Our Interpreter: How A Small Act Of Kindness Can Make A Big Difference In The Life Of An Autism Parent And Their Child – And What Hollywood Can Learn From The Chinese Drama On How To Handle Such Topic

I’ve recently been enjoying K-Dramas and Chinese-made movies and TV shows. I’d already previously written about Revenged Love, a 2025 Chinese-made BL drama starring Tian Xu Ning and Zi Yu as main love interests Chi Cheng and Wu Suowei respectively. Despite its immense popularity and positive reception from fans and reviewers, it was banned from China due to its subject matter. The lead lead actors, especially Tian Xuning, have encountered issues, including potential career repercussions within China due to the show’s nature and actor scandals. The drama was reportedly at risk of being banned in mainland China after a Chinese social media platform banned its super topic hashtag, and some scenes were deleted or blurred, though international platforms still show it. 

China has been known to ban or restrict “boys’ love” (BL) or danmei dramas, which it has labeled as having “deformed tastes” and being “erotic and violent”. A new policy in the country now requires that any project produced in mainland China, regardless of where it’s broadcast, must follow Chinese laws and undergo review, which put the series at risk of penalties like halting production or fines. Due to the Chinese laws, Tian Xuning faced career repercussions, having blacklisted or having his roles reduced. Zi Yu, also due to the Chinese laws, as well as a cheating scandal, also controversy surrounding the show’s mainland China promotion. Unlike other BL dramas, very little promotion had been done for the show; mostly due to the fan frenzy craziness it’s created since its debut in June.

I really enjoyed the show, and would highly recommend it to anyone who loves a well-made love story. But if you’re a homophobic piece of shit who still believes in the old-school traditional way of life and love, don’t watch it. And if you’re an ableist piece of shit, one such as my father-in-law for instance, I also don’t recommend you watch Our Interpreter. It’s not LGBT based, but does involve a particular story where disability exists and portrayed positively. As the story goes, the show is a workplace drama/romance about an interpreter who reunites with her ex-boyfriend, and old feelings resurface. Eight years after breaking up to pursue her career, interpreter Lin Xi unexpectedly reunites with her ex-boyfriend Yi Cheng during a business deal. As they work together, old feelings resurface, challenging their professional boundaries.

While surfing YouTube on a regular Tuesday, I came across a particular segment from The Interpreter. It was small, but oh, so important. It was a segment that involved disability awareness in the workplace. Generally speaking, disability awareness is about understanding and respecting people with disabilities by recognizing their experiences, challenging stereotypes, and addressing barriers in society. It involves educating people about disabilities, promoting inclusive environments, and celebrating the contributions of people with disabilities. Awareness campaigns often occur throughout the year, with specific observances like Disability Awareness Month in March or Disability Employment Awareness Month in September/October, according to Distress And Crisis Ontario, Canadian Council on Rehabilitation and Work, and RRC Library. To break things down more thoroughly:

Key aspects of disability awareness

• Understanding and respect: It involves gaining an understanding of the diverse experiences and challenges faced by people with disabilities. It means being mindful of one’s own perceptions and biases.

• Challenging stereotypes: Awareness aims to dismantle stereotypes, stigma, and unconscious biases that people with disabilities encounter.

• Promoting inclusion: It encourages creating inclusive environments in workplaces, schools, and communities where people with disabilities can fully participate.

• Advocacy: It involves advocating for the rights and needs of people with disabilities and celebrating their accomplishments. 

How to get involved

• Support awareness months: Participate in or promote events during months dedicated to raising awareness.

• Educate yourself: Learn about different types of disabilities, current terminology (such as person-first versus identity-first language), and ableism.

• Promote inclusive practices: Support initiatives that increase employment opportunities for people with disabilities and ensure equal access and respect for all employees.

• Challenge ableism: Be mindful of your language and actions and work to actively fight against ableist beliefs and practices. 

As I wrote about the hardships women face and the very little progress that’s been made since the 1980’s, I was particularly reminded of the hardships women who parent disabled children face in the workforce. Some women who are mothers to disabled children don’t get to be part of the workforce. Reasons for it include it being a choice, it already being a job in itself to raise a child with a disability, and wanting to solely conconcentrate on their children’s needs and well-being. But another reason – one that’s mostly overlooked, is companies refusing to accommodate for the needs of the woman and her child.

Being a woman is fucking hard, let me tell you. Being a disabled woman is hard. Being a mom is hard. Being a disabled mom is hard. Being a mom of a child with a disability is hard. And finally, being a disabled mom of a child with a disability is hard. I’m a disabled mom raising a child with a disability. My son has autism. He was diagnosed when he was 2 years old. The diagnosis was a tough fact to sink in, but it also gave us the answers my husband and I needed. It gave us a better understanding as to why our son the way he was, as well as a better understanding of what we needed to do going forward to make his life a little easier in a society that doesn’t accommodate to ‘different’.

Having an autistic child can have its moments. It’s hard, but it’s not a tragedy either. At least in my eyes it’s not. My son has a beautiful and loving spirit, and I wouldn’t change a thing about him. Would I take away his disability if I could? Absolutely. Nevertheless, I wouldn’t change a single thing about him. Some parents might see their child’s diagnosis and everything that comes thereafter as cancer. I don’t. On the contrary, I saw my son’s diagnosis as a relief. This testament alone reminded me of a particular storyline from Girl Meets World, the spinoff series of the 90’s classic Boy Meets World.

It was when Farkle, Riley Matthew’s classmate and friend, was being tested for Asperger’s Syndrome (now simply known as autism) due to his high IQ score, as well as his ‘Farkle-like’ behaviour. It was then revealed that even though Farkle, played by Corey Fogelmanis, didn’t have it, his girlfriend did. She was diagnosed at age 5. The episode aimed to promote understanding and acceptance of individual differences, with the core message being that a diagnosis wouldn’t change who either of them were as people. Even though it was done with good intention, it wasn’t executed as well as it should have. I personally don’t even understand who allowed this kind of episode to be aired. When Farkle told his friends that he might have Asperger’s, they all acted as though he had a terminal illness. It’s just wrong on SO many levels. Being different isn’t a bad thing. Your brain working different isn’t going to kill you. Luckily, I wasn’t the only one who thought so. The episode was heavily criticized by many for its portrayal and handling of a potential diagnosis. To break it down more thoroughly:

Key criticisms

• Negative framing: The episode frames a potential autism diagnosis negatively. Farkle’s friends react with denial and distress, and they are ultimately relieved when he is not diagnosed, suggesting autism is undesirable.

• Outdated terminology: The episode uses the term “Asperger’s syndrome,” which was no longer an official diagnosis at the time the episode aired, as it was removed from the DSM-5 in 2013.

• Stigmatizing portrayal: The friends’ initial reaction is to look up symptoms to prove Farkle doesn’t have it, and they treat him as if he has a deadly disease if he does. Autistic viewers felt this normalized negative reactions and shame surrounding autism.

• Reinforcing harmful ideas: The show’s eventual resolution, where Farkle is not diagnosed and his friend Smackle is revealed to be autistic, is also seen as problematic. It implies that Farkle is better off without the diagnosis, while Smackle’s autism is depicted with stereotypical traits, which can feel inaccurate to many autistic people, especially women and girls. 

The show’s intent

• Sparking conversation: According to Disney, the hope was that the storyline would “spark conversation among kids and their families about the disorder”.

• Consultation with experts: Disney also stated that it had consulted medical experts to ensure an “authentic and accurate portrayal,” though critics argue the final product wasn’t accurate or authentic. 

A 2022 Buzzfeed article spoke about the disastrous consequences of that specific episode. The tagline was, ‘Watching this episode in middle school was the sole reason i was terrified to tell my friends about my autism.’ In the episode, when Farkle told his friends that he might have Asperger’s, Maya, played by Sabrina Carpenter, kept on saying, ‘You don’t!’ Riley, played by Rowan Blanchard, then screamed, ‘Let’s go tell them you don’t.’ That’s something you’d say to someone who could potentially be diagnosed with cancer. It’s also important to note that there’s no such thing anymore as Asperger’s Syndrome, and there wasn’t already by the time the episode aired in 2015. It was from the American Psychiatric Association’s Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) since 2013. Clinicians no longer use it as a separate diagnosis from autism.

All Farkle wanted was to be accepted by his peers; by his friends who he trusted the most in the world. Instead, when he told them he MIGHT be autistic, they acted as if he had 5 days to live. They completely disregarded his potential diagnosis and somehow made it all a punchline to the situation at hand. Farkle then felt like he had to prove that he had traits of autism. Not only was it ableism at its finest, but it was DANGEROUSLY wrong. Autism is an actual neurological disorder that affects one’s brain activity, which then affects one’s behavioural function. All Girl Meets World did was shame someone who might have autism in the real world and make them afraid to open up to others about their own diagnosis to others. In fact, when the specific clip from the series where Farkle opened about potentially having autism went viral on TikTok, many who grew up watching the show didn’t hesitate to share that it made them feel shame for having autism. And the worst part of it all was that Farkle ended up NOT having autism. He

The limiting of Farkle’s unique personality creates an unhealthy perspective for young and impressionable viewers, many of whom may struggle with ASD. His friends’ reaction to the potential diagnosis only showed that Farkle couldn’t be himself around them. Children with autism face unique challenges in school and other social environments that aren’t equipped with the resources to accommodate them. Studies around the world, as documented by the National Library of Medicine, have identified that 7-75% of individuals are victims of school bullying. Maya and Riley’s reaction to Farkle’s news and their consistent lack of open-mindedness, as well as their judgement of Farkle’s girlfriend, who does have confirmed autism, WAS, indeed, bullying. Farkle then felt the need to go up in front of his entire class to tell them that he didn’t have autism.

The sad reality is that this a kids’ TV show, and this particular episode, while made with good intentions to educate its young viewers on autism, only made a disastrous mistake by emphasizing how Farkle’s friends felt about his possible diagnosis even though it doesn’t affect them directly. If only his friends could show him more empathy and care for the scary new life event that was happening to him. If only they could make it easier on him to not only accept his fate, but to embrace it as well. Showing kindness and empathy to someone with autism, or someone who’s being tested for autism, is important because individuals with autism may perceive and interact with the world differently, making understanding and support crucial for their well-being and inclusion. To break it down more thoroughly:

Here are some key reasons why kindness and empathy are vital:

• Promotes well-being and self-esteem: Autistic individuals often face unique challenges in social interactions and sensory processing. Kindness and empathy can help them feel accepted, understood, and valued, significantly boosting their self-esteem and overall mental health.

• Facilitates communication and understanding: Autistic individuals may communicate differently, using fewer verbal cues or struggling to interpret social nuances. Empathy helps bridge these gaps, encouraging patience and open-mindedness in interactions.

• Builds trust and safety: Consistent kindness creates a safe and predictable environment, which is important for individuals who might be sensitive to changes or feel anxious in new situations. Trust allows for better relationships and a willingness to engage with others.

• Reduces stress and anxiety: The world can be overwhelming for people with autism due to sensory sensitivities and social demands. Empathetic behavior, such as using clear language, respecting their need for personal space, or accommodating sensory needs, can help reduce their stress and anxiety levels.

• Encourages social inclusion: Kindness and empathy help foster inclusive communities where people with autism feel like they belong. This encourages participation in social activities, education, and the workplace, allowing them to lead fulfilling lives.

• Respects neurodiversity: Autism is a form of neurodiversity, meaning it is a natural variation in brain wiring. Showing kindness and empathy acknowledges and respects these differences as part of the human experience, rather than something to be “fixed”.

• Models positive behavior: Being kind and empathetic sets a positive example for others, promoting a more accepting and compassionate society for all people, including those with other disabilities or differences. 

Girl Meets World was cancelled after 3 seasons in 2017. The official reason for it was that the show had a tough time finding its younger audience, and honestly good fucking riddance! It’s so refreshing to know that the younger generation didn’t resonate with the show and all that it had to offer. There were many things wrong with it. The autism storyline was just one of them, but it was a big one. That particular episode only added to the stigma surrounding autism and autistic people. Even for 2015, the reaction to Farkle’s potential autism diagnosis was outdated. If there’s anything the episode could teach the younger generation, it’s how NOT to respond to someone telling them they have autism.

This is why I’m so glad that shows like Our Interpreter exist. Unlike Girl Meets World, the international show did a phenomenal job of showing a positive representation of the autism spectrum. Not only that, but it didn’t take them as long to do such a thing either. The scene I’m talking about was only 10 minutes in length, but boy were those 10 minutes so important. It really showcased the hardships of not only being an autistic child, but a parent as well, and what one could do to show compassion for both parties when faced with a situation as portrayed on the show.

During a business event, an important guest from Iceland, Mr. Indridarson, arrived with his son who had autism. Due to the crowd and loud noise, the child became overwhelmed. Mr. Indridarson attempted to calm him down, but to no avail. The child became so distressed that, as Mr. Indridarson was trying to calm him down, he accidentally threw off Mr. Indridarson’s hearing aid. Realizing that not only was his son autistic, but that he was hard of hearing too, Lin Xi offered to care for his son as he prepared for his very important presentation and arranged the help he needed to not screw up as he was missing his hearing aid. What seemed impossible to others became the most important thing she did for someone else in need. She provided Mr. Indridarson sign language interpreting during his presentation and did the best she could to calm his son down as he was presenting.

As a parent of an autistic child, as well as a disabled woman myself, the scene gave me a lot of hope; most notably, for my son’s future. For me personally, the hardest thing I’ve ever had to navigate through was me being an autism mom. That’s considering the fact that I’m a disabled person myself. I know firsthand that life with a disability is hard, and in no way do I even want to think that my son would experience even a third of the hardships I faced in my childhood and then adulthood due to my disability. That’s exactly why Girl Meets World’s attempt at being educational on autism pissed me off so damn much; because it did the exact opposite of what it aimed to do.

As a parent, it’s heartbreaking to know that your child might get mistreated because of something that’s completely out of their control; as well as mine. If I could, I would. I’d take away every single hardship that my son would have to face if I could. But I can’t. The world is a scary place. It’s a place where it’s not okay to be different. It’s a place that tells you that you can be anything in the world but yourself if you want to be accepted by society.

One thing I’m most grateful for is the autism community. I literally don’t know where I’d be without it. Perhaps the worst thing anyone ever did was make judgement of me as a parent to my son when my son was, in their head, ‘misbehaving’, judging every single decision my husband and I made on behalf of our son, and then went on to speak to my son as if he was a piece of garbage. That person was my husband’s stepmother. What hurt me the most is that she was supposed to be one of the closest people in our life, and one of the most supportive, and she made me feel the way that she did. She was hostile, narcissistic, and downright mean and abusive. She then went on to call me to ‘apologize’ because my husband told her to, but the apology was worse than the actual act itself. Like, bitch… STAY IN YOUR OWN DAMN LANE. Just because you’re a mom of two girls doesn’t make you a fucking no-it-all.

That’s exactly why I’m so happy to have the autism community. There’s no one more helpful than a fellow autism mom. She knows exactly what you go through. She gets why your child is ‘misbehaving’. She gets why your child might not be talking yet even though the child is old enough to. She gets why your child might have a hard time potty training. She gets why your child is the way that he/she is. She gets why you are the way you are. And most importantly, she can connect you to the right services such as the different therapies available to could best help your child.

I’m also grateful for the people in my life who, unlike my father-in-law and my husband’s stepmother, love my son for exactly who is and accept him just as he is – flaws and all. They don’t even see flaws in him. They just give the unconditional support and care that he so deserves in his life; one that he might not get from everyone in the outside world. Our Interpreter showcased a glimpse of hope that there is, in fact, good in the world; that there is such a thing as empathy and kindness out there – both as a child AND an autism parent. It’s such a small thing to be, but it makes a huge difference in someone’s life. That difference is incredibly indescribable.