"From the get-go, Ross says, The Pitt's writers "were very serious about not portraying a stereotypical situation" regarding autism. "That was in the original request that was posed to me," she says. Her advice eventually helped shape fan-favorite character Dr. Mel King (played by Taylor Dearden), a bright-eyed resident new to the ER in the show's first season."
"Mel exhibits many autistic-coded traits, like self-soothing, the occasional dropped social cue, and a knack for repetitive, focused tasks. But notably, she's never confirmed on the show to be diagnosed as neurodivergent. Instead, viewers get to see many sides of Mel as the season unfolds: her compassion as she comforts a child losing her sister, her earnestness as she befriends her fellow doctors, her eccentricity."
Dr. Wendy Ross, a developmental and behavioral pediatrician directing Jefferson Center for Autism & Neurodiversity, was recruited to consult on HBO's Emmy-winning medical drama The Pitt. The show's writers specifically requested her expertise to avoid stereotypical portrayals of autism when developing the character Dr. Mel King, a resident physician. Ross's guidance helped shape Mel's character to display autistic-coded traits such as self-soothing behaviors, occasional social cues difficulties, and focused repetitive tasks, while maintaining complexity and depth. The character remains undiagnosed on screen, allowing viewers to appreciate Mel's multifaceted personality including her compassion, earnestness, and eccentricity throughout the season.
Read at Fast Company
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