Although representation of neurodiversity and particularly autism has got better in recent years, with shows such as The A Word and Atypical, the focus has still been on men. This means neurodivergent and autistic women struggle to see themselves.
A Kind of Spark is a new 10-part CBBC show focussing on autistic women and girls. The main character Addie Darrow (Lola Blue) is an 11-year-old autistic girl navigating starting high school and all the troubles that comes with it. Her cheerleaders and ride-or-die girl gang are her sisters Keedie (Georgia De Gidlow), who is also autistic, and Keedie's twin Nina (Caitlin Hamilton), who is neurotypical.
Based on the bestselling novel by Elle McNicol, the show follows Addie on her quest to get a memorial for women tried as witches in her town. However, the big expansion to the show is that we also see how the town was affected by the witch trials and how the townsfolk were taught to fear anyone different that they didn't understand.
This storyline follows high-born Maggie Fraser (Hattie Gotobed) who is helping the accused women and standing up against witch hunter Adam Quinn (Ben Willbond). Maggie's sister Elinor (Ella Maisy Purvis) is desperately trying to protect her sister and the other women, whilst also hiding the fact she's autistic.
The story is ultimately one of autistic women not being ashamed of who they are, something that is rarely seen in media.
Author Elle McNicoll, who was also involved in writing the show, describes only ever seeing "white boys who loved trains" growing up.
"It's important to remind people that autism is neurodiverse and the more marginalised a person is the less likely they are to get a diagnosis and tell these stories," NcNicoll explains. "What these stories, and particularly what Elinor's storyline is going to do, is let people realise that they can have that label and it can set them free."
Ella Maisy Purvis, who plays Elinor, agrees, saying their character's story shows that "autism isn't a thing that's just been created in the modern world. It's not created by vaccines or it's not a buzzword or like this cool new trend."
As if the show wasn't amazing enough, it's also groundbreaking in terms of production, with most of the cast being made up of neurodivergent people – even some of those playing the neurotypical characters.
Caitlin Hamilton, who plays Addie's neurotypical sister Nina, says she didn't declare she was autistic in the audition because she was worried "it would be a hindrance rather than a good thing. And that's really sad."
Hamilton has been acting since the age of 6 but wasn't diagnosed with autism until 17, quite typical for autistic women. She says: "I grew up not knowing how autism can present itself in so many different ways. Even when a teacher suggested it, because everything I'd seen it just didn't feel like my experience. I thought I was just making it up or being really dramatic."
"The show really helped me to realise I exist as an autistic woman. It helped shut up the imposter syndrome," says Georgia De Gidlow, who plays Keedie.
De Gidlow's character feels she has to mask her autism and doesn't tell her new friends, ultimately resulting in burnout. She said this shows the importance of authentic casting as "I know what it's like, it was exciting more than anything to portray the actual daily experience of an autistic woman."
One thing everyone involved in the show hopes is that it will change the way autistic women are treated and make it easier for them to identify.
"A lot of autistic women and female-presenting people only get diagnosed later in life after years struggling and they're at breaking point," Purvis explains. "Hopefully the show saves so many people who are being ignored."
De Gidlow agrees, saying that if the show came out when she was a teenager it "could have meant an early diagnosis, without years of having meltdowns and thinking I had a mental illness."
"I think for me, I would have just felt seen," says Hamilton, "it would have made me feel less alone, to know other people were going through this too would've been so validating and powerful."
It will be striking for many that within the first episode, Addie proudly explains "I'm autistic" and actually uses the words, or when her mum tells a meddling teacher "autism isn't something you have, it's something you are" – something we never see on television.
“I felt like for our generation and older generations this show is going to heal their inner child. For the younger generation hopefully, that inner child isn't going to need to be healed.” De Gidlow says.
"Making it felt very healing," Purvis agrees.
"I've had people say the trailer healed their inner child!" McNicoll chimes in. That's why she thinks that this is so important.
"We have to teach this new generation of autistic women that being autistic is fabulous. It's not something to be tolerated [but] celebrated," McNoll finishes.
As Purvis says, A Kind of Spark shows "we're here and we've always been here".
A Kind of Spark is available on BBC iPlayer from Friday, March 31 and on CBBC from April 13.
Rachel Charlton-Dailey
Rachel is a freelance journalist and activist, they specialise in disability and (among other things) the way it's portrayed in TV and film.
They are currently a columnist at The Canary and have previously written for the Daily Mirror, where she also guest edited their groundbreaking series Disabled Britain.
She writes mostly about politics and disability, but her true love is TV, especially the best TV show ever (in their opinion) Ghosts. When they're not writing they can be found walking their sausage dog Rusty.
