Don’t Ignore Autistic Women and Girls

A visit with artist and filmmaker Devon Leaver, creator of Galoot

A still from the film Galoot. Click the image to see the trailer for Galoot and to learn more about filmmaker Devon Leaver.

Nature Links participants were joined by an incredibly talented and inspiring guest this week. Devon Leaver is a New York City based filmmaker, whose work has appeared on HBO, PBS, and the Sundance Film Festival, just to name a few. Devon joined Nature Links to share an experimental film she wrote, directed, produced and edited called Galoot. The 8-minute film explores the feeling of growing up on the autism spectrum, inspired by Devon’s own childhood experiences. Devon received an autism diagnosis at age four, and the film was inspired by the drawings and poetry she created during that time (transcribed by her parents and tucked away in their attic).

Nature Links participants had the opportunity to screen Galoot and then learn from Devon about what autism is (and is not), and specifically how autism in girls can be overlooked, ignored or misunderstood. Devon explained that boys are 4 times more likely to receive an autism diagnosis than girls and that girls often receive an autism diagnosis much later in life. The media can perpetuate cultural misunderstandings about autism by portraying only white, male autistic characters in television and movies (think Rain Man or Atypical). Devon’s film Galoot not only articulates some of the sensations, emotions and thoughts Devon experienced as a child on the autism spectrum, but also helps to raise awareness around the experiences of autistic women and girls.

Check out our conversation with Devon below. Thank you again to Devon for taking the time to teach us so much this past week.