In support of Autism Acceptance Month, Idaho Public Television recognizes the varied experiences of those on the autism spectrum and works to raise awareness, promote acceptance, and celebrate neurodiversity in our Idaho communities.
The CDC reports that across its surveillance sites in 2020, an average of 1 in every 36 (2.8%) 8-year-old children were estimated to have Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), a developmental disability that can cause social, communication, and behavioral challenges.
Despite its prevalence, autism affects each person differently. Children with ASD are often good visual learners with focused interests. Encouraging these kids to lean into their interests is one way parents and educators can help meet children where they are and provide opportunities for them to connect with their peers.
By increasing education around ASD for young children, and exposing them to characters with autism through media like Hero Elementary, Carl the Collector, Daniel Tiger, Xavier Riddle, and Sesame Street, we can use the power of public media to positively shape children’s understanding and views about autism.
We’ve assembled a collection of videos, parent resources, and book recommendations and more:
Understanding Autism
Understanding Autism follows filmmaker Scott Steindorff as he aims to discover more about his own autism. Speaking to autistic people all across the spectrum, he seeks to reframe the perception of autism by focusing on the identification, diagnosis, and treatment by highlighting the amazing talents and love of neurodiversity. Watch this show and many more anytime, anywhere on the free PBS App.
A World of Difference
World of Difference: Embracing Neurodiversity explores issues related to learning disabilities experienced from childhood through college. Through conversations with neurodiverse families, tips from experts, and profiles of famous and/or successful individuals with learning differences, the series empowers and celebrates neurodiverse families around the world. Watch this show and many more anytime, anywhere on the free PBS App.
Carl the Collector
Carl the Collector is a show about empathy and compassion. This popular animated series for children ages 4 to 8 and their families breaks new ground as the first PBS KIDS series to feature central characters on the autism spectrum.
The series follows Carl, a warm-hearted raccoon who loves collecting things. Through its stories, the series celebrates the many different ways kids think and express themselves, while helping them explore how to participate in their communities.
The show includes a suite of digital content for kids, families, and teachers to reinforce its core messages, support play, encourage creative expression and promote the exploration of self-identity and community.
Carl the Collector resources:
- Parent resources
- Videos online and on the free PBS KIDS Video App
- Games online and on the free PBS KIDS Games App
More Resources
A Personal Story
How PBS KIDS Shows Benefit My Son With Autism
By Bea Moise
April is Autism Awareness Month, but, in our house, autism awareness is every day. As a mother of a child on the spectrum, we live with the struggles and celebrations daily. April presents an opportunity for families like ours to talk to others about Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).
We tend to fear the unknown. When a child has not had the opportunity to be around a child on the spectrum, it is unfamiliar, and some stereotypical ASD behavior can be off-putting. As a parent with a child on the spectrum, all I want is for his peers to accept him for who he is. By exposing children to different people, this will increase their empathy and compassion for other people.
Case Study
Public Media Educates
Excerpted from article by Momo Hayakawa, Ph.D., Managing Director of Child Development and Research at Twin Cities PBS
PBS station WQPT in Illinois worked with Eunice Chow at WestEd, an independent, non-profit education research and development agency, who showed a Hero Elementary episode called “AJ’s Extra Superpower” to kids 5-8. The episode draws direct attention to AJ Gadget's autism. After watching the episode, researchers asked the children questions about their attitudes around and understanding of autism.
Here is what the study revealed:
- Most children at this age have not heard of autism or they had a misunderstanding of what it really was.
- After watching the show, children’s understanding of autism grew, and, most interestingly, their views of autism changed positively.
- What’s even more exciting is that some kids started listing AJ as their favorite because of his autism. A first-grader in the study said that his favorite character was “AJ because he has the extra autism power!”
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