Recently, SpongeBob SquarePants’ voice actor Tom Kenny revealed that SpongeBob is on the autism spectrum, calling it “his superpower”. This revelation will most likely help a lot of autistic individuals, both adults and kids, to embrace who they are by watching the iconic yellow sponge live a successful and fulfilling life. But the new question is what would be a good storyline for a SpongeBob episode centered around autism and how could it help foster a better understanding of what being autistic is like?
This episode could center around SpongeBob’s early childhood, with SpongeBob narrating the story of how he was able to overcome having autism to live a successful life. Throughout the story, we could see accurate representations of the struggles that people with autism have on a daily basis, and a message of perseverance that would be present throughout. This would help inspire not just those on the spectrum, but anyone going through their own personal struggles.
There are a few other things that could make this potential episode one of Nickelodeon’s most memorable and also help promote an environment of inclusion for those with autism. One huge thing that could make this episode memorable is getting actors who are living with autism to appear, even if it’s just in a cameo appearance or small role. Another huge thing that Nickelodeon could do in promotion for this episode is make a donation of $20,000 or more to an autism organization of their choice, so the mission of autism awareness can be continued for generations to come.
Historically, Hollywood and the entertainment world haven’t always portrayed autism as respectfully as it should be portrayed. The entertainment world either depicts autism as something that makes you a genius in certain subjects or something where you struggle with basic human functions if you’re diagnosed. Even worse, some documentaries, such as the infamous “Autism Every Day” documentary, even portray autism as something that’s a burden to the caregiver and something that can make people’s lives miserable, not focusing necessarily on the individual with autism.
According to a study done by the CDC, one in 36 children are diagnosed with some form of autism in the United States alone, with one percent of the world’s population being on the autism spectrum. With that said, SpongeBob SquarePants is the most-watched animated series in the history of television, with 50 million viewers every month. Making the autism awareness episode and having these viewers see their favorite yellow sponge live his life and embrace who he is could most likely inspire the viewers who are a part of the statistic of those diagnosed with autism.
There may be a few people who might not want autism to be portrayed on the television screen in such a popular cartoon. These people might not understand autism and may not want to see something that they don’t know about or fear. With that said, it seems right to allow a beautiful and powerful episode to be showcased to viewers, many with autism, to not only inspire said viewers, but also to help those who don’t know about autism to learn about it? This would likely help foster a better understanding.
It’s everyone’s responsibility to help make society a more welcoming place for not only those on the autism spectrum, but everyone, no matter what they may be going through. Allowing large platforms to showcase certain causes could help foster a better understanding and create a world of compassion and respect for all. This potential autism awareness episode could give people something not seen much in today’s society: Hope for an amazing future.
Kadin is a college student, writer, and activist who is on a mission to help people better understand Autism. Throughout his life, he was told he wouldn’t be successful because he was on the spectrum. But time and time again, he proved the naysayers wrong. His goal in life is to inspire people with his story and help bring attention to Autism in the world.
