From Pixar to picture books, representation is better than ever
Pixar studios made waves recently with its short film “Float,” a beautiful tribute from a father to his autistic son. The short film made headlines because autistic people are often overlooked by mainstream media.
Pixar has no plans to stop, either. Coming in January 2020, they will be releasing another short film, “Loop,” again starring an autistic child. In this new film, a nonverbal autistic girl and a talkative neurotypical boy go on a canoeing trip. During their trip, they learn about how the other person sees the world and how to communicate with people who are different.
I love the idea of this film and am so excited to see it in the new year! Not only does it aim to increase acceptance of autistic people and celebrate their differences, but it also stars a girl of color. People of all races and genders can be autistic, and it is exciting to see an increase in the diversity of representation.
Of course, those without Disney+ or who prefer other modes of entertainment may want more options. Luckily, “Loop” isn’t the only new thing coming in 2020.
Here are a few additional projects to look forward to:
- Your Interests, My Interests by Joel Shaul. Joel has written several books for autistic kids aimed at helping them interact with their peers. This latest book outlines how to play with others and is especially great for kids learning how to interact and understand those who think differently. A great resource for all kids! Coming in February of 2020.
- The Kids’ Guide to Getting Your Words on Paper by Lauren Brukner. Many autistic children have other learning differences, with dyslexia being one of the most common. This book, aimed at 7-11 year olds, helps kids with fine motor skills, reading strategies, and multi-sensory writing techniques to make language arts easier and more fun! It arrives on book shelves in April 2020.
- The Spectrum Girls’ Survival Guide by Siena Castellon. Autistic girls have long been ignored compared to their male counterparts, and many recent studies are showing that diagnoses are often biased. This is why representation and resources for autistic girls are so important! The Spectrum Girls’ Survival Guide is a perfect book to help any young girl navigate her world. Coming in March of 2020.
With the new year just around the corner, it’s exciting to be able to look forward to all the new projects coming our way!
For more suggestions:
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