Here’s Why Willy Wonka Is An Autistic Icon

<p>While watching the film, I was once again struck by how much I related to the character. His odd mannerisms, his disregard for small talk and social niceties, and his fixation on a self-constructed world all reminded me of a lot of my own experiences growing up as a quiet, book-obsessed, undiagnosed autistic kid. Although I was recently diagnosed at the age of twenty-one (it&rsquo;s never too late!), the sense that something was always a little&nbsp;<em>off</em>&nbsp;has dogged me since childhood &mdash; in my odd tendency to repeat words and phrases, my limited and intense interests, my awkwardness in conversation and struggle to make friends. And as I sat there, watching Wonka spout off nonsensical phrases, constant literary references, and the occasional bit of wisdom, I finally got the urge to lay out, once and for all, what an autistic icon this character is, and has been for the past sixty years. Let&rsquo;s dive into a world of pure imagination together.</p> <p><a href="https://medium.com/@emilyivanov14/heres-why-willy-wonka-is-an-autistic-icon-ca585176dd12"><strong>Visit Now</strong></a></p>
Tags: Autistic icon