 100.0%
Interview 1: Josh
Date: 10-31-2016
Time: 2:40pm-3:00pm
Location: Anthropology classroom
Question 1: What is your gender? Answer: Male.
Question 2: What is your race? Answer: White.
Question 3: How often do you watch TV? Answer: Almost every day
Question 4: How often do you watch the news? Answer: A lot every day
Question 5: How often do you spend time on social media? Answer: Not that much
Question 6: When you hear the word “autism” what comes to mind first?
Answer: Josh first thought of people who do not make eye contact. He associated the word
“autism” with people with learning disabilities who were seen as socially awkward.
Question 7: How do you feel about how autism is portrayed in the media?
Answer: Josh had mixed feelings of how autism is portrayed. He explained that the media
misrepresents individuals with autism and that it perpetuates stereotypes.
Question 8: Have you ever seen autism portrayed or discussed in the media? How often do you
see autism in the media? What contexts? Answer: He said that spends lots of time watching TV
and that the media portrays autism in stereotypical ways.
Question 9: If you could portray autism (or any disability) in any media form for a project, how
would you do it, and why?
Answer: He said that he would “keep it real” with no misrepresentation of autism like many TV
shows. He then explained in frustration how there is misinformation about autism on blogs, such
as the claim that vaccines are a cause of autism.
Question 10: Do you think autism stereotypes exist? In what ways?
Answer: Josh explained that people do not want to hear assumptions about autism; they only
want simple answers. Opinions about autism are biased, according to him.
Question 11: What are some cultural demographics that might influence perception of autism
and disabilities in general? Why do you think some cultural demographics may be more
influential than others in influencing how autism is portrayed?

AUTISM AND MEDIA 32
Answer: According to him, many college-aged individuals are more understanding of people
with disabilities because they know about the disabilities and society. In northeastern American
culture, people were more accepting to others they knew, than to random strangers. Josh also
added that women were more sympathetic and tolerant toward individuals with disabilities in
general, with men being not as sympathetic. Influencing factors of women being more accepting
would be gender bias and socialization. He explained that women were more sympathetic and
tolerant toward individuals with disabilities in general, with men being not as sympathetic.
Influencing factors of women being more accepting would be gender bias and socialization.
Question 12: What are some techniques that the media and society could use to portray autism in
a more accepting way?
Answer: First, Josh said that that was a hard question. Then he explained that showing
individuals with autism as people would be an important technique. Media that he watched, often
portrayed people with autism as “neurotic” and “outcasts.” When it comes to gaining information
about autism and disabilities, said that people should ask professionals like the American
Psychological Association, instead of other people who do not know about the disorder. The
more we know about what autism really is, the more likely people will accept those who have it.
Question 13: How much do you think society has done so far to raise awareness of autism and
how has it been portrayed in the media? Where are areas of improvement?
Answer: Josh said that we have come a long way. He said that in modern times, it is okay for
someone to say that he/she has a disability or that someone they know has a disability. There is
more understanding and acceptance of learning disabilities, but society still has a long way to go.
Question 14: What do you propose needs to be done about autism awareness and portrayal?
Answer: He said that many people are afraid of things they do not understand like autism. Some
portrayals of autism are beneficial, but they are not as common as negative portrayals. An
example of a stereotypical portrayal he gave was from a TV show called Closure, where a child
was lost in his own world, even during a traumatic event.
Overall, the interview went smoothly. Although, I was nervous at first, I soon grew
comfortable in my role. Josh briefly comforted me when I was nervous and encouraged me to
take deep breaths. He wanted to make sure that he gave good answers to the questions and I said
that he did. During the interview, he made good eye contact with me and used his hands when he
explained his perspectives of autism portrayal. Josh had a frustrated tone of voice when he
mentioned that many people do not understand autism, and therefore they make illogical
assumptions and stereotypes about it. Both of us were interested in the topic of disabilities, and
we occasionally exchanged ideas of our own. When the interview was over, I thanked Josh for
his participation and we exchanged a casual fist bump at the end. After he left, I went back to my
homework.
Interview 2: Diana
Date: 11-1-16
Time: 9:00-9:22pm
Location: Dorm living room
Question 1: What is your gender? Answer: Female.
Question 2: What is your race? Answer: White.
Question 3: How often do you watch TV?

AUTISM AND MEDIA 33
Answer: It depends on whether I have school or not. Around 2-4 hours per day.
Question 4: How often do you watch the news? Answer: Never.
Question 5: How often do you send time on social media? Answer: Two hours per week at the
least.
Answer: The first thing that came to Diana’s mind was people on the autism spectrum. She told
me that she met a boy who was very autistic and could not function on his own. In therapy
group, she worked with a girl who had Aspergers, a milder form of autism. She said that autism
is a spectrum and you can’t group individuals under one label.
Answer: Diana explained that there was not enough portrayal of autism in the media. The
portrayals that she saw were articles on the anti-vaccine movement, which, in her opinion were
extreme and illogical. Teenagers and college students were criticizing an organization called
Autism Speaks on Tumblr. She mentioned that Autism Speaks and society are very ablest; they
give social privilege to people who are not disabled. In this case, both the anti-vaccine movement
and Autism Speaks portray autism as a “bad” disorder for children, teens, and adults to have.
see autism in the media? What contexts?
Answer: Diana explained that saw autism portrayed when she saw anti-vaccine posts on Tumblr.
She was not exposed to media that much.
Answer: Diana would consult people who have autism first and let them “have the reins and
pens.” She said that she would not get too involved and instead would let individuals with autism
represent themselves in the media. If disadvantaged groups could tell their stories, then there
would be more accurate representations of autism in the media.
Answer: We live in a very ablest society. There are not a lot of accurate, accepting images of
autism in the media. The stereotypical portrayals of autism are used by neurotypical people who
have internalized stereotypes about autism.
Answer: Before Diana answered, she mentioned that this was a hard question. She said that the
demographics would depend on which gender has more prevalence of autism. In terms of race,
African Americans can be less likely to receive help for disabilities than whites. The support of
social systems affects the level of help people can get. Caucasians are more likely to get help
from social resources. She then said that most privileged groups were neurotypical white men.
The white men could be influential in influencing how autism is portrayed. They could portray
autism accurately and as a “good” disorder, or an overly stereotypical inaccurate portrayal. It
depends on who is portraying the stories and how much social privilege they have.
Answer: By the people, for the people. Let people with autism have more control over what is
portrayed in the media (directing, writing, talking). The portrayal of skilled savants can be

AUTISM AND MEDIA 34
cilices. It is cool that people with autism are portrayed as intelligent, but it should not be done to
the extreme.
Answer: Diana stated again that she saw many posts on Tumblr about autism. She talked about
how college students, and teenagers 13, 14, and 15 years old were speaking out about Autism
Speaks, describing them as a “good counterculture” to the technical negative portrayals of the
disorder. Thinking critically about controversial topics such as the anti-vaccine debate and
Autism Speaks is important, according to her.
Answer: By the people, for the people. Give people with autism the right to share their own
stories.
Even though both of us were getting tired, it was a great interview overall. There were a
couple of questions that Diana had trouble answering. I let her think about her answers for
several minutes, and then she responded. She seemed interested in the topic, even though she did
not have as much media exposure as my first participant. Both of us had good eye contact as we
sat comfortably on soft chairs. Although she was not exposed to autism in the media as much,
Diana did have knowledge on how disability is correlated with social norms and how these
norms are displayed in the media. I thanked her for her time and then I went back to my dorm to
read.
Interview 3: Jasmine
Date: 11-7-16
Time: 9:32-9:58am
Location: Bedroom
Question 1: What is your gender? Answer: Female
Question 2: What is your race? Answer: Caucasian
Answer: She said that it varies all the time. She usually watched Netflix on her computer, around
30 minutes per day.
Question 4: How often do you watch the news?
Answer: “Whenever my mom has (the news) on.” Jasmine often watches the news on weekends.
Question 5: How often do you spend time on social media?
Answer: “Way too much.” “My Facebook is like my phone.” 30 minutes per day.
Answer: “That’s a hard question… Disability?” She would often think, “Get over it.”
Answer: “I haven’t paid much attention to the media.”
Answer: Jasmine said that she had not seen autism in the media very much.
Answer: She said that she did not know, at first. An art project, according to her. She would
portray disabilities in a “colorful, positive” way.

AUTISM AND MEDIA 35
Answer: “Stereotypes exist to make people different. That is how stereotypes work.”
Answer: She said that a factor would be the “way a person looks” as well as their behavior. She
then stated that she was better with numbers and business information.
Question 12: What are some techniques that the media and society could use to portray autism
in a more accepting way?
Answer: Jasmine said that they could “stop portrayal” altogether. She said that she does not
watch much media and that people should treat people with disabilities normally.
Answer: “I don’t watch media for the most part.”
Answer: “I have no idea.” Jasmine said that there was no autism in a show that she liked and that
she mostly had pictures of horses and animals.
Jasmine lay down comfortably on her bed, saying that she would like to answer my
questions and so she could get a distraction from her homework. Even though she remained in
the same position, she still made good eye contact with me. Out of my other interviewees, she
had the least exposure to autism portrayal in the media. However, like everyone else I met up
with, Jasmine said that people with disabilities want to be treated normally like human beings.
Unlike the other interviews, this one felt more rushed, even though it was in a quiet space. At the
end, I thanked her for her time and then went to analyze my notes.
Interview 4: Emily
Date: 11-7-16
Time: 10:41-11:03am
Location: Living room/kitchen
Question 3: How often do you watch TV? Answer: Never.
Answer: She goes under websites but does not watch TV.
Answer: “Too often.” Emily was not sure how many hours she spends on.
Answer: Conversation, issues/difficulties
Answer: “It is lacking.” She had not seen any media portrayals with autism.
Answer: She said that the autism stereotypes were over-exaggerated, particularly in movies and
on TV.

AUTISM AND MEDIA 36
would you do it and why?
Answer: Emily said that she would portray autism people as they really are in movies and
performances. She said that it should be made less taboo.
Answer: “It is taboo.” Media people are uneducated in these areas.
Answer: Depends on the people you ask. She said that age is a factor for her. It differs from
person to person.
Answer: Portray them as they really are and focus on their everyday life.
how it has been portrayed in the media? Where are areas of improvement?
Answer: “I don’t watch many shows.” Everything can be improved.
Answer: Have actors/actresses with autism play people with autism. Do not complicate their
lives and experiences. “Talk more about it!”
This interview went well. Emily answered my first several questions as she was getting
food from the kitchen. Then she sat down on a stool to answer my other questions. Other than
getting food, there were no other distractions. She made eye contact with me and she used hand
gestures when she talked. Even though, she was not exposed to autism in the media, she knew
more about autism than my previous interviewee did. Like the other interviews, she wanted
people with autism to be accepted and treated like everyone else. One of the main points she said
was that talking about disabilities is seen as taboo and that there needs to be more portrayal of
autism in the media. She was also very polite to me as well. I thanked her for my time and then
went straight to my notes when I got back to my room.
Interview 5: Bethany
Date: 11-7-16
Time: 2:25-2:40pm
Location: Classroom
Answer: Around three hours a week
Answer: Never
Answer: Three hours a day.
Answer: People. One student comes to lessons; he has energy and is fun to be with, but had some
behavioral issues.

AUTISM AND MEDIA 37
Answer: It is negative portrayal. There are lots of anti-vaccine controversy. People are afraid of
differences. Some would rather have their children die of a disease than be stuck with a disorder.
Answer: Bethany said that autism is portrayed on TV and in sitcoms. It is perceived as a “bad”
obstacle to overcome.
Answer: Autism is in TV shows and sitcoms. Autism is portrayed as an obstacle to be overcome.
Answer: For any difference such as gender, race and physical/mental ability, the best way is to
“not make a big deal out of it.” Have autism out there, let it be there, do not let it be the focus of
a story. We are more similar than we think.
Answer: “People are afraid of difference.” Anything new is intensified. Anything new leads to
misunderstanding because of a lack of education. Do not let misunderstanding effect people.
Cultural demographics are already influential in perception of autism and disabilities. Millennials
are much more open-minded than the older generation. Millennials have been exposed to the
idea of embracing difference. The older generations are stuck in their beliefs.
Answer: Do not make a big deal out of it. Portray everyone as human, first. Acceptance, not
difference.
Answer: Millennials are more accepting because of social media. She likes the puzzle support
ribbons and individual changes drives social change. Hollywood and the media drives
conversations about acceptance of disabilities and differences backwards. Conversations are well
with individuals, not well with social media. Social media needs improvement on how it portrays
autism and human differences. The U.S and worldwide could benefit from accurate portrayals.
Answer: Treat everyone like human beings. Create society into a place where it is ok to talk
about differences. Diversity makes U.S. and worldwide great.
This interview was very insightful. We sat down next to each other at a desk and got
started. Bethany was polite and had good eye contact with me. Similar to my first and second
interviews, this person had knowledge of the sociological factors behind autism portrayal in the
media. A common theme was her mentioning that the younger millennial generation are, in
general, more accepting of individuals who are seen as different, from the older generations.
Bethany also mentioned that people are afraid of things they do not understand and that people
with autism should be treated like normal human beings. Fear of difference, raising awareness,
and accepting other people are themes that have been common in several of my previous
interviews. What made this interview unique was that she specifically explained cultural factors
that influence perceptions of autism: social media exposure, and generation gaps. Bethany also

AUTISM AND MEDIA 38
added that these factors extended to race, gender, status, and other backgrounds. When the
interview was over, I thanked her for her time and went back to my seat to analyze my notes.
Interview 6: Patrick
Date: 11-7-16
Time: 8:40-8:57pm
Location: Dorm living room
Question 1: What is your gender? Answer: Male
Answer: Not very often. There is nothing on his cable network service. Although, he does like
cartoons and watched TV with his family on occasion.
Answer: Patrick never turns on the news; he only watches the news when his mother turns it on.
Answer: Patrick goes on Facebook and social media every once in a while.
Answer: A type of mental disorder, trouble understanding the difference between social cues,
lower external awareness, higher internal awareness to counteract.
Answer: Patrick said that he had not watched a whole lot, characters may be seen as having
autism, but not directly stated.
Answer: He said that he occasionally has seen autism portrayed in the media. He said he does not
watch much TV or watch the news.
Answer: Patrick saw a news report that autism appears in 1 in 88 people. Awareness of autism is
increasing as well as autism itself, but what autism actually is, needs to be increased.
Question 10: Why do you think autism stereotypes exist and why is autism portrayed in
different ways in the media?
Answer: Have characteristics for characters but they are not relevant. Autistic people are on the
same level as everyone else. He likes diverse ethnology groups.
Answer: Not sure what autism stereotypes are, he said he was not social. He said there was no
difference in the influence of cultural demographics.
Answer: Making autistic people equal contributors alongside non-autistic people.

AUTISM AND MEDIA 39
Answer: (He asked me to ask the question again.) Could be more, do not hear about it often,
many people do not know the full definition of autism.
Answer: Patrick said that he did not have a lot of exposure to autism portrayal in the media.
There should be more awareness of the full definition of autism, what it really is, what makes
them autistic, and what it is like for many people. This portrayal and awareness could lead to
greater understanding and acceptance of people with autism.
This interview went well. I sat with Patrick on the couch and we got started. He used his
hands when he talked and made some eye contact. He talked less about broad sociological
concepts and focused more on definitions of autism. This was similar to many of my other
interviewees who were not exposed to autism portrayal in the media. I thanked him for his time
and left to go study.

AUTISM AND MEDIA 40
Date
of
video
Title and URL Context of
lyrics
Gender
of
artist
Emotions of
song
Target
audience
Imagery/colors
Apr 1
2014
“We’ll Get By” by Johnny Orr Band. YouTube
video, 3:55.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cBOSr7JK8OA
“My autism is
like a prison”
mentioned
twice, “cry”
mentioned
twice, “mind”
twice.
Encourages
patience and
understanding
of autistic
children, even
with struggles
Male Sad, hopeful,
“sadness” “joy”
“feelings in the
mind”
Parents,
general
audience
People in
shadow, kids
in classroom
May
16
2013
“When The Children Cry” by Flatline. YouTube
video, 4:44.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HTRf5d_TyGI
“When the
children cry”
mentioned
many times
Male “Cry” sadness General
audience
Children
swinging,
distressed
mother, black
and white
clips, autism
statistics in
subtitles,
woman
introducing
autism in the
beginning,
rapper holding
his autistic son
Feb 24
2013
“So It Goes” by Songs For Autism Campaign.
YouTube video, 4:16.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s1zZt4jHvnk
Autism
statistics at
beginning,
“Self-injury,
aggression,
flight”
subtitles.
People with
autism want to
“make friends,
share their
talents, and
work”, It
comes and it
goes” three
times, “we go”
twelve times
Female
and
Male
“Innocence”
“sadness” “love”
General
audience,
parents,
mothers
Sad black and
white picture
of a boy,
pictures of
cute children,
mother
holding son,
protester
holding sign:
“If you cut my
son’s budget,
can he move in
with you?”
Aug
13
2011
“Don’t Give Up on Me” by Victoria Boland.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qdGGqsQs2LI
Theme of
nurturing and
needing to be
cared for,
“Love” five
times
Female “Love”
“Longing”
“Need” “Effort
to be good”
General
audience,
parents
Colorful
images of
children, DNA
helixes,
clouds,
silhouette of a
teenage boy,
etc.

AUTISM AND MEDIA 41
Apr
30
2010
“The Girl Inside” by Emily Burke. YouTube video,
4:11.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FDzAcZFI7qA
“Life with
autism is far
from easy”
statement at
beginning
“Understand”
used twice,
“inside” used 8
times, “me”
used 20 times,
“see” used 9
times
Female “Longing”
“Love”
“understanding
mental life”
“apologetic”
“Self-
confidence”
General
audience,
parents
Photo of artist,
lyrics in white
letters,
background
changing color
with the words
“simply cannot
hide” People
with autism
are caring and
loving,
encourages
other people to
understand and
listen to them
Mar
19
2011
“Through My Eyes” by Scott James. YouTube
video, 3:54.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UGCrzmJfwcE
Theme of
understanding,
“I am not…”
three times,
“Imagine what
it’s like” seven
times
Male “Knowledge”
“Freedom”
“Understanding”
“bright future”
“Faith”
“Working
together”
General
audience
Songwriter
singing in the
video, writing
lyrics, Sunlight
shines through
a window
Jan 16
2013
“Reach For You” by Eric Strangeland and Erika
Davidson. YouTube video, 3:59.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rpVaMLpTYe0
“You are
perfect”
mentioned
twice, “Give
you love”
three times,
mother sings
she will do
everything to
help her son
Male
and
Female
“Love”
“Happiness”
General
audience,
parents
Pictures of
babies, mother
holding baby’s
hand
Mar 7
2008
“I’m In Here” by BJ McKelvie. YouTube video,
4:32.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1hiQYurSJCQ
“Crying” sung
five times,
“I’m in here”
mentioned four
times. The
song played on
the radio will
support funds
to “fight
autism.”
“…no known
cause and no
cure. Yet!”
Male
and
Female
Love, sadness,
longing “this
song will touch
people’s hearts
and help raise
awareness for
autism.”
Children,
general
audience
Picture of
mother
holding child
to a sunset,
pictures of
various
children.
Mar
21
2014
“Not So Different” by Cassandra Kubinski.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uXxCDJ5ZoW4
“Different”
used 10 times,
“Listen” used
3 times, Many
words related
Female “Awareness”
“self-
expression”
“love” “joy”
People must
General
audience
Images of
children and
people in their
everyday lives,

AUTISM AND MEDIA 42
to light and
darkness:
“Spectrum”
“Color”
“Light”
“Dark”
work together to
understand each
other and people
with autism
Children doing
arts and crafts,
a girl removes
a paper mask
that a boy
holds to his
face
May
27
2014
“I’ll Never Give Up on You” by George L.
Rodriguez. YouTube video, 4:15.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A8a6ufii_1s
Never giving
up, “Themes
of self: you,
yourself, your,
you’re used 29
times total,
Other people
will be there
for autistic
children
Male “Laughter”
“Love”
“Patience”
“Faith”
“Determination”
children
with
autism
White lyrics
on a space
background

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