FOX's new show Touch focuses on a father trying to connect with his severely autistic son and his ability to communicate through numbers.
New research finds one in 88 children will be diagnosed with autism. Many people have heard of it, but because of its wide spectrum many don't truly understand it. FOX's new show Touch helps open eyes through 11 year old autistic character Jake Bohm.
In Touch Jake Bohm is severely autistic. Like many children on the autism spectrum Jake tends to focus on one thing. For him it's numbers. He uses those numbers to predict future events, but he can't do it without the help of his father, Martin. Deciphering those numbers isn't easy for Martin. Not only that, but Jake doesn't speak, he rarely shows emotion, and he refuses to be touched. But somehow Jake's gift strengthens the bond between father and son.
Many in the autism community praise the show for shedding some light on autism.
"I think it's really good that there is literature whether its fiction and television shows or non-fiction. The more that we can make the community aware the more we can all become sensitive the families are dealing with the better," Dr. Susan Pneuman, Director of the Center for Autism and Dyslexia, said.
Autism is a spectrum disorder, so one person with autism may have different symptoms than another. It includes everything from classic autism, Asperger's, Pervasive Developmental Disorder, Rets Syndrome, and Childhood Disintegrative Disorder.
Sally Boedicker's son Andrew falls on the severe end of the spectrum. She supports the show and others dealing with autism. She says it helps make everyone more understanding.
"Trust me, you are going to meet somebody with autism and it would be helpful for them to know what it's all about and to have a better understanding so the person with autism isn't ostracized," Boedicker said.
Not everyone supports the show. Jen Slechter who works at Bittersweet at Betty's Farm says it's great the show promotes autism awareness, but she says the show also gives an unrealistic view of the disorder.
"I think the drawback of it is that sometimes things resolve way too quickly on TV. You know, when you're living with autism everything is not fixed in the 45 minutes like it is on television so I think something's there might be some sort of ‘glamorizing' isn't the right word but it can misconstrue the reality of what parents are living with," Slechter said.
Touch was just picked up for a second season. It airs Thursday nights at 9p.m. on FOX.
