For years, documentaries have been used as an educational resource to teach Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD), but the number of titles has been limited. As the rate of autism diagnoses increases, more and more parents are looking to equip themselves with as much knowledge as possible. The thing is, there is now so much information available (of varying quality) that it can be extremely daunting.

For those looking to choose an autism documentary for information, it should be noted that ASD documentaries were made in the 90s. They can be an invaluable resource as families can see proof that different therapies can work and not give up hope that one day their child can lead an independent life.

There are many enjoyable movies that feature ASD as well as shows and movies that children with autism can enjoy. This article uncovers some of the best ASD documentaries made, a list of autism movies, and some animations your autistic child might absolutely love.

Autism Documentaries

The horse boy

The horse boy is a heartfelt documentary featuring a father who would do anything to help his son. This documentary follows the story of the Isaacson family and their autistic young son Rowen. Rowen loves horses and his behavioral symptoms seem to lessen when he is around them. This revelation does not go unnoticed as Rowen and his family leave their Texas home to travel through Mongolia in search of shamans and nomadic horsemen who could help heal Rowen.

Life, Anime

Life, Anime explores the life of Owen Suskind. Owen was diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder when he stopped speaking at age three. As a child with autism, Owen had a love for Disney animated films which he used to create the way he communicated. To find a channel of communication with their son, Owen’s parents found themselves immersed in the same Disney animated movies that Owen loved. As Owen developed his communication skills, he discovered he had a story to tell. Life, Anime is narrated by Owen Suskind and features an animated version of his story.

A Mother’s Courage: Talking About Autism

Aware that her ten-year-old autistic son may never be able to be independent or express himself, Margaret travels to the United States and Europe to speak to parents and scientists in an effort to better understand autism . spectrum disorder. Margaret speaks to parents whose children have also been diagnosed with ASD and who share similar difficulties in their daily lives. Margaret meets many of the leading scientists and doctors in the field of autism, such as Dr. Temple Grandin, bestselling author and autism advocate, and Dr. Simon Baron-Cohen, director of the Center for Autism Research. autism from the University of Cambridge.

This autism company

This autism company is a documentary that explores the social and economic benefits of employing young adults with autism. This documentary exposes the reality of the lack of job opportunities for people with autism. Watch them showcase companies and different initiatives focused on employing people with ASD.

The reason I jump

This documentary film is based on Naoki Higashida’s autobiography and directed by Jerry Rothwell. There are many documentaries based on the lives of people with autism, but very few based on the point of view of non-verbal young people. This film examines the thoughts of a young Naoki who answers 50 questions he wants to ask about people with autism and explores other stories of young non-verbal/non-conversative young people and the challenges their parents or guardians face in trying to understand them.

autism in love

This award-winning documentary film follows the journey of four adults with autism spectrum disorders as they seek out and navigate romantic relationships. Join autistic couple Dave and Lindsey who have been together for eight years as they decide to get married, young adult Lenny who lives with his single mother, and Stephen who struggles with his wife’s terminal illness. This film explores the difficulties of dating and long-term relationships when on the spectrum.

Autism is a world

This documentary film follows the story of Sue Reuben, who was thought to be intellectually disabled until the age of 13. This documentary shows Sue’s journey as she is diagnosed with ASD and trained in facilitated communication which “wakes up” her brain and helps her be able to go to high school and college and lead a somewhat “normal” life. “.

Beyond the Spectrum: A Family Year Facing Autism

When the parents of Carly and Stef’s two-year-old son are diagnosed with ASD, they take a year off to focus on his therapies. Follow the family of seven as they navigate life with four young children and their autistic son Oskar as they navigate the first year of Oskar’s diagnosis and face harsh realities while questioning themselves difficult, such as: does accepting Oskar mean accepting his autism?

Sounding the Alarm: Tackling the Autism Epidemic

Sound the alarm follows the lives of 12 families affected by autism as they face diagnostic battles in adulthood. This documentary examines the challenges and opportunities these families have faced due to financial hardship and politics.

As educational as these documentaries are, there are just as many, if not more, fun films that feature autism spectrum disorders. Here are some of those movies.

autism movies

Grandin Temple

A powerful and well-known individual in the autism community, this biopic follows the story of Dr. Temple Grandin, a woman on the spectrum who becomes one of the top scientists in the humane farming industry.

extremely loud and incredibly close

This film follows a young autistic boy named Oskar who has just lost his father. A year after his father’s death, Oskar finds a key in his father’s belongings and embarks on a mission to find where it leads.

rain man

rain man features a young Tom Cruise who plays Charlie Babbit, a car dealer who kidnaps his autistic brother Raymond in an attempt to convince him to give up his inheritance.

What eats Gilbert Raisin

Johnny Depp stars as Gilbert Grape, a young man from a small town who is responsible for his younger brother Arnie, who is on the spectrum, and their morbidly obese mother.

Movies and TV Shows Autistic Children Might Enjoy

Daniel Tiger’s neighborhood

This animated children’s series centers on the life of Daniel Tiger and his friends. The series presents socio-emotional themes related to children, demonstrating real challenges and friendship.

Upside down

A favorite among kids and adults, Inside Out is a great way to teach your child about emotional regulation.

The world of Nemo

A Disney classic, The world of Nemo is about a clownfish named Marlin whose son Nemo is swept away by humans. Marlin goes to great lengths to get his son back. In order to obtain Nemo, Marlin must be flexible, as well as able to adapt and work with others in order to find his son.

Final Thoughts

Watching these documentaries and films is a good way to remember that you are not alone in the challenges you face. These documentaries are a source of education and inspiration. The journey people face every day with autistic children or adults can be completely different from each other. Many of these documentaries were made by parents who want to help educate and eliminate the stigma surrounding ASD.

The references:

OnlineHuard M. (2014). The reality of fiction: understanding autism through narrative films. Ann Arbor MI: ProQuest LLC

https://www.proquest.com/openview/ad853e7b56aacbff0db37b52b7a95aa0/1?pq-origsite=gscholar&cbl=18750

Support Autism Parenting Magazine

We hope you enjoyed this article. To help us create more useful information like this, please consider subscribing to Autism Parenting Magazine.