# data[].attributes.headline
Everything you need to know about Autism 

# data[].attributes.subject
Everything you need to know about Autism 

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Autism Speaks is dedicated to promoting solutions, across the spectrum and throughout the lifespan, for the needs of individuals with autism and their families. Your tax deductible donation will support advocacy efforts, increase acceptance and understanding of the condition and advance research into better treatments.

# data[].attributes.body
Sam is a high-school student with Autism. He and his family are searching for the meaning of being "normal" in this coming-of-age show.

# data[].attributes.body
The group of casted actors with Autism

# data[].attributes.headline
How the media perceives disability and typical stereotypes that marginalize viewers perception 

# data[].attributes.subject
How the media perceives disability and typical stereotypes that marginalize viewers perception 

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Media Representation of Disabled People: A Critical Analysis

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
home overviewa critical analysis media perspectivessuper heroes & the tragic the role of charities public perceptionparents perspective hidden impairmentssocial & ethical issues further resourcesreferences bibliography links

# data[].attributes.headline
The CDC explains the importance of inclusion for people with disabilities

# data[].attributes.subject
The CDC explains the importance of inclusion for people with disabilities

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.provider_name
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
What is Disability Inclusion?

Including people with disabilities in everyday activities and encouraging them to have roles similar to their peers who do not have a disability is disability inclusion. This involves more than simply encouraging people; it requires making sure that adequate policies and practices are in effect in a community or organization.

Inclusion should lead to increased participation in socially expected life roles and activities-such as being a student, worker, friend, community member, patient, spouse, partner, or parent.

Socially expected activities may also include engaging in social activities, using public resources such as transportation and libraries, moving about within communities, receiving adequate health care, having relationships, and enjoying other day-to-day activities.

Disability Inclusion and the Health of People with Disabilities

Disability inclusion allows for people with disabilities to take advantage of the benefits of the same health promotion and prevention activities experienced by people who do not have a disability. Examples of these activities include:

Education and counselling programs that promote physical activity, improve nutrition or reduce the use of tobacco, alcohol or drugs; and

Blood pressure and cholesterol assessment during annual health exams, and screening for illnesses such as cancer, diabetes, and heart disease.

Including people with disabilities in these activities begins with identifying and eliminating barriers to their participation.

Why is This Important?

Disability affects approximate 61 million, or nearly 1 in 4 (26%) people in the United States living in communities. Disability affects more than one billion people worldwide. According to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, people ". . . with disabilities include those who have long-term physical, mental, intellectual or sensory [such as hearing or vision] impairments which in interaction with various barriers may hinder their full and effective participation in society on an equal basis with others."

People with disabilities experience significant disadvantages when it comes to health such as:

Adults with disabilities are three times more likely to have heart disease, stroke, diabetes, or cancer than adults without disabilities;

Adults with disabilities are more likely than adults without disabilities to be current smokers; and

Women with disabilities are less likely than women without disabilities to have received a breast cancer X-ray test (mammogram) during the past 2 years.

Although disability is associated with health conditions (such as arthritis, mental, or emotional conditions) or events (such as injuries), the functioning, health, independence, and engagement in society of people with disabilities can vary depending on several factors:

Severity of the underlying impairment

Social, political, and cultural influences and expectations

Aspects of natural and built surroundings

Availability of assistive technology and devices

Family and community support and engagement

Disability inclusion means understanding the relationship between the way people function and how they participate in society, and making sure everybody has the same opportunities to participate in every aspect of life to the best of their abilities and desires.

References

1. Okoro CA, Hollis ND, Cyrus AC, Griffin-Blake S. Prevalence of Disabilities and Health Care Access by Disability Status and Type Among Adults - United States, 2016. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep 2018;67:882-887. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.15585/mmwr.mm6732a3external icon .

2. UN World Health Organization (WHO), World Report on Disability : Summary, 2011,WHO/NMH/VIP/11.01,available at: http://www.refworld.org/docid/50854a322.htmlexternal icon ; accessed January 7, 2015

3. United Nations. United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. Article 1 - Purpose. Available at http://www.un.org/disabilities/documents/convention/convention_accessible_pdf.pdf pdf icon [244 KB, 28 pages] external icon ; accessed January 7, 2015.

4. Carroll D, Courtney-Long E, Stevens A, Sloan M, Lullo C, Visser S, Fox M, Armour B, Campbell V, Brown D, and Dorn, J. Disability and Physical Activity - United States, 2009-2012. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. 2014.

5. Courtney-Long E, Stevens A, Caraballo R, Ramon I, Armour BS. Disparities in Current Cigarette Smoking Prevalence by Type of Disability. Public Health Reports. 2014 May/June; 129(3):252-60.

6. Courtney-Long E, Armour B, Frammartino B, Miller J. Factors associated with self-reported mammography use for women with and women without a disability. Journal of Women's Health. 2011; 20:1279-1286

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Including people with disabilities in everyday activities and encouraging them to have roles similar to their peers who do not have a disability is disability inclusion. This involves more than simply encouraging people; it requires making sure that adequate policies and practices are in effect in a community or organization.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
the creation of what the public thinks is important
History and Orientation
Core Assumptions and Statements

Agenda setting describes a very powerful influence of the media - the ability to tell us what issues are important. As far back as 1922, the newspaper columnist Walter Lippman was concerned that the media had the power to present images to the public. McCombs and Shaw investigated presidential campaigns in 1968, 1972 and 1976. In the research done in 1968 they focused on two elements: awareness and information. Investigating the agenda-setting function of the mass media, they attempted to assess the relationship between what voters in one community said were important issues and the actual content of the media messages used during the campaign. McCombs and Shaw concluded that the mass media exerted a significant influence on what voters considered to be the major issues of the campaign.

Core: Agenda-setting is the creation of public awareness and concern of salient issues by the news media. Two basis assumptions underlie most research on agenda-setting: (1) the press and the media do not reflect reality; they filter and shape it; (2) media concentration on a few issues and subjects leads the public to perceive those issues as more important than other issues. One of the most critical aspects in the concept of an agenda-setting role of mass communication is the time frame for this phenomenon. In addition, different media have different agenda-setting potential. Agenda-setting theory seems quite appropriate to help us understand the pervasive role of the media (for example on political communication systems).

Statement: Bernard Cohen (1963) stated: "The press may not be successful much of the time in telling people what to think, but it is stunningly successful in telling its readers what to think about."

Agenda-setting

Source: McQuail & Windahl (1993)

Content-analysis of media, interviews of audiences.
Key publications

Kleinnijenhuis, J. & Rietberg, E.M. (1995). Parties, media, the public and the economy: Patterns of societal agenda-setting. European journal of political research: official journal of the European Consortium for Political Research, 28(1), 95-118

McCombs, M.E. & Shaw, D. (1972). The Agenda-Setting Function of Mass Media. POQ, 36; 176-187.

McCombs, M.E. (1972). Mass Communication in Political Campaigns: Information, Gratification and Persuasion. In: Kline, F. & Tichenor, Ph.J. (Eds.) Current Perspectives in Mass Communication Research. Beverly Hills, CA.: Sage.

McCombs, M.E. (1982). The Agenda-Setting Approach. In: Nimmo, D. & Sanders, K. (Eds.) Handbook of Political Communication. Beverly Hills, CA.: Sage.

McCombs, M.E., & Shaw, D.L. (1972). The Agenda-Setting Function of Mass Media. Public Opinion Quarterly, 36 (Summer), 176-187.

McCombs, M.E., & Weaver, D. (1973). Voters' Need for Orientation and Use of Mass Communication. Presented at the annual conference of the International Communication Association. Montreal, Canada.

McCombs, M.E., & Weaver, D. (1985). Toward a Merger of Gratifications and Agenda-Setting Research. In: Rosengren, K.E., Wenner, L.A. & Palmgreen, P. (Eds.) Media Gratifications Research: Current Perspectives. Beverly Hills, CA.: Sage.

McCombs, M.E., & Shaw, D.L., & Weaver, D.L. (1997). Communication and Democracy: Exploring the Intellectual Frontiers in Agenda-Setting Theory. Mahwah, N.J. Lawrence Erlbaum.

Rogers, E.M., & Dearing, J.W. (1988). Agenda-setting research: Where has it been? Where is it going? In: Anderson, J.A. (Ed.). Communication yearbook 11 (555-594). Newbury Park, CA: Sage.

Rogers, E.M., Hart, W. B., & Dearing, J.W. (1997). A paradigmatic history of agenda-setting research. In Iyengar, S. & Reeves, R. (Eds.) Do the media govern? Politicians, voters, and reporters in America (225-236). Thousand Oak, CA: Sage.

Shaw, D. L. & McCombs, M. (1977). The Emergence of American Political Issues: The Agenda-Setting Function of the Press. St. Paul: West.

Just as McCombs and Shaw expanded their focus, other researchers have extended investigations of agenda setting to issues including history, advertising, foreign, and medical news.

McCombs and Shaw focused on the two elements: awareness and information. Investigating the agenda-setting function of the mass media in the 1968 presidential campaign, they attempted to assess the relationship between what voters in one community said were important issues and the actual content of media messages used during the campaign. McCombs and Shaw concluded that the mass media exerted a significant influence on what voters considered to be the major issues of the campaign.

See also: Priming, Framing, Hypodermic Needle Theory
See also Mass Media & Public Relations, Advertising, Marketing and Consumer Behavior.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
History and Orientation Core Assumptions and Statements Agenda setting describes a very powerful influence of the media - the ability to tell us what issues are important. As far back as 1922, the newspaper columnist Walter Lippman was concerned that the media had the power to present images to the public.

# data[].attributes.headline
The second season of "Atypical" along with these helpful tips can reduce the stigma around Autism and other disabilities 

# data[].attributes.subject
The second season of "Atypical" along with these helpful tips can reduce the stigma around Autism and other disabilities 

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Seven Important things we can do to reduce Stigma and Discrimination

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Find opportunities to pass on facts and positive attitudes about people with mental health problems. If your friends, family, co-workers or even the media present information that is not true, challenge their myths and stereotypes. Let them know how their negative words and incorrect descriptions affect people with mental health problems by keeping alive the false ideas.

# data[].attributes.headline
Netflix introduces the Autism Group in "Atypical"  

# data[].attributes.subject
Netflix introduces the Autism Group in "Atypical"  

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Atypical: Season 2 | Behind the Scenes: Introducing Sam's Autism Support Group | Netflix

# data[].attributes.headline
A statistical portrayal of the most popular TV genres

# data[].attributes.subject
A statistical portrayal of the most popular TV genres

# data[].attributes.body
"Atypical", as a dramedy, combines the two most popular genres

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Most popular TV genres U.S. 2017 | Statistic

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
This statistic provides a genre breakdown of the 250 most popular TV programs in the United States in 2017. In 2017, 33 percent of the most popular primetime programs were drama shows.

# data[].attributes.headline
Actor Mickey Rowe criticizes "Atypical" in this teen vogue article

# data[].attributes.subject
Actor Mickey Rowe criticizes "Atypical" in this teen vogue article

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
In this op-ed, actor Mickey Rowe explains why Netflix's new show Atypical misrepresents its autistic audience - and why that begins with its failure to include the autistic community in its creative process.

On Aug. 11, Netflix will debut its new comedy Atypical, which revolves around an autistic high school senior named Sam (played by Keir Gilchrist, who is not on the spectrum) who's navigating the confusing world of dating. As an autistic 20-something myself, I was excited when I learned about the show and Netflix's decision to feature autism onscreen. I had hoped Atypical would be able to offer a glimmer of representation. But instead, I was disappointed.

A little about me, for starters: I am very happily married, have two kids, and feel relatively lucky in my field of regional theater - I'm currently the first autistic actor to play Christopher Boone in The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time and one of the first autistic actors to play any autistic character ever. While I have been fortunate to have many professionals and doctors who specialize in autism help me learn to be successful, I have had many general practice physicians and therapists who have been surprised to meet an autistic person and even more surprised that I didn't act just like Rain Man. Having a conversation about autism with someone who isn't a medical or disability professional is nearly impossible. Why? Because our media loves stories about autistic white men, but hates using actual autistic adults when creating these stories.

Which brings me to Atypical. Though the show aims to bring the topic of autism to the forefront, Netflix did not confirm whether there were concerted efforts to include autistic writers, creatives, or actors in any large roles. Onscreen representation isn't the same as behind-the-scenes representation, especially if that camera-facing depiction is flawed. It should be noted that showrunner Robia Rashid told Teen Vogue that the show worked with a professor who worked at UCLA's Center for Autism Research and Treatment while developing the series, and Netflix confirmed to Teen Vogue that Anthony Jacques, who plays Sam's friend in one episode, has autism. Rashid also said that several crew members have autistic family members. "We're telling a very specific story, Sam's story, and not trying to speak for every person on the spectrum," she said. But while exposure is great, if the creative team does not have leadership from within the community itself, it will inevitably misrepresent it. After all, consider that the motto of the autistic community is "Nothing about us without us." That motto should have extended to Atypical, too.

In watching the show, I noticed that it seems to play into stereotypes that I've experienced firsthand that could have easily been avoided and that may present damaging information about autistic people. There is so much misinformation about autism in part because we nearly always learn about autism from non-autistic people, instead of learning about autism from autistic adults. For example, I often wear headphones or ear buds. A lot of autistic people do, as they often have sensory processing disorder, too. Atypical 's first episode features an entire scene devoted to Sam's headphones in a restaurant, but the audience is conditioned to laugh at him for it. How horrible if young autistic people watch this and feel ashamed for doing something that helps them to think and function in the world.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
I'm Autistic and I Was Majorly Disappointed by Netflix's New Show "Atypical"

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
In this op-ed, actor Mickey Rowe explains why Netflix's new show Atypical misrepresents its autistic audience - and why that begins with its failure to include the autistic community in its creative process. On Aug.

# data[].attributes.headline
An interview with Elaine Hall, acting coach, describes how the casted actors with Autism were coached

# data[].attributes.subject
An interview with Elaine Hall, acting coach, describes how the casted actors with Autism were coached

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
How did you become involved with the series Atypical?
Casting Directors for the series Atypical called me at The Miracle Project seeking actors with autism to portray actors with autism on Season 2 of the series.
Why did Atypical decide to include autistic actors and actresses?
The creator of Atypical, Robia Roshid and the other writers of Atypical are dedicated to authentic portrayal of individuals with autism. This season they purposely wrote characters with autism to be peers with the lead character Sam. Robia fosters diversity and is committed to changing the way the world perceives disability.
How were the actors and actresses chosen?
The actors and actresses from The Miracle Project interviewed and auditioned among a broad talent search. The casting directors received hundreds of inquiries. The actors and actresses were chosen for the talent, professionalism and wonderful distinct personalities. At The Miracle Project, we work on acting technique, self confidence, self-advocacy, interview and auditioning. They brought their unique personalities to the casting call and their talent rose above the others.
What can we expect this season because of the new actors and actresses?
I feel you can expect to see Sam dealing with many of the very things that our older teens and young adults deal with i.e. leaving home, seeking a career path, getting a job, dealing with money issues, etc.
Can you provide any antecdotes about your experience?
Keir Gilchrist, the actor who portrays Sam, is one of the kindest, warmest, loveliest actors I have had the privilege to work with. The entire cast and crew were kind, respectful, interested, and supportive. Each shot with the Peer Group involves multiple takes. Each character in the Peer Group is filmed in a close up. So they need to repeat their lines many many times and then react many many times to the actor who is getting a close up. All of the actors with autism in the Peer Group stayed focused, their energy was terrific and they were incredibly professional. Keir gave 100% to each take even when he was not being filmed. Keir and truly all of the cast and crew related to our autistic actors just like they would anyone else. It was an authentic representation of diversity. One of the best sets I've ever worked on.

Elaine Hall, award winning acting coach, author, and international speaker, is the founder of The Miracle Project, www.themiracleproject.org a groundbreaking, evidence-based theatre and film program profiled in the 2 time Emmy winning HBO film Autism: The Musical

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Elaine Hall talks about Atypical Season II coaching autistic actors

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
How did you become involved with the series Atypical? Casting Directors for the series Atypical called me at The Miracle Project seeking actors with autism to portray actors with autism on Season 2 of the series. Why did Atypical decide to include autistic actors and actresses?

# data[].attributes.headline
A full list of Robia Rashid's (creator of "Atypical") participation in the media industry

# data[].attributes.subject
A full list of Robia Rashid's (creator of "Atypical") participation in the media industry

# data[].attributes.headline
Writer Robia Rashid explains her background in creating "Atypical" in an interview with Vulture

# data[].attributes.subject
Writer Robia Rashid explains her background in creating "Atypical" in an interview with Vulture

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Over the years, writer-producer Robia Rashid says she's collected "thousands" of books filled with "edgy and odd" stories. Those kinds of stories aren't exactly a good fit for network television, though, so after a career spent working on shows like Will & Grace, How I Met Your Mother,and The Goldbergs, Rashid decided to write a pilot script on her own time. The gamble paid off: Netflix bought the script, ordered a full season, and the resulting series, Atypical,premiered on August 11.

A coming-of-age story of an autistic teenager navigating his love life, friends, and family while striving for independence, Atypical stars Keir Gilchrist ( It Follows, The United States of Tara), Jennifer Jason Leigh, and Michael Rapaport. In an interview with Vulture, Rashid spoke about why she wanted to explore autism in a half-hour comedy, casting Gilchrist in the leading role, and the scene that made her sob during production.

What was the inspiration for the story?
After working in network TV for a while, I just wanted to do something for myself. I was very aware that more people were being diagnosed with autism, and it was interesting to me that a whole generation of kids were growing up knowing that they were on the spectrum and wanting independence. That point of view seemed so interesting to me - and such a cool way to tell a dating story. You've seen the story of somebody looking for independence and looking for love before, but not from that specific point of view. I really was drawn to that. I was a little annoyed because it sounded really hard! I had to do a lot of research. A turning point was when I figured out that I wanted to use Sam's voice-over. But it was both helpful and harder because it made the project much harder to write.

What do you mean?
Because Sam can't always communicate, I can cheat and get into his head with voice-over. That makes it easier for the audience to understand him, but makes it harder for the writer because I couldn't just write any voice-over. I needed to really get that voice right. It was really important to me. If the main character were a half-Pakistani, half-white girl, it wouldn't have been as hard because that's me. But with an autistic teenage boy, I had to do a lot of real learning and listening to people. It was a voice that I had to learn, and once I started diving into this world, the voice came naturally. I would just write and the words would come out.

Sam loves animals, nature, and science, and he sees everything through that prism. It's an easy entry point into how he thinks. I imagine you learned about all kinds of things writing this character - not just autism.
Well, I'm kind of obsessed with Antarctica now. [ Laughs.] I learned so much about random things, like birds that flare their wings and lizards that show their colorful dewlap. It was also super helpful for metaphors in the show. I'm a real nerd, so I'm really into how these stories are tied together. For me, the show is about what it means to be normal and how nobody's normal, and that is why the show is relatable. It's about everyone and their struggle to be understood and find love and feel like they're not alone.

Did you have any personal experience with autism? Are you close with anyone that is autistic or has autistic kids?
I do have personal experience with it, yeah. I don't want to talk about it too much because I want to protect their privacy, but yes, I do.

I was just wondering if that was related to the inspiration that you had in the beginning?
It really was. Sam's story and this person's story are very different, but it really helped with me being drawn to this topic and keeping an eye on the family members of people on the spectrum, and how they're affected. It also made me very conscious about doing this right, being very careful about it, and it's not something that I took lightly. It definitely influenced me emotionally and intellectually. It made me really want to do it justice.

You've worked on a lot of network shows. How did you end up working with Netflix for this?
I actually wrote this pilot on my own, so Netflix didn't come onboard until after I wrote it. As I wrote it, it just seemed clear that it felt more like a Netflix show. The fact that we just tell one continuous, long story over eight episodes is so fun: You can start something on episode two and then not touch on it again until episode six or whatever, but you're making this whole world that stretches over eight episodes. The length thing was also great because if we have a 38-minute story, we can tell a 38-minute story. It feels a little more natural.

What is a Netflix show to you?
I guess it felt like a non-network show to me. [Netflix] felt like a place where creators had room to explore a little bit and I definitely knew that this show needed space. I don't ever want to fall into jokes or be too cutesy. I want there to be edge and heart, so I knew that a place where there's this freedom to explore with tone and content would be a great home for this show. Netflix always felt like that kind of place to me.

Atypical also has an autism consultant, Michelle Dean. What is her role exactly?
She came and talked to the cast on set and answered questions, and then she read every script and watched every cut, so her contributions were so helpful. They weren't story contributions. It was more letting us know when language was incorrect or something didn't seem realistic. For example, she watched a cut once and there was a moment where Sam's friend Zahid (Nik Dodani) makes some crude joke at work, and Keir, the actor, looked around a tiny bit in one take. She said, "He wouldn't look around like he wasn't embarrassed because he wouldn't be." So we just changed the take where he wasn't looking around. We were that conscious about it, right down to the eye movement.

One of the supporting actors, Anthony Jacques, is autistic. Did you consider casting an autistic actor for the lead?
We auditioned people with autism-spectrum disorder and neurotypical actors, and Keir Gilchrist ended up being the right fit. And he was amazing. But actually, Anthony Jacques, who plays the character of Christopher, was somebody we found during that process, and we wrote the role for him because we loved him so much. I didn't think he was Sam, but I felt we needed to write a role for him.

What was it about Keir that made you feel he was the right one?
He sought me out and was really passionate about it. He'd had experience with people with autism as well. He works with teenagers and kids, and he just cares about it a lot. He's an exceptional actor, and he really plays this role very subtly and beautifully. It's very different than him as a person. When he shifts into it, it's kind of startling but totally natural.

What in Keir's performance stood out to you as capturing the essence of the story you were telling?
Keir knows Sam better than anyone, and he does an excellent job of maintaining Sam's integrity. If you watch him over the course of eight episodes, he's very concerned about consistency in terms of eye contact and the smiling.

He's very subtle throughout the series. Then there's the big scene where Sam loses it on the bus, but Keir doesn't overdo it. What did you think when you were watching that performance?
I was bawling when we were shooting that scene. I'm getting tears just thinking about it. I wrote it, so I knew it was coming, but yeah, I was really crying. There are a lot of people on our set who have kids who are autistic, so that happened a lot. People would start crying on set. Like the scene in the first episode where Casey stands up for Sam and she says, "Nothing is wrong with him; get away from him!" People were crying.

Brigette Lundy-Paine is so great as Casey. She and Keir have really great sibling chemistry.
I really love that actress, and I love that character. I feel like I wrote that character for teenage me because teenage me didn't know a lot of girls that felt like me. I wasn't looking cute and dressing in little cute outfits. I was gangly, awkward, and angry.

The silent school dance is such a wonderful idea, and when you see it, it's very touching. Where did that come from?
I was hoping that it was going to be that moving. One of our writers, Dennis Saldua, pitched this idea of a silent dance, which are these things that really happen, and I was like, "Oh my God, that's the perfect thing." We really wanted a big ending for the season, and I loved the idea of cutting in and out of the music and the headphones and the silence. I loved the idea of a dance that was autism-focused. And when we thought of the igloo building, oh my God! Throughout the writing process, I always asked myself, "What can we do on our show that other shows can't do? What is specific to our show?" The silent dance felt very specific to our show because Paige is doing it for Sam because he finds dances overwhelming, and it is very moving.

The igloo was also a great idea because it gave you your funniest line: "I got a hand job in an igloo!"
I love it so much. I'm still kind of shocked I can do that bus scene and that igloo scene in the same episode. Not only are they in the same show, but they are in the same episode. It's so dramatic and I was sobbing on set, and then we laughed about that hand-job line for months. I think it really says something about Netflix that I can do a show with such an unusual tone that has all that stuff and still feels balanced.

After Atypical, Keir Gilchrist Is Done Playing Teenagers

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Atypical Creator Robia Rashid on Autism: 'I Had to Do a Lot of Real Learning'

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Over the years, writer-producer Robia Rashid says she's collected "thousands" of books filled with "edgy and odd" stories. Those kinds of stories aren't exactly a good fit for network television, though, so after a career spent working on shows like Will & Grace, How I Met Your Mother,and The Goldbergs, Rashid decided to write a pilot script on her own time.