National Autistic Society, and Film Diverted

We teamed up with The National Autistic Society to create ‘Diverted’, the newest film in the Too Much Information campaign. Too Much Information aims to increase public understanding of Autism and give people an understanding of what actions they can take to help. The campaign launched in 2016 with our Can You Make It to The End film which showed us the experience of a young boy with autism going on shopping trip with his mother and the overwhelming sensory challenges he faces.

Highlights from the Diverted Film

The film highlights how the fear of the unexpected changes such as; delays, diversions and cancellations can make people with autism feel socially isolated. “I can’t do anything and all sense of rationality is lost,” Saskia wrote for the Huffington Post. The film focuses on an autistic women named Sarah, who is played by aspiring actor Saskia Lupin who has autism. We see her imagining the journey she is about to go on, and the unanticipated changes that occur throughout. When Sarah’s discomfort becomes visible and apparent to other passengers they proceed to stare and tut. These experiences are overwhelming and result in Sarah staying at home.

How Diverted Helped in Public’s Understanding of Autism

The film seeks to improve the public’s understanding of autism and to encourage people to learn more. ITV said “…The video highlights how bright, flashing lights, claustrophobic environments and loud sounds on public transport can leave an autistic person feeling unsettled and anxious.” As many of us know, travelling on public transport can be busy, stressful and inconvenient but it can be unimaginable for people who have autism and therefore often result in feeling that they are unable to travel at all. The Independent reported that Diverted “…has been highly praised on social media, with many people expressing how much it resonates with them.” Mark Lever Chief Executive of the National Autistic Society said: “At the National Autistic Society we won’t accept a world where autistic people are shut away. We know that people don’t set out to be judgemental towards autistic people. The problem is that they often don’t see the autism they just see somebody acting in a way that isn’t familiar to them.” Find out more about autism here.

Diverted This is what travelling can feel like when you’re autistic. Posted by National Autistic Society on Monday, 26 March 2018

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