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Recognize National Autism Acceptance Month with PBS Wisconsin
April 11, 2025 Leave a Comment
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) most recent data, about one in 36 children in the United States has been identified with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).
This has been a developing topic for decades, and therefore the way we think and talk about ASD is also evolving. Thankfully, we have people’s stories to understand and celebrate the experiences of people with autism, and this makes things better for everyone.
How Adult Autism Goes Undetected | Vitals
The Vitals team explores the growing community of “neurodivergents,” including many people who were only diagnosed as adults. Many people live a life of “masking” their disorder, leading to misdiagnoses, especially in many underrepresented communities. We hear from a specialist who assesses adults and from an autistic adult diagnosed late in life.
Is Autism A Disorder Or A Difference To Be Celebrated? | Above The Noise
In this episode of Above the Noise, host Myles Bess talks to people with autism and explores what acceptance of neurodiversity could look like. Watch and then let us know: How can the social model of disability change how society views autism?
See My Art | Wisconsin Life
A northern Wisconsin nonprofit provides support for people with disabilities through art. Shannon Kocka and Giizhik Klawiter were both diagnosed with autism as children. Through art, they’ve learned to step out of their comfort zone to improve their social skills and try new things.
Why more children are being diagnosed with autism | PBS News Hour
New CDC data revealed an increase in the prevalence of Autism Spectrum Disorder in the United States The report shows in 2020, one out of every 36 children in the U.S. was diagnosed with autism. In 2018, that figure was one in 44, and in 2010, it was one in 68. PBS News Hour anchor Amna Nawaz discussed the findings with Dena Gassner of the Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee. Gassner was diagnosed with autism at age 40.
The Great World of Gregory Blackstock | Independent Lens
The richly obsessive life and work of renowned autistic artist Gregory Blackstock comes to life, as he uses his art to catalogue and make sense of the world around him. Blackstock’s cousin, Dorothy, helps bring his drawings to the attention of the art world, while the film brings his work to life through hand-crafted animation, drawing you into the unique vision of this singular artist.
Blindness and Autism – Blind Sighted & A Lonely Highway | Our Time
Representations of Americans with disabilities are in desperate need of a refresh. Even as assistive technologies help people adapt, the stigma associated with blindness and autism, in particular, continue to sting. Filmmakers overcome numerous obstacles with humor and humanity as they seek a deeper sense of belonging.
Carl the Collector
Carl the Collector is a show from PBS KIDS featuring a cast of autistic and neurodivergent characters. The 2D animated series for children ages 4-8 follows the everyday adventures of Carl, a warm-hearted raccoon with autism who enjoys collecting things and loves his friends and family in Fuzzytown.
More from PBS Wisconsin Passport
In A Different Key
Enjoy this clip from In A Different Key, a documentary in which a mother tracks down the first person ever diagnosed with autism, now an elderly man living in rural Mississippi, to learn if his life story holds promise for her own autistic son. Her journey exposes a startling record of cruelty and kindness alike, framed by forces like race, money and privilege – but leads to hope that more communities are learning to have the backs of people with autism.
