Broadway's "How to Dance in Ohio" shines a light on autistic stories

[@NickyMay16]

It is such a crime that this musical did not have a long run. I cried my eyes out at the end.

[@GamingSaturnMoonManBoy]

Autistic person right here! It’s so amazing to see the community I’m a part of showcased/represented in the entertainment industry.

[@noat8306]

I am autistic and non-binary, and I think things like this are exactly why good representation is important. I love theater and musicals, and I know I want to work on them in my future career, but I've always felt like I'd have to hide or suppress part of myself to make this dream come true. Seeing this musical live, with characters and actors that are just like me, it hit me like a brick to the face that there's a place for me in the world, that someone like me can live and thrive well into adulthood, that I'll be able to do the same. Everyone deserves that feeling. Everyone on earth deserves to know that there's always a place where they can thrive.

[@bk62342]

I just got done watching the documentary from 2015 and then had to come here to see this clip. I think it's great that a show like this has finally come to Broadway. It's about f***ing time! I'm an aspiring actor and performer on the spectrum and with Aspergers myself so this story and subject hits close to home. I've come a long way to get to where I am today - in my personal life and professional life. Best of luck to all of the cast and crew on this production! 🙂

[@leah6820-y9v]

Masking is exhausting. This is so important. I love what Imani says about being inspiring. They are spot on.

[@joaovictoripiraja761]

I hope to see more autistic stories and actors on Broadway. It has a cultural impact on this awareness process. Also musical theatre is my hyperfocus 😁

[@teyahowen]

Sameeee

[@teyahowen]

My special interest is musical theatre and my KZbin history shows this haha

[@joaovictoripiraja761]

​@@teyahowen Me too! After I arrived from São Paulo when I went to watch Wicked last year, i start to take singing lessons and study really hard. It's been a delightful challenge 😁

[@kerryholland4822]

Contemporary dance is mine 😅

[@joanielliott3375]

More stories like this! Beautiful! Can’t wait to see the show!

[@sc0ville]

Notice how the autistic individuals say they're autistic, but the broadcasters keep saying they "have autism". Please start listening to us and the way we talk about ourselves. Autism isn't something we have, like a disease. It's part of who we are.

[@sc0ville]

@@indeterminateorigin6406 That is what's called internalized ableism.

[@broadwaymike92]

Seeing it today!!! So excited!!

[@Tiara_Princess7]

This is inspiring to me as an autistic person because I never felt comfortable telling others and keep the mask up all the time, but it is nice that autistic people can thrive and get accommodations in theatre and tv shows and hopefully that trend continues.

[@taffyallen3642]

So awesome! Liam Pierce so proud of you!!

[@Quinid1]

Never had I wanted to see a musical until now. Bravo on the idea.

[@kevintarallo1749]

ABSOLUTELY BEAUTIFUL 😍

[@meganchristian7085]

Interesting hearing when they were diagnosed - I don't think I was officially diagnosed until I was seven - however my mom knew back in the days of South Carolina ( Where my younger brother was born ) in my toddler and preschool days that I was an individual with autism because I wasn't speaking - she actually took me to a neurologist when I was two and half years old and due to outdated beliefs he refused to give me such a diagnosis - we moved back to San Diego when I was four years old - the so Called experts thought I would never be able to learn how to read or even graduate from High school with a real high school diploma ( Which I did - James Madison High school - class of 2003 - Go WarHawks) I am now 038 ( Soon to be 039 next month ) and have achieved many great things - and I am not done yet.

[@lorilori3]

Love this❣️

[@MuffinMomMeals]

excellent! just watched on tv, sharing the video.

[@PedroMartinez-tt7lr]

Me too!

[@teddyfurstman1997]

We saw this show and it’s wonderful. Saw some autistic actors from Actionplay and we also did the Night of too many Stars for HBO Since 2017. We are both Autistic Twins.

[@ajaxfightsback1560]

Thank you.

[@steveconn]

Amelio also voted most interesting coat in Columbus!

[@emiliobello2538]

Hope more shows Orr movies about autism can go big

[@mgrmln]

So so amazing!

[@RocStarr913]

As a high-functioning autistic person myself, I really am peeved by how much people are trying to make us into victims and engage in identity politics. We autistic people don’t need to be patronized and othered like little children. What we simply need is help to be more normal and mainstream and be more on par with the neurotypical world so we can survive as adults. Trying to other us does not teach us how to be responsible, productive, self-sufficient members of society.

[@Shweiss4]

I think you'd really like the show! I saw it Saturday night. The show actually critiques neurotypical folks who make autistic people out to be victims and the autistic characters have a lot of angecy.

[@RocStarr913]

@@Shweiss4 I appreciate your feedback of the show.

[@Shweiss4]

Sure! I should also disclose that I'm not autistic so definitely an atuhority, but am neurodivergent FWIW and a lot resonated with me still@@RocStarr913

[@RaymondNYC1]

I saw the show, it's wonderful. Heart-warming & very entertaining. Go see it!

[@Notcoolmom]

1:50 people actually thought that they wouldn’t be able to find enough autistic theatre kids to cast this play???

[@Sunshine-do3yv]

FANTASTIC ❤❤❤❤❤❤never stop dancing, bring you. Smiles and you light the wor D!!!?🎵🎼🎶🌠🎵🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌞🌞🌞💐💐💐😂😂😂✨✨✨✨

[@manuelbello5806]

Hope there’s a movie version

[@meganchristian7085]

very interesting hearing when they all were diagnosed - I don't think I was diagnosed until I was seven - however my mom knew in the days when we lived in South Carolina ( Where my younger brother was born ) in my Toddler and preschool years that I was an individual with autism because I wasn't speaking - she actually took me to a neurologist when I was like two and half years old - but because of outdated beliefs he refused to give me such a diagnosis - we moved back to san diego when I was the age of four years old - the so called experts said I would never learn to read or even graduate from high school with a real high school diploma ( Which I did - James Madison High school - class of 2003 -Go Warhawks ) - I am 038 ( Soon to be 039 next month) and have achieved many great things - but I am not done yet.

[@tracycooper1254]

This is great and all, but…….please don’t take this example as typical. There are those who don’t speak, can’t speak, or can’t understand language. Those that stem constantly, can’t or won’t make eye contact, that are aggressive, constantly agitated by many, sometimes all sensory inputs, and many other challenges I could list. I am the parent of one of these individuals, and work with many in a school setting. I too love an upbeat story, but please don’t generalize.

[@Shweiss4]

The thing is many people who generalize autism think of folks who are non-verbal and have other htings in common with your kid. In the show's prologue, they talk about how individual it is for each person.

[@AshleyWool]

Respectfully...nobody ever claimed that *all* autistic people are capable of performing on Broadway. Most neurotypical people can't do it either, but you don't see an interview with Hugh Jackman or Audra McDonald and say "please don't take this example as typical." Acknowledging that autistic professionals exist, in this field and every other field, does not erase or delegitimize the experiences of autistic people who can't do those things, or don't want to do those things. Nor does it mean any of us are more or less intrinsically valuable or deserving of care, inclusion, and accommodation than others. Your child and your students may not be exactly like us, but I promise you that our advocacy includes and affirms them just as much.

[@wendyowen2915]

Amazing!

[@mm7846]

5:00 I don’t think it makes sense to say it’s other people’s expectations that are the problem. Is it possible to not expect anything from interacting with people? Also, you can’t change other people, you can only control yourself.

[@Bubblegum-xm5cg]

People expect us to "control" a disability that we can't change, which is the problem.

[@meganchristian7085]

also Interesting that 's the permise of this Musical - I did go to my Homecoming dances ( booth my high school and my Boyfriend's high school when I was in high school) Plus Prom ( Senior year - James Madison High school - Class of 2003 -go Warhawks )

[@marleneiskey]

So awesome

[@meganchristian7085]

interesting that's the premise of this musical - I did go to Homecoming dances ( booth my high school and my boyfriend's high school when I was in high school ) Plus Prom ( My Senior - James Madison High school - class of 2003 - Go Warhawks )

[@AlexandriaHearn]

I legit forced my friend to go with me! I desperately wanted to go to all my school dances ❤

[@jbullthekingofentertainment]

Now this is apsoultley amazing I actually have autism and I know dr amigo he’s actually my dr and he’s such a great guy and I know the real people from how to dance in Ohio the documentary I’m actually freinds with some of them like Jessica Remington so anyway I’m so proud of how far autism has come and I’m so proud to be autistic 😉🙏🏿👍❤️

[@meganchristian7085]

although I went to many dances in high school booth at my high school and my boyfriend's high school - I still wish I would have gotten to go to my senior gradnite - but couldn't because my mom ( Who usually holds high exceptions of me) got all overprotective and told me couldn't go because it was on a boat - oh well, no use living in the past.

[@meganchristian7085]

even though I went to many dances in high school booth at my high school and my boyfriend's high school when I was in high school - I still wish I could have got to go to my senior grad nite - but couldn't because my mom ( who usually holds high exceptions ) got all overprotective because it was on a boat - oh well, no use living in the past

[@meganchristian7085]

I am a person with autism and I would love to see this musical - however I perfer People first language ( I perfer to be called a person/Individual with autism and not an "Autistic" Person/Individual )

[@Bubblegum-xm5cg]

It's ok if that is your preference, but the majority of the community prefers identity-first language rather than person-first.

[@meganchristian7085]

Stephen shore "If you've met one person with autism, you've met one person with autism"

[@sc0ville]

You're misquoting them.

[@darryldrax606]

👍✌️❤️

[@jjj1951]

So on the spectrum; would these performers be considered 'high functioning' since they have the ability to learn dialogue and song lyrics and interact with the other performers?

[@evachebishev4339]

Hi! So FYI many in the autistic community (myself included) have moved away from “functioning” labels as they are inherently problematic and ableist. Instead, some people prefer saying “low/high support needs” when necessary to distinguish care needs, but in general, it’s not acceptable to categorize people based on how well they’re able to “be useful” to a capitalist society 😊 autism is a spectrum and presents in many ways. Just because someone may seem “high functioning” to others, doesn’t mean their struggles and disability are not 100% as valid as any other autistic person 😊

[@ajaxfightsback1560]

I can’t speak for the performers but ASD is divided into 3 categories. 1: Requires support 2: Requires substantial support 3: Requires very substantial support From what little information we see in the interviews and clips it is reasonable to assume that the actors range from 1 to 2. But we have no way of knowing unless we ask every actors. If you’re interested in more information on ASD categories I recommend the CDC’s ASD diagnosis criteria page.

[@Gryffindorfreak1990]

You know what’s also ableist? Outdated and oppressive services created by the feds hopefully they’ll stop tying our services to SSI and Medicaid so we aren’t forced to stay in deplorable conditions, impoverished, and single to keep help!

[@RocStarr913]

Yea

[@Bubblegum-xm5cg]

High functioning is not the proper term. The term you're thinking of is low support needs, but even some high support needs people can do those things.

[@meganchristian7085]

People /individuals with autism - can we please remember the importance of people first language

[@sc0ville]

You don't speak for the majority of us.

[@kathrynjones9451]

Oh God the work ethic, learn ettiquite 😢

[@meganchristian7085]

I would love to see this Musical and I am a person with autism - I Prefer People First language ( I prefer to be called a person /individual with autism and not an "Autistic" Person/Individual )

[@meganchristian7085]

People /individuals with autism and also Characters with autism and actors with autism

[@meganchristian7085]

It's Individuals with autism

[@squidmeta]

only in ohio? skibidi? gyatt?

[@meganchristian7085]

Seven People with autism

[@meganchristian7085]

seven people with autism

[@meganchristian7085]

it's People with autism

[@meganchristian7085]

It's Individuals with autism