New BBC Series, Inside Our Autistic Minds.

GPK26 said:

It would have been nice to also feature a couple of older autists - maybe have one that has lived the majority of their life with an early diagnosis and talk about how they have coped. And one who only received their diagnosis beyond 40 / 50 years and talk about the challenges that they now face.

Yes I understand that, the age range of participants was not varied at all.

It could be good if Chris Packham presented another programme of the experiences of older autistics, I think he would be able to relate to that generation given that he is one of them.

I found the programmes interesting, insightful and well put together.
The one problem that I had with them is that all 4 participants were of the younger generation - late teen / 20's.
It would have been nice to also feature a couple of older autists - maybe have one that has lived the majority of their life with an early diagnosis and talk about how they have coped. And one who only received their diagnosis beyond 40 / 50 years and talk about the challenges that they now face.

Yes you are completely right, BBC Three is definitely aimed at a younger audience.

I think they're more likely to pick someone from social media etc if they were doing something for BBC Three. With BBC Two, they're going for a broader audience.

HMO said:

Like who, though? What if they aren't equipped to deal with the trials and tribulations of being a telly presenter? Especially on a subject as sensitive as this.

I don’t know very much about the TV industry.

Like who, though? What if they aren't equipped to deal with the trials and tribulations of being a telly presenter? Especially on a subject as sensitive as this.

Packham has been in the business for decades. Either way, it wasn't really about him, he was just the person linking it all together. 

Yes I know and the films were brilliant! I just meant that the general comments made about our autistic community within the programme were somewhat inaccurate and could have negative implications for non speaking members of our community and other autistic people.

Both programmes were all about the experiences of four quite different autistic people and their attempt to communicate those experiences to the people in their lives.

HMO said:

A random autistic social media content creator may not be confident with what presenting a TV documentary brings, and they may not be immersed in the community either. Especially when, as I say, people can turn on you very quickly.

I understand your point and Chris Packham is actually a very confident and well known presenter. However , I was thinking that maybe a autistic content creator who focuses on autistic experiences may have been better suited.

I don't think it's a shame, I think it's always better to develop these presenters and give them some experience first.

A random autistic social media content creator may not be confident with what presenting a TV documentary brings, and they may not be immersed in the community either. Especially when, as I say, people can turn on you very quickly.

You could express "I don't think autism is a disability" and get swathes of abuse from other autistic people.

I have seen that. I'm interested to see how it plays out.

HMO said:

Which could easily be a budget thing, but you've still got two hours to fill.

I think the main intention for those making a show like this is to do what they clearly did: autistic people involved in the making of it and at the forefront.

Yes I know which it did well, it was just a snapshot of four autistic experiences.

Yes I know, that is a shame. I was thinking that maybe an autistic social media content creator could have presented the programme or instead the presenters of the ‘Am I Autistic?’ documentary from a few years ago.

Also did you know that Chris Packham will also be fronting a future programme about dyslexic and ADHD experiences? I am looking forward to it.

It doesn't really work in the TV industry where someone who has no experience or is massively unknown will be approached to present a documentary on the BBC.

I'm not sure who you would choose instead. 

Which could easily be a budget thing, but you've still got two hours to fill.

I think the main intention for those making a show like this is to do what they clearly did: autistic people involved in the making of it and at the forefront.

The moment they start getting caught up on what individuals may think, they may as well not bother.

There are many proud and openly autistic members of our community and also given the scope of the programme it has direct impacts on our community.

Also even members of our community don’t know it, they probably are mixing with other autistics .

The vast majority of autistic people aren’t young and don’t have any involvement in the “autistic community”.

HMO said:

I think it was a good attempt, it was never going to satisfy everyone.

Of course not, but I also think the fact there are only two episodes is quite limiting anyway.

Yes I understand that, I just think the programme would have been better if may be a younger autistic person presented who had better connections to our autistic community.

Well said 

I take your points but I think a programme like this would only really work if they had a famous face to front it, who's openly autistic. He's also the presenter, I don't think he necessarily needed to be immersed enough in the community when you consider how toxic it can be.

I think it was a good attempt, it was never going to satisfy everyone. I'm hesitant to be too harsh as we're all learning, including us autistics.