Curious Incident of Dog in Nightime

LASR lab outing today to see the Curious Incident of the Dog in Nighttime at TPAC. 

Protagonist is a Brit autistic teen. The first half was a little emotionally tense and bit upsetting, was almost going to leave during intermission. Second half led to good ending though. 

Lets critique Media Representation of Autism -  since the character is autistic

Accurate portrayal of familiar themes

• Portrayal of sensory overstimulation at the train station so real that I was getting overwhelmed. It was difficult to watch. That's how every airport and conference feels. 
• Also that over-reaction to seemingly small stuff, resulting in meltdown (though my triggers and meltdowns look different)
• Abandonment is an underlying fear and reality for many autistics on multiple front.

• Abandonment by one parent: One parent absconding very common in autism families, divorce rates super high. This was well portrayed in this play - No sympathy for the mom in this play - just took off and trying to assuage her own guilt through letters.
• Abandonment due to burnout of caretakers. Unfortunate reality of the primary caregivers (parents) getting burnt out, due to lack of proper supports and services. It's like the kids I grew up with in special ed classes, slowly start disappearing into these black holes (residential program, group home, homeless) as they approached teen and adulthood.
• Societal abandonment. Everyone is willing to tolerate the cute autistics kids, no one wants the adults. The only adults they want are the good patients.

What I did not like about autism portrayal in this play. 

•  Reinforcing stereotype of the highly 'literal' autistic, which makes for good comedy writing (the audience sure laughed about his obsession with prime numbers) but this stereotype is not totally accurate. 
• Unfortunately representations like this  influences caretaker and professionals and resultant care and therapy. Most professionals really believe this to be 'literally' true - my speech therapist remarking that I must be 'literal' thinker cuz ALL autistics are literal thinkers. I question this as many autistics are artists (visual, poetry, creative writing) all of which involve metaphor, even as others are good in math or numbers or logical thinking; and why can't you enjoy both.  This literal stereotype in turn adds fuel to the other stereotype that you cannot emotionally relate and probably lack empathy. 

Oh, I'm dressed for World Autism Day.  

The red ink not totally visible but my T-Shirt says "Raise the Roof for Autism"