For the past eight years, Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood has truly felt like a part of our family. Daniel was the first television character my eldest daughter ever connected with. My second child discovered him just as the first was starting to move on, allowing Daniel to remain a cherished presence. Now, my youngest is just about ready to fall in love with him as well. Throughout my journey as a mom, my days have been filled with Daniel’s cheerful songs about sharing, understanding emotions, and navigating the challenges of preschool.
I even shed a tear when Daniel’s little sister, Baby Margaret, made her entrance into the world. It was a beautiful moment!
Since Daniel’s neighborhood is a creation of the Fred Rogers Company, it feels like home to me. I enjoy seeing familiar characters from my childhood transformed into supportive adults in a community that acknowledges children’s feelings and experiences. The show features a variety of family structures, and I’ve never had to worry about whether the messages my kids receive will align with my values.
When I learned that Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood would be adding an autistic character, I was cautiously optimistic that my son would find someone relatable in Max, the new addition to the neighborhood.
My son, Jake, is five years old and autistic. We avoid using functioning labels, as they often fail to accurately capture the diverse experiences of autistic individuals. However, it’s important to share a little about Jake to explain my initial concerns about whether he would see himself in Max.
Often, autistic characters on television are depicted as highly verbal and intensely focused on specific interests, or they might be shown as completely non-verbal and overly sensitive to sensory stimuli. Neither of these common portrayals accurately reflects Jake’s experiences.
Jake communicates well most of the time, though he has a speech delay. His conversations don’t always match the typical exchanges you might expect from a child his age, and he doesn’t typically rattle off impressive facts about his favorite subjects. He generally remains unfazed by things like bright lights or loud noises, as long as he can engage in activities on his own terms.
People often make assumptions about his level of autism based on his ability to communicate or handle sensory situations, which can be frustrating. When he needs time alone or struggles to answer questions, I often receive sympathetic comments about his autism, which only adds to the confusion.
Jake is fully autistic, and that can mean many things—including the need for patience, space, and understanding to thrive.
With all this in mind, last Friday afternoon, I scooped Jake up and took him to my room. We snuggled into the pillows, shared a blanket, and I eagerly turned on the episode of Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood where Max makes his debut. (Fun fact: The character is voiced by an autistic actor, which was essential for me!)
Max’s first day in the neighborhood was wonderful. When the teacher explained that Max is autistic, I couldn’t contain my excitement. I exclaimed, “Look! Max is autistic!” Jake’s face lit up, and he exclaimed, “Just like me, Mommy!”
When Max lined up his favorite buses in rainbow order, Jake grinned widely and chimed in, “The colors of the rainbow! Red, orange, yellow, green, blue, purple!” It was such a special moment for him to see a character who shares his interests.
Later in the episode, Max struggled with a loud and bright situation. Even though Jake typically doesn’t mind those things, he recognized that Max needed a break. When his aunt took him outside, Jake remarked, “Now Max is happy!” He cuddled beside me, watching the entire episode with a smile. Afterward, we discussed autism, and he proudly repeated, “Autistic is awesome, and different is not less!”
That evening, Jake chose to re-watch the episode during his iPad time. I could hear him laughing along with the characters as they found fun, accommodating ways to interact with Max.
Having a character like Max on TV means so much to Jake, and as his mother, I’m incredibly grateful that Daniel Tiger can provide this representation. It’s also vital for neurotypical children watching the show to learn about autistic kids.
Max is not the only autistic character out there! PBS also features AJ from Hero Elementary, Julia from Sesame Street, Dennis from Dinosaur Train, and an episode of Xavier Riddle and the Secret Museum that highlights Temple Grandin. By the time kids start school, they will have been exposed to a variety of autistic characters during their screen time, which is important.
For families like mine, ongoing representation is crucial. Jake will soon transition to elementary school, where he will interact with a diverse group of children. The more kids learn about and understand autism, the better his school experience will be.
Furthermore, it’s only fair that media reflects the reality of autistic individuals, just as it includes diverse representations of race, gender, body types, and lifestyles.
We wholeheartedly embrace Daniel Tiger’s new friend, Max, and we hope to see more of him in future episodes.
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In summary, Daniel Tiger’s introduction of Max, an autistic character, provides vital representation for children like Jake. It fosters understanding and acceptance among neurotypical kids while affirming the experiences of autistic children. This kind of thoughtful representation in media is essential for creating a more inclusive world.