Autism is an important topic that deserved better
Autism is at an all-time high, with one in 100 of us once thought to lie somewhere on the spectrum. Yet experts now believe that the true number is much higher, with a “lost generation” of thousands missed by a system struggling to understand the condition.
Are You Autistic? (Channel 4) saw campaigners Georgia Harper and Sam Ahern, who both have autism, set out to dispel the myths and uncover its true face in the UK today. They gleefully referred to people without autism as “neurotypicals”, which Harper insisted wasn’t a “special autistic swearword” but still sounded suspiciously like it.
The programme’s centrepiece was the testing of two adults convinced that they were part of a lost generation of hitherto undiagnosed sufferers: mother-of-three Jo, who found social interaction a struggle, and musician JP, whose nine-year-old son was autistic and who recognised similar traits in himself. After extensive examinations of their personal skills, rigid routines and sensory issues, the pair were diagnosed with Asperger’s and autism respectively. Having been lonely and even suicidal in the past, both were relieved to get closure.
Unfortunately, from its crass title onwards, this film was a muddled mess, resembling three different documentaries clumsily welded together. Anna Richardson was roped in as rent-a-presenter – did producers suddenly panic that the autistic duo weren’t slick enough? – and proceeded to play the plain-speaking layperson to a patronising degree. Richardson’s sole credentials were that her nephew was autistic.
There were surveys, stunts, whizzy graphics, a speed-dating night, a cutesy robot and the obligatory Rain Man clips. Five different experts were consulted. Programme-makers threw everything at the screen to see what stuck. The more they did so, the weaker it became.
There was a half-decent documentary in here somewhere – perhaps about why so many women go undiagnosed, presented by Harper, the more engaging of the two campaigners – but it was hidden under a hotchpotch of gimmicks. The result was a surface-skimming hour which wasn’t worthy of its subject.
Cheery positivity is an all too rare quality in TV nowadays but The Secret Helpers (BBC Two) had it in spades. Two Brits tackled tough personal tasks, while worldly-wise onlookers from around the globe gave advice through a hidden earpiece. It’s a small, strange format but a rather lovely one.
In this second episode, we met supply teacher David, 55, and 25-yearold analyst Claire. David had a family crisis. Since his father Jim’s dementia had worsened, David was struggling to connect with him. The strain had driven the entire clan apart. David was advised to do a 5K run with his truculent teenage daughter Rachel and rekindle romance with wife Jean. His housebound mother Doris was tickled pink when he followed the advice to whisk her off to her beloved bingo. “Look, now I’ve got a runny eye,” she tutted. “Not tears, just a runny eye.”
Claire, meanwhile, had suffered with a debilitating stammer since childhood, so needed help getting through a major presentation at work. It was a problem that seemed as though it was as much related to self-esteem as it was to speech.
This feelgood, thoroughly charming programme combined the winning warmth of Gogglebox with the emotional hook of a makeover show. “The Sages”, as they kept being called, restored my faith in the kindness of strangers. South African healer Elisa fondly called Claire “my sister”. Norwegian health guru Lilian wept when they discussed mother-daughter issues. New York cops Mark and Joe were the best value as they struggled with British lingo. “What’s a quid?” they asked. “What does ‘bricking it’ mean? We’re just regular blocks. Whaddayamean it’s pronounced ‘blokes’?”
Their encouraging, supportive spirit was infectious. I found myself cheering David around his 5K race and willing Claire to finish her presentation.
The closing captions delivered mixed news. David, Jean and Rachel had lost a total of 3.5st and never felt better, while Clare’s stammer was no longer holding her back. Then came the gut punch: both David’s parents had died since filming but he was “grateful to the Sages for making their last days together meaningful”. What was it dear old Doris said about a runny eye?
Are You Autistic? ★★ The Secret Helpers ★★★★