Netflix recently debuted its fourth season of the well-loved show, Love on the Spectrum. When this show premiered, it immediately took the country by storm, creating buzz for the way it portrays each person with autism in a human and dignified way, while not shying away from the challenges they face.
The Love on the Spectrum cast continues to remind us that disabilities do not define a person and that every life is valuable.
Why the Love on the Spectrum Cast Is So Beloved
Love on the Spectrum was first released on Netflix in May 2022, garnering strong reactions from viewers. For the first time, its co-creator, director, and producer, Cian O’Clery, gave audiences an inside look at living with disabilities.
The show beautifully captures that living with a disability like autism does not strip a person of their intrinsic value or their desires, including the desire to be loved, seen, and cared for. Despite preconceived beliefs about those with disabilities, the light and love that come through in the show are proof that we need all kinds of people in this world. Challenges or not, their lives are irreplaceable.
In an interview regarding the show, O’Clery said, “I think making this series has really reinforced the fact that being kind, respectful, honest, and seeing people for who they are inside and what their values are is so important.”
Christopher Banks, president and CEO of Autism Society of America, shares the “why” behind Autism Awareness and accepting people with disabilities.
“Acceptance means that everyone has an equitable opportunity to live fully.”
But how can people with disabilities live fully, when many of them today are not being given the chance to live?
When a Diagnosis Is Framed as Bad News
There is no standard prenatal test for autism. The disabilities represented in the Love on the Spectrum cast shed light on a broader conversation about how society views disability.
For many women, receiving a prenatal diagnosis can be an overwhelming and emotional moment. The way that a diagnosis is communicated by doctors matters.
According to a study by the Human Development Institute, 61% of surveyed parents said their OB-GYN either apologized for the diagnosis or presented Down syndrome as bad news.
In moments like these, conversations often focus only on potential challenges and unknowns. This leaves little room to consider the meaningful and fulfilling lives that people with disabilities are living every day.
As prenatal diagnoses have become more common, some women are presented with abortion as a solution to the challenges their child might face. According to an article in Prenatal Diagnosis, 60 to 90 percent of children with Down syndrome are aborted in the U.S.
The Love on the Spectrum cast challenges us to reconsider something deeper. What determines the value of a life?
Read next: Diagnosing Down Syndrome: Why Doctors Are Doing it Wrong
The Love on the Spectrum Cast Shares Their Stories
Love on the Spectrum cast member and fan favorite Connor says it well,
“I’m not afraid to step out of my comfort zone, and not afraid to take risks as well. Although getting out of your comfort zone isn’t easy, a life without risk is a life unlived.”
Connor’s message to his interviewer, who has a son diagnosed with autism, also hits close to home.
“Don’t let anybody tell you what he can or can’t be.”
Love on the Spectrum cast member Dani shared a letter to her parents on Facebook in December 2016. In it, she describes the pain she felt from her parents’ initial reaction to her diagnosis.
“Don’t see me through my deficits, see me through my strength first. If you do that, everything else will eventually work itself out. You will see, someday you will stop being scared and start to be proud of me. Not because of what I can’t do, but because of what I can do, despite my diagnosis,” she wrote.
“I can’t imagine the disappointment or the terror that you must of [sic] have felt when I was first diagnosed or when you first realized I was different. I wish I could go back in time and comfort you.”
Nicci Smith, Tanner’s mom, also shared her reaction to her son’s diagnosis and the growth that came with accepting it.
“Instead of trying to get rid of this, we learned to make it bloom.”
Every Life Deserves the Chance to Be Seen
This can be said for many of life’s challenges. When we give life a chance, we see the hope and growth that shines through even its greatest challenges. The cast of Love on the Spectrum proves that every life has value and deserves to be seen and loved.
For women facing an unexpected pregnancy or a difficult diagnosis, the pressure to abort can feel overwhelming. No woman should have to navigate this alone. Our Save the Storks Mobile Medical Clinics help women see their baby on an ultrasound for the first time, offering them the resources, compassionate care, and hope they need to choose life.
Because of supporters like you, she can be met with care, not fear. Support, not pressure. Hope, not isolation.
