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For the past eight years, Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood has felt like a part of my own home. Daniel was the first television character to capture my eldest son’s heart, and by the time my second son came along, Daniel was still around to share. Now, my youngest is approaching the age where he can fall in love with Daniel too. Throughout my journey as a mom, my days have been filled with Daniel’s cheerful songs about sharing, managing emotions, and tackling the challenges of preschool life.
I even shed a tear when Daniel welcomed his little sister, Baby Margaret, into the world. It was such a touching moment.
Since Daniel’s neighborhood originates from the Fred Rogers Company, it resonates deeply with me. I enjoy seeing familiar characters from my childhood evolve into nurturing adults in a world that values children’s feelings and experiences. The show portrays diverse families, and I’ve always felt confident about the lessons my kids would learn from it.
Recently, I learned that Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood would be adding an autistic character to the mix. I was cautiously optimistic that my son would find someone he could relate to in Max, the newcomer.
My son, Lucas, is five years old and autistic. We don’t use functioning labels because they don’t accurately describe the unique experiences of autistic individuals. To explain my concerns about Lucas connecting with Max, it’s important to share a bit about him.
Often, autistic characters on TV are depicted as either highly verbal and fixated on their interests or as completely non-verbal and sensitive to sensory stimuli. Neither of these portrayals truly reflects Lucas’s reality.
While he uses language effectively and talks throughout the day, he experiences a speech delay. His conversations don’t always align with typical five-year-old exchanges, nor does he regurgitate impressive facts about his interests. Unlike many autistic individuals, Lucas is usually unfazed by sensory overload, as long as he can navigate situations on his own terms.
People often make assumptions about Lucas’s autism based on his communication and sensory responses. When he’s expressive or handles sensory overload well, some say he must have “mild autism.” Conversely, when he needs space or doesn’t answer a question, others express sympathy for what they believe to be challenges I face. These assumptions don’t aid him in any way.
Lucas is fully autistic, which means many different things for each individual. For him, it signifies the need for time, understanding, and space to thrive.
With all this in mind, I recently brought Lucas to my room, and we snuggled up with pillows and a blanket to watch the episode where Max makes his debut. Fun fact: the character is voiced by an autistic actor, which I insisted on before watching it!
Max’s introduction was fantastic. When the teacher mentioned Max’s autism, I couldn’t hold back my excitement and exclaimed, “Look, Max is autistic!” Lucas’s face lit up as he exclaimed, “Just like me, Mommy!”
When Max lined up his favorite buses in rainbow order, Lucas grinned widely and recited the colors: “Red, orange, yellow, green, blue, purple!” He instantly connected with Max’s love for arranging things in rainbow order.
In another scene, Max struggled with a noisy, bright environment, and while Lucas typically isn’t bothered by such things, he recognized that Max needed a break. When Max’s aunt took him outside, Lucas observed, “Now Max is happy!”
He watched the entire episode with a smile on his face, and afterward, we discussed autism, a topic we often explore together. Lucas proudly declared, “Autistic is awesome, and different is not less!”
Later that evening, he chose to rewatch the episodes on his iPad, giggling along as the characters found inventive ways to include Max.
Having a character like Max on-screen is incredibly meaningful for him, and as his mother, I am grateful that Daniel Tiger provides this representation. It’s equally important for neurotypical children to encounter autistic characters like Max. PBS offers other relatable characters, such as AJ from Hero Elementary, Julia from Sesame Street, and Dennis from Dinosaur Train, allowing kids to learn and understand autism before they enter school.
As Lucas prepares to transition to elementary school, having more children who understand autism will foster a kinder environment for him. It’s essential that media includes neurodivergent characters, just as it does for race, gender, and other identities.
We are thrilled about Daniel Tiger’s new friend, Max, and hope to see more of him in future episodes.
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Summary
Our family cherishes Daniel Tiger’s new friend, Max, a character introduced to represent autistic children. My son Lucas, who is autistic, found a relatable character in Max, and we appreciate the show’s commitment to diversifying representations of autism. This not only benefits children like Lucas but also educates neurotypical kids, promoting understanding and kindness in schools.
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