#newt scamander has autism

[alwaysahiccupandastrid]

As an autistic person, I want to say something about The Good Doctor.

Over the last month or so - but especially the last two days - Twitter has gone nuts about dragging the absolute piss out of this show. Because autism representation is so rare in major television shows or movies, I’ve been finding myself questioning whether The Good Doctor is in fact “good” representation in the slightest or if I’m just clinging onto it because it’s one of the few shows out there with an autistic lead… and people dragging the shit out of it has made me even more unsure because I’ve only seen one and a half seasons of the show so far and so I can’t really speak on how the show has done recently in regards to portraying autism.

Personally, do I feel that Shaun in TGD represents me and how I am autistic? No. But to be honest, I wasn’t expecting him to because autism is a spectrum and the areas where my autism affects my life will be different to other people’s; it’s also worth noting that it’s been shown that autistic traits are different in girls than in boys, and that girls tend to mask more etc. Obviously this does not apply to ALL boys and ALL girls, but in general it’s thought that girls and women tend to have different traits to boys and men.

With this in mind, Shaun actually does remind me at times of a child at the school I’m currently at - again, not 100% the same but there’s similarities in regards to how they talk, what they say etc. However, that child is five-nearly-six, and Shaun is a grown man so… do with that information what you will. There have also been a couple of moments I’ve had so far watching the show where it’s seemed like lightening has struck and I’m like “Oh that’s me!” - namely the social awkwardness and a meltdown scene. It’s not every episode, it’s only on occasion, but it’s been nice to see nonetheless because the only other time I’ve witnessed that with an actual confirmed autistic character is Newt Scamander.

Obviously I don’t speak for all autistic people, and I’m very aware that many other autistic people have expressed dislike and criticism of the show - and I get it, I truly do. I do think the show isn’t exactly the best written (to put it nicely) and that it gives a very stereotypical representation of autism, namely “white boy/man autism”. I don’t want to bash the show too much because while I’ve seen complaints about it, I’ve also had some fellow autistic people say to me that they love the show and that they feel Shaun represents them - and that’s great.

I do want to express my discomfort about the fact that people have turned a scene where Shaun is having a meltdown into a meme. There is a very fine line between criticizing a piece of media for bad representation and then mocking autistic meltdowns - and I think a lot of neurotypicals are in fact just using it as an excuse to laugh at autistic people and mock us. It’s not just that scene either: I’ve seen people mocking clips showing how he stands, how he talks, how he interacts with people, and it very much feels like people just wanted a chance to make ableist comments about autistic people.

It’s also interesting that this show has so far had six whole seasons air, it’s got extremely high viewership, and yet it’s only now that people are taking offence to a scene that occurred at least four years ago. I know that Twitter has had a field day over another scene in the first season where Shaun at first struggles to understand why a trans woman is “she” (which, you know, is a whole other kettle of fish given that I’ve seen it claimed that autistic people are more likely to be trans/NB etc), and far right TERFs/bigots were using that scene as some kind of “gotcha!”… right up until it was pointed out that by the end of the episode, Shaun fully accepted the trans woman’s gender identity and used the correct pronouns.

Again, I’m not saying this was brilliant writing or anything, but it was several years ago and is only now being brought up, same with other scenes taken out of context in the show… Yes, autistic people have voiced grievances with it before, but were ignored - I don’t believe for one minute that the neurotypicals making the memes and being preachy give one shit about actually autistic people or care about us, because otherwise why were our voices ignored before? It’s only now that it’s been getting public notice for the trans episode that people are going “ohhhh this show sucks and is bad representation” as if members of the autistic community haven’t voiced that opinion for years. It just rubs me the wrong way quite frankly.

What I will say is that I’m tired of seeing people drag Freddie Highmore though. He’s a good actor, anyone who’s seen him in things he’s done since his childhood will know that, it’s not his fault if he’s given shit scripts to work with. I do also think Freddie means well with his portrayal, even if he’s (as far as we know) allistic and the fact he appeared in an Autism $peaks video (because of TGD/all the cast did it) - the man has zero social media presence whatsoever though and didn’t even know what Pokémon Go was, so I’m going to give him the benefit of the doubt this time and assume he truly hasn’t been informed about how harmful that organisation is. Or maybe I’m just going soft on him because seven year old me had an age appropriate crush on him eighteen years ago, who knows at this point?

I’m hoping all of this talk will open up a dialogue about the show and about the representation of autism, if nothing else.

[dmitri-smerdyakov]

Fuck JK Rowling but it makes me so angry to think we could have had a complete Fantastic Beasts series with an autistic lead who isn’t a total stereotype, who is loveable, who has a love interest instead of just being infantilised…and instead we’re getting a seven season Harry Potter reboot/remake that no one asked for or wanted on HBO Max.

When I was going through the process of my autism diagnosis, feeling anxious and worried about what being diagnosed would mean, knowing that Newt Scamander - a character who is adored by so many in a major franchise - was being played as autistic helped me tremendously. I saw much of myself in Newt, and it made me feel seen that an autistic person like myself could be the hero, that Newt wasn’t a joke or stereotype. It was so important to me coming to terms with my diagnosis that a character I loved was like me and not limited by being autistic.

I’ve mentioned this before but on the opening day of Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore in the UK, there was a boy on the row in front of me. When Newt came onscreen, he started bouncing and flapping his hands excitedly - like me, he was autistic and saw himself represented on the big screen.

“But Luna Lovegood” - you know what, controversial but fuck your “but Luna Lovegood”. Her actress sided with the TERF, and Luna is NOT confirmed to be autistic, it’s just a popular fan headcanon. Meanwhile Newt Scamander has been confirmed by Eddie Redmayne (not JKR, fuck her) to be on the spectrum. I’m not saying she definitely isn’t because I can definitely see it, and it’s wonderful autistic people can relate, but I’m talking about a character who is intentionally written and portrayed as autistic instead of just fan headcanons.

What does having a love interest have to do with this? Believe it or not, this isn’t me just being a shipper: too often are autistic people infantilised, as if we can’t love other people or that people are incapable of loving us. But - as anyone following me most likely knows - Newt Scamander has a love interest, Porpentina “Tina” Goldstein, who he’s canonically married to in the future. They even have a grandson who is called Rolf and marries the aforementioned Luna.

In the three films, we only got a few scenes (and then JK Rowling cut Tina out because Katherine Waterston called her out on multiple occasions for being a transphobe) of Newtina but what we got showed that not only is Newt capable of forming a romantic attachment but also Tina clearly loves Newt as he is, quirks and all. She understood his odd compliment of “salamander eyes” because she knows his special interest is magical creatures and it’s his way of saying he adores her eyes. She read his book and genuinely made an effort to learn because she knew magical creatures were important to him, and we saw her grow from thinking he was writing an “extermination guide” to giving him the name for his book, “Fantastic Beasts and Where To Find Them”. My girl Tina LOVES Newt for who he is and always has, and that’s beautiful.

Seeing an autistic person not only fall in love - he spends the whole of the 2nd and 3rd films lamenting on how beautiful she is, talking about her and with her picture in his pocket/suitcase - but also being loved for who they are is something so rarely seen and is so important.

I’ll be the first to hold my hands up and say that the second and third Fantastic Beasts movies weren’t the greatest, by the way. I will agree to that. The first one seems like a damn masterpiece in comparison, even with its problems, but I’m still angry.

The fact that JK Rowling’s bigotry has contributed to losing this rare example of autistic representation in a major mainstream franchise is something no one talks about when discussing her actions, and it hurts that no one seems to care about canon autistic representation.

[robinnygrenart]

Next on the list of Autism Acceptance is Newt Scamander. Special case as he’s like the character I relate to the most but hardest to draw for numerous reasons so here’s a bowtruckle!!

What I love about Newt is Eddie's performance and his personality. Everything to how he walks, his posture, his overall uncomfortableness and natural avoidance of eye contact, for once it felt like I was seeing myself in another character, I felt seen in a new way by Newt Scamander and watching his special interest saving the Wizarding World makes me more comfortable in my own skin and interests. As well as his ease to just be himself, from swinging from lamps to licking the ground, Newt has no trouble being Newt.

And my favourite part really of Newt’s story is introducing Jacob to the case and just how much more natural he seems in that world rather than by other humans. He’s so confident and all into these creatures and his compassion is wonderfully played out.

But the scene I highlighted here is a younger Newt comforting Leta. He’s not doing it by hugging or asking her about the experience. He’s doing it by introducing her into his life and playing his interests into the mix to try to cheer her up. I have read how ASD has a different way to comfort and more naturally want to fix the problem for them or offer them help through actions and not words and I kind of felt this fitted in there.

[theexceptionaleccentric]

Is Hufflepuff filled like 90% by autistic students?

Sooo... my friend and I have been talking about autism and our childhood and the inflated sense of justice and loyalty that comes with it when an idea struck me.

Justice? Loyalty? Fairness? Naively kind attitude that can easily be exploited? Special connection with animals? All sounds like the traits of Hufflepuffs (and autistic people)!

And as we're both neurodivergent that idea judt seemed too nice not to share.

Autistic people value fairness and loyalty a great amount. I would even say it is one of our core values. And therefore I think the Sorting Hat would most certainly put a lot of autistic students into Hufflepuff.

We may be too awkward to speak up for ourselves, but if we witness a great (or small) injustice happening around us we sure won't be leaving that be. Autistics are also known to be naive and almost child-like in their grasp of emotions. Hate, jealousy and generally bad intentions towards people aren't really in our vocabularly, which seems pretty well suited for a House that is known for its kindness. A lot of autistics also connect with animals and have a soft spot for them which has me thinking that this would absolutely extend towards magical creatures. I mean, look at Newt Scamander!

I believe that this would also work well with the general bad stereotypes and outside perception of the House. At worst Hufflepuffs are seen as pushovers, people-pleasers and cry-babies. We are not any of that, but the social awkwardness that comes with autism, the higher likelihood to be exploited by others, meltdowns, or the possibility of feeling emotions of others too much due to hightened empathy could have others believing that.

Finally, if there is to be a place at Hogwarts that would be great to meet one's autistic needs (other than the Room of Requirement) it would be the Hufflepuff common room. Just think about it! Hufflepuff is all about comfort!

The place is all soft fabrics and soft light so ideal for sensory needs, it is in a less frequented part of the castle in the basement so removed from the everyday humdrum and noise of Hogwarts, and it is right by the kitchens. I'm absolutely certain that the Hufflepuff students would make friends with the house elfs and we could eat our comfort food for seven years straight if needed.

The final point I find funny is - unlile the other houses, our password is a series of knocks on a barrel. The knocks have to come in the right sequence, make the correct pattern of noises - and honestly what better password for autistics that a pattern, especially an auditory one?

That is all I have for now! Feel free to add anything you want to this headcanon, I just found the idea really sweet as most of my neurodivergent friends (and myself) would actually be sorted into Hufflepuff.

[uefb]

Author’s Note on Autism & Fantastic Beasts for “Head Full of Fairies”

SUMMARY: Newt misses a MACUSA policy meeting on revisions to a creature trafficking bill, and Tina is beyond frustrated until she returns to their brownstone to find it utterly silent, Newt himself nowhere to be found. (A story about autism in the Wizarding World and the intricacies of Newt and Tina's relationship, with gratuitous worldbuilding and a side of Theseus.)

I originally had this as a discouragingly long author's note on the first chapter, but after some consideration I decided to put it on tumblr and link to it on AO3, instead, in the hope that those who are interested will read it, and those with questions might have a place to start:

One of my favorite things about Newt Scamander as a character and FB as a story, is that Newt is an autistic character within a rollicking fantasy plot that has absolutely nothing to do--at least explicitly--with autism. (Here are two links on Eddie Redmayne's choice to play Newt as autistic. Redmayne's language is a bit off, but that's ok. Fans have additionally reported they've brought up Newt's autism to him at signings, and he's repeatedly confirmed.) Anyway, so much popular media featuring autistic characters focuses on the character's autism--explicitly highlighting their struggles or cute quirks--while ignoring the rest of their character, or the story's plot: their autism is the plot. However, FB gives many autistic fans a story they can love because they see themselves in Newt (a hero!) and they see how his autistic traits make him successful. (Just go to the "autistic Newt Scamander" hashtag on tumblr to see what I mean.) But! autistic fans can also appreciate the larger plot of FB without being constantly hit in the face with producers' reductive beliefs about how disabling autism can be. (Even if it is. And those bits that are included in FB--struggles at school & socially, issues with expressive language, special interest-related societal exclusion, etc--are so relatable to most autistics it would be, frankly, offensively bizarre if they weren't included.)

THAT BEING SAID, because of this focus on plot, there are parts of the autistic experience understandably missing from the tale. (And the human experience more generally--these movies are largely an adventure story, a genre in which painstaking character building often gets pushed to the wayside anyway.) IMO, mainstream representations tend to tap into those autistic traits most easily recognised by the general public--e.g.,discomfort with eye contact, difficulty reading social situations, obsessive interests, etc.--skimming over those that might be less relatable (e.g., sensory sensitivity, emotional overwhelm and meltdowns, an inconsistent ability to access skills, language, etc. depending on stress and context). As a late-identified autistic person, these other parts of the varied autistic experience are something I'm quite interested in exploring. I build out autism within the Wizarding World a bit in my ongoing historical-based fic, With Its Head Under One Wing, but exploring what it means for Newt in a wizarding and relational context is better done elsewhere, given the focus of my longer story's plot.

All that to say -- I started writing this as a distraction while experiencing some major overwhelm myself, riding the edge of a shutdown/meltdown for days. (Yes, adults can and do experience shutdowns and meltdowns. Learn more about them at these four links here. Autistic concepts will continue to be footnoted, as appropriate.) I ask that you be patient with the characters in this first chapter--Tina is at the end of her rope due to Grindelwald, work, and pre-WWII-related stress; and Newt (though not actually present) is operating under the haze of a meltdown rumbling. Characters--just like all of us--are complex and imperfect. (And I can say from experience that, when you've been with someone for nearly a decade, accessing unconditional kindness under pressure is not as automatic as it perhaps was in year one. And even the most well-meaning and truly loving partner can snap under an autistic loved one's stress.)

Finally, it is not at all my intent to infantalize Newt, as so often happens when people write autistic characters--I am only using my own experience (and my wife's experience with me) to write about his (and Tina's) experience. Typical caveat: "If you've met one autistic person, you've met one autistic person". Every autistic person is different, every neurodivergent relationship is different, etc etc etc.

Nevertheless, I hope you enjoy.

[afrenchaugurey]

NEWT SCAMANDER AND (mostly Tina's) PICTURES

Is it me procrastinating about Christmas and not being able to sleep for days ? Probably (and probably why even in French this … thing is almost impossible to understand… Sorry)

(it begins with personal rambling, you can skip and go after the first picture)

(it's only a personal analysis and belief, not at all something studied or anything… Take it as HC)

Excepted for autism, and his work (or maybe because of both), there is another thing (among many others TBH, oupsi) that I love about Newt Scamander and his character's building. That's his fascination for pictures.

Hiding myself behind a camera has been, for a long time, a way to find a place in the world, to cope with social interactions and is how I met the few friends that are still in my life. Through the viewfinder it was easier for me to see people, the world, as I wanted to, as I needed to. I could focus on things that interested me, or just take the time for those which intrigued me or simply were difficult to cope with. Objects, details, colours, noises, … I could build a bubble for myself, a bubble that made me look like as if I was in the present, and really with people that surrounded me.

That said, it took me almost 25 years of photographic practice to dare to make pictures of people. Then, I did it as I wanted to, not with some “bizarre” codes. Eyes, hands, people without faces, a crease on a shirt, hands (yes, hands twice, I find people easier to understand when looking at what their hands are saying than when looking at their eyes)… It was a way to talk where difference didn't equal oddity. I was then able to exist in a group, behind the camera without looking directly at people. Ever. The eye-cup was my mask, among many others, but certainly the most efficient one. I didn't have to really be in the present, the camera covered it up, and the sound and vibration from the Clic of the shutter were my best anxiolytic, as were my books.

Anyway. I don't know why I talk about that. I like the pictures thematic around Newt's character because of how much Photography is also for me the only way to register a face. I need to see the picture of a person for a long while in order to be able to recognize them (thank you social media for that, at least at early rise). I let you imagine how it was for classes pictures… 3 months after the beginning of school I couldn't tell to my mother who was who). Without that time with a picture, I can't relate the face (that can sound familiar) to the person, neither with the context nor the name. If I have a picture to look at, I can memorize the person.

To be honest, if I had been Newt, it's possible (probable) that I wouldn't have been able to recognize Tina in COG if it wasn't in the specific context that we expected her (like in that cave, where he was looking for her specifically).

Fun fact : I was in a relationship with my husband for 4 years when he cut his hair, I didn't recognize him as himself, he was his older brother for me. It took me days to proceed.

The fact that Newt keeps one (or more) picture(s), beyond the romantic symbol linked to his times, resounds really deeply in me. In my interpretation, he carries the pictures of the people he wants to be able to recognize anywhere and anytime, no matter the context, no matter if he is prepared to see them, no matter if it's the wrong place/time/… or if it had been a very long time since he last saw them (Hello, Leta).

That's also what makes the Salamanders metaphor even more beautiful. The Tina in the picture is, to him, even more Tina than the real Tina at this point of the story (he spent more time with the picture than with the real one). This Tina is the one he sees every day, the one he had time to study, without the need to lower his gaze because of the reciprocity (it can be debated with moving wizards pictures and how Tina's pictures interact with him, or we can make other HC about that…

Carrying this picture, studying this picture, talking about this picture is his way to say I love you.

(and no, it's not creepy, it's just, I believe, a proof of commitment).

Another important point (and linked to the previous one) is how he keeps his pictures. The lid of his case is like a scrapbook album (and that has been confirmed by Eddie Redmayne in the SOD Movie Magic Book). This lid is where critical things (like pictures) are mixed with things that are, in appearance, unsignificant. These little souvenirs, however, are telling/keeping a story so much larger in themselves. These little objects and their soul are yelling a tale to us, a lot more than a long story or a video could (thank you, thank you Minalima for the props in the FB serie because it's A LOT about that). The call of the souvenirs to tell memory… My journals and scrapbook albums are telling more about myself than I could be able to verbalize. I believe the case's lid is exactly the same about Newt. If you want to know what is important for him at a particular moment, just look at the lid of his case.

Now… pictures in the pockets… It may be the part that fills my heart the most, probably because it summarizes the others points.

In the first movie, when Newt need to fidget, he lets his hands wander around his pockets (and not always the same side of the coat, if I remember well), and it's mostly around where he keeps his wand.

In the second movie, and even more in the third (where, I don't need to say it again, Tina isn't here at all during the plot), Newt's hands are always wandering around the same pocket, as soon as something is bothering him/if there is an anxiety trigger. This pocket is the one where he'll take Tina's newspaper picture in the Archive room, and the very same (from a different coat) he'll take his passport with Tina's ID picture in it.

That ID picture that is worn by time and use because I strongly believe that Newt uses this picture as an anxiety relief. If you look at it, the folding is in the same place as the lock of hair he put behind Tina's hair on the dock scene in FBAWTFT. Yes, I'm pretty sure that the pictures in his pockets are grounding objects, weapons against anxiety. Touching these, beyond the simple fidgeting (in a sensory meaning, that ALSO counts A LOT) is an anxiety reliever because they are representing Tina (and the memories he associates to her, and what he feels for her).

This choice is telling us about how Newt sees Tina, or, more precisely, what she also (added to the romantic relationship) means to him. It's her picture he uses to be grounded inside the reality, to stay inside the “human world”, to lower his stress level. By extension, I conclude she's the one who fulfill this purpose for him. She's the one who becomes her “human guide” in order for him to be able to navigate without (with less) stress when he has to handle and go through difficult situations for him. Which says a lot about Tina, but it's a story for another day …

Jacob is more the one who helps Newt to really learn/understand some social codes. TBH, that's one of the reasons I love so much their relationship (I also have my Jacob, as I have my Tina and my life is a lot better since then. I wish I had a Queenie…

).

I believe Leta was more or less doing the job in Hogwarts, far beyond any “lovers metaphor”. But I also believe it was differently, and at a different level. For what we know, her picture wasn't ever in his pocket, just in the shed, so I believe she didn't represent the stress reliever part, and she was, maybe, probably, a stress trigger.

Yes, Newt's relationship with pictures, is one of many reasons why I love this character so deeply. It's one of the reasons why for the first time in my life I feel so deeply connected to a fictional character (aside Bones & Reid, but Newt is such a different representation…).

[eunoias-blog0]

I posted 2,233 times in 2022

That's 2,233 more posts than 2021!

68 posts created (3%)

2,165 posts reblogged (97%)

Blogs I reblogged the most:

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@incorrecteverafterhigh

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I tagged 100 of my posts in 2022

#reblog - 21 posts

#the owl house - 13 posts

#toh - 13 posts

#live laugh lame - 6 posts

#i’m gonna lose my shit - 6 posts

#luz noceda - 5 posts

#bernard the elf - 5 posts

#the santa clause - 4 posts

#dana terrace - 4 posts

#artists on tumblr - 4 posts

Longest Tag: 131 characters

#it sits somewhere nice in the middle but i also love the song the moss by cosmo sheldrake which i think is a good middle ground for

My Top Posts in 2022:

#5

I JUST THOUGHT OF SOMETHING HOLY SHIT

okok so after he died, there was a portrait put up of Newt Scamander in one of the hallways, yeah? And then after the war and all that and all the new first years come in, one girl finds his portrait at the end of a dusty corridor and starts talking to him. She tells him that she’s autistic, and gets teased for it a lot in class, etc, due to her not being like her classmates. And at first Newt is sceptical cause he’s like ‘a person, oh no’ but slowly he starts to warm up to this little girl who gets bullied and teased for being different, even if it’s light hearted, and in her he sees himself as a child. He watches that little girl grow up and make better friends, and gives her advice for the bad ones because he never wants anyone to go through what he did. And the girl tells him of her home life, and how her parents try their best to be supportive and help her but they just don’t understand and Newt GETS that, and all of a sudden he realised that he, too, probably has autism, or something of the like. So they start to bond over shared experiences despite them being decades apart. When the day the girl graduates comes, she visits his portrait one last time, and promises to visit, and thanks him. And he thanks her in turn, for letting him know he was never alone

14 notes - Posted October 9, 2022

#4

i am fucking DISTRAUGHT

how DARE dana terrace make me SOB with such VIGOUR over a CARTOON for the THIRD TIME

17 notes - Posted October 7, 2022

#3

no bc i need someone to make a newt scamander x reader one shot where the reader is like a rock guitarist idec if that’s not historically correct or wtv i just think the idea of the reader going absolute crazy on the guitar and newt watching like ‘owo pretty’ that’s fucking adorable

i am

mentally ill

edit: the song would be When The Sun Goes Down by Arctic Monkeys bc the guitar in that is just 🥰🥰🥰✨🥰✨✨✨✨

20 notes - Posted August 13, 2022

#2

Headcannon that one time Luz accidentally called Camila ‘Eda’ while talking about an adventure she had and immediately breaks down in tears apologising saying how she’s just so stressed and worried about Eda which turn into Camila also crying bc she’s so happy that Luz has found another adult she feels she can trust and they just sit

31 notes - Posted November 24, 2022

My #1 post of 2022

what do i have to do, what do i have to like to get my entire dashboard to be full of bernard the elf content.

who do i need to talk to to make that happen.

60 notes - Posted November 11, 2022

Get your Tumblr 2022 Year in Review →

[autisticsoda]

newt scamander and autism

Why Newt Scamander is autistic (from an autistic person):

- Strong aversion to eye contact (either due to it making him uncomfortable, or because it is learnt behaviour from working with his animals, as animals typically see it as a challenge/threat when shown eye contact.)

- Strong sense of justice (does not understand the "backwards laws" in the American wizarding society and his not afraid to state as such directly to someone who works for the American ministry/is an American witch.)

- His special interest is fantastic beasts (he has studied them for his entire life, and life-long special interests are quite common for autistic people. For example, my life-long special interest are dragons.)

- Extreme levels of empathy towards both people and animals (he has shown desperation when faced with animals who may be facing harm, acted as animal's 'mummy' because they have no one else, etc. He also is willing to help people in trouble despite barely knowing them.)

- Terrible skill in social cues (shows willingness to express his opinion where it is deemed inappropriate, is not afraid to show muggles his magic or his animals, etc.)

- Discomfort around new people (was deeply uncomfortable around both Tina and Queenie, especially after he discovered that Queenie could read his mind and potentially learn of his animals. Less around Jacob, likely due to Jacob sharing persona information about himself, such as his want to bake to make people happy, as soon as they met.)

- Difficulty in social situations (Jacob, who would be an allistic in this example, did not understand Newt's way of flirting by calling Tina's eyes that of a salamander. Later, Tina did understand the compliment and he was quite pleased by the fact that she understood.)

- Instability on his feet/crooked posture (some autistic people may be particularly clumsy or have strange posture due to being unaware of their bodies. Newt stands stiffly with one shoulder lifted higher than the other, and his head is often tilted to the side, with his face pointed slightly downwards. This happens a lot when he is uncomfortable but seems to relax around his animals.)

[whereconfusionisarhyme]

i really wanna see representation of an autistic person that isn’t a superhuman

like it often feels like the character is somehow compensating for their “flaw” of being autistic by being super smart and actively giving back to society in ways the average person (especially the average disabled person) would not be able to (i feel like this e s p e c i a l l y applies to autistic character who are part of multiple minorities and/or marginalized groups on top of being autistic, like being of color, mentally ill, otherwise disabled, etc.) and should be expected to

like bestie we shouldn’t have to prove our worth as humans,,,we should just get to exist,,,without proving we deserve it,,,please,,,

[asexualenjolras]

I want to talk about one of my favourite headcanons and I don't have anywhere else to do it, so you can have my ramblings. We all know that Newt Scamander is autistic, but has anyone considered that Theseus might be too? I have.

So, let's talk about autistic Theseus Scamander:

Autism is genetic so it isn't a stretch of the imagination to think that Theseus might also be on the spectrum.

The beautiful thing about the Scamander brothers is that they are both so similar but so different at the same time.

So, his traits:

- Theseus is very, very rigid when it comes to rule-following:

We see this multiple times in the movie franchise. While Newt has a very strong sense of what is right and what is wrong and isn't afraid to go against the 'norm' to do the right thing, Theseus is the complete opposite. He, too, has a strong sense of right and wrong but he finds it very difficult to go against the rules and laws of the Wizarding World.

This was observed in SOD, where he makes a comment about being the 'Head Auror of the Ministry of Magic' when Newt asks him to do something to help the cause (without spoilers).

Theseus knows that what he must do is right and for the good of the Wizarding World but he doesn't overly agree with the way that Newt and Dumbledore go about things (and I bet he's envious of Newt's ability to break the rules so easily).

- Theseus has particular routines and dislikes change:

Another massive trait of autism (for some people) is that they don't like change. Theseus really struggles to adjust to the fact that Leta has gone in SOD, and he really struggles to accept that the Wizarding World is changing. He has a strict routine of going to work as an Auror and then coming home. He clearly struggles with the changes made in SOD where he's got to do other things.

- Theseus doesn't understand social situations and finds it difficult to read emotions and feelings:

We see this in COG when he hugs Newt. Newt is very clearly uncomfortable with the hug and interaction but Theseus doesn't recognise or pick up on this. People have put this down to Theseus being ignorant of Newt's autism, but I feel it's because he struggles to pick up on social cues too.

We also see this in SOD, where he struggles to read what Albus is wanting him to do.

- Impulsivity:

As noted above, Theseus struggles with his emotions. When he is upset, he acts impulsively and doesn't really think about the implications of his actions. A perfect example of this is when Leta is killed. He goes into a whirlwind of anger and upset and lashes out in his own way.

- Theseus struggles with eye contact:

Again, Theseus doesn't struggle in the same way that Newt does - who avoids it as much as he can - but rather the opposite. Theseus uses a little too much at times. We observe this when he is speaking to Newt and Leta. He stares intently at them, which some autistic people do.

It's usually one or the other with people on the Spectrum; too much eye contact or too little. Theseus falls into the former.

- Theseus has a really strong bond with Newt:

Despite their differences, Theseus loves Newt and does everything he can to protect him. He and Newt get on well and communicate with one another in a very unique way. I think this is because they're both on the spectrum. They're siblings, sure, so they're going to argue but the main cause of their disagreements is a lack of understanding about the other's perceptions and opinions.

- *SPOILER FOR SOD* Theseus struggles with his motor skills and co-ordination:

When Newt and Theseus are imitating the movements of the creatures in the German magic prison, Newt comments that Theseus is not doing the correct movements. To which, Theseus states that he is. He doesn't recognise that his movements are wrong because he's focusing solely on the co-ordination.

Autistic people often have issues with their motor abilities, and Dyspraxia is a co-mordible disorder alongside ASD.

I love Theseus Scamander and I love all of his autistic traits. And, as an autistic person that is so, so similar to Newt, it's so nice to have another character to relate to in other ways because I see myself in both of their characteristics.

[autismmydearwatson]

Autism Headcanons

I really like headcanoning characters as autistic, because often autistic people written by nt people are stereotypes (with the exception of Sherlock holmes) so seeing characters who unintentionally relatable to autistics is so important! I have a lot of reasons why I hc Walt Strickler and Newt Scamander as autistic, but maybe I'm just projecting. But look at the concepts! (Some of these may be Canon. Shh let me infodump)

Edward (Edward Scissorhands): Isolated man-made sweetheart with scissors for hands who is incredibly gentle but doesn't understand Society™️. He moves robotically, is mainly nonverbal, doesnt understand common social rules, such as the "if you found a briefcase full of money, what would you do?" Since Autistic people like me need very good reasons to follow rules, and Edward doesnt understand how giving your loved ones found money is "wrong". He uses his "disability" to channel his creativity in his gardening, hedge-trimming, and haircutting. But he was willing to give it all up just to fit in! I have seen many emotional movies, but this is truly the only one thst made me sob out loud, because of how much i could relate. Hes ME. also Tim Burton himself is at least speculated to be on the spectrum, and many see the movie as a whole as an allegory for autism. This doesnt mean that i believe the scissors THEMSELVES are a symbol for autism, because even if edward didnt have them he still exhibits very autistic traits.

Sherlock Holmes: genius detective who's neutral good, physically fights pedos, drinks respect women juice, gay-asexual, and does Crack in his spare time. At the time, nobody knew what autism was! But sherlock is so clearly autism-coded its hard to ignore. Im talking about every adaptation Ever. My first exposure to Sherlock Holmes was the BBC series (granted, i know its not necessarily the most well-written adaptation, but listen) and i was SHOOK at how autistic he was. Even in the novels hes percieved as keeping his things cluttered, but he has a purpose in his clutter, and organizes his thoughts. He goes off on tangents before going back to his original point. Basil of Baker Street, basically Sherlock Holmes in Disneys the Great Mouse Detective, VISIBLY STIMS ONSCREEN. anyway nobody needed convincing on that one but yeah.

Newt Scamander (Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them): kind, soft wizard who keeps magical creatures in a briefcase. He's soft-spoken, drops eye-content mid conversation, and PURSUES A LIFE OF CONSERVING MAGICAL CREATURES. HES THE ONLY ONE OF HIS PROFESSION IN THE WORLD. ITS ALL RIGHT THERE.

Fiver (Watership Down): a runty, anxious rabbit with the power of prophecy. the theory of Fiver being autistic isnt originally mine (look through my reblogs) but i fully accept it. Now, its debatable whether autism is a Thing among animals or if it presents itself another way, but then again this is fiction. Where to begin with Fiver? Hes based off the Greek Myth of Cassandra, who was blessed with divination but cursed to never be believed. Growing Up With Autism. I cant explain it but you Autistic readers will understand. And simply look at his character!

Erik Destler (the Phantom of the Opera, Phantom): disfigured savant, expert illusionist, lives in the basement of an opera house. In Phantom by Susan Kay he's portrayed as a savant, and while not all savants are born that way, one out of ten autistics are also autistic savant. His hyperfixation on the macabre, his immense creative drive, its all there knock yourselves out.

Walt Strickler: a devious shapeshifting idiot with genius energy, who drops sick dad jokes, huge history nerd, a minority in his own country while at the same time belonging to no country. This might be just me projecting but I thought it was genius. There's also the widely accepted history theory that the Changeling Myth was based off early perceptions of Autism, and whether this suggests that all the Changelings in ToA are autistic is, I believe, false, since in Trollhunters, changelings are made, but autists are Born, not Made. But Strickler is by far my favorite to fixate on! He's such a good concept as an autistic character because he doesn't fall into the stereotypes that intentionally-written autists do. He's sassy, sarcastic, and is simply UNBEARABLE with puns. I view his Villainous Actions™️ of clicking the pen and sitting on tables as stimming or autistic habits, and his odd collection of books. Despite him not being human himself, he has a WILD fascination with human history and culture, which is a better hyperfixation for an autistic character than He Likes Trains and Math. Strickler also has the general Vibe of someone who's constantly holding back from going completely Feral and Rabid. Absolute autism energy

Wow sorry for the dump. Maybe I'm just desperate for real representation ahaha. I'll make an ADHD list soon, with the help of my ADHD expert friend, so if any are missing here, they may be there

[beauspot]

you know as an autistic person myself i find it extremely gross that an author who wrote books that became one of special interests is making autism seem like a bad thing and using that to then attack trans people. harry potter was escapism for me in an abusive household and it made me feel special and newt scamander is a great representation of autism(as well as Luna and Theseus to me). it just fucking sucks that we finally have all this representation that’s actually good and jkr is being ableist and transphobic and causing harm to my communities all while profiting off of something i love. i honestly wish i could just fucking turn it off and move on, but i can’t. idk what i’m doing but i just want to say as a non-binary, autistic, queer person that you can still enjoy harry potter and acknowledge the stereotypes it employs and criticizing the person who wrote the books. also let’s like…take away jkr’s copyright maybe? i know a lot of you have marauders stories(giving wolfstar their rights) that are much better than whatever the fuck she has going on.

[bugbbear]

yea u get it i think

i go "im excited for moonknight on disney plus" and i get hit with the

"how DARE you support a megacorporation! how DARE you enjoy the marvel franchise! dont you know how problematic and inherently evil everything about them are??? by even THINKING about them you are supporting everything bad in the world ever!"

like ok. have fun finding no joy in life.

"you can find joy outside of disgusting capitalist propaganda!" bro i just wanna watch a tv show in peace.

i get hit with the same stuff when i talk about harry potter.

"how DARE you support a transphobic franchise-" can you shut the fuck up newt scamander is autistically coded and he brings me joy.

"but by enjoying these things you are financially supporting their horrible actions!" maam im a broke ass college student. my family has a joint disney plus account and we've owned all the harry potter books since i was a kid. i aint giving them my money.

"but-" oh my gods can you PLEASE. shut the FUCK UP.

are megacorporations a problem? i mean yea it seems like it. we live in a world where they exist, tho. is transphobia a problem? fuck yea it is. id like to personally have a very long conversation with rowling (it will involve yelling, probably)

but heres the thing lads. until that revolution rebellion reduce reuse recycle whatever thing happens that yall are lookin forward to so much, im just gonna continue to like things.

i think you can enjoy the art and hate the artist at the same time. and i think its wrong to attack people for things that they enjoy.

disney is donating to homophobic funds? yea we been knew. same shit as always. thats bad they shouldnt be able to do that. anyway imma go watch tangled.

yall really negative about the world sometimes. you demonize everything except the person whos the problem.

the people reading harry potter arent the problem. the franchise of harry potter isnt the problem. the fictional character of harry potter isnt the problem. its fuckin rowling.

its not the story or the actor or the viewer of the movie. its not the director or the writer or the franchise. its those few people on top of it all deciding where to put the money of the entire company. and actually, its the fault of whoever decided that was something companies should be able to do.

its the plastic straws all over again. "how dare consumers use plastic straws and destroy the environment" honey i aint a multi million dollar factory dumping shit into a river. i didnt make the plastic straws.

its not a problem with our choices, its a problem with our options.

but i also think its a problem of yall need to calm the fuck down just a little bit <3

[dmitri-smerdyakov]

I’m going to be so immeasurably pissed off if Secrets of Dumbledore was the last Fantastic Beasts film because of a multitude of reasons, but especially:

Autistic!Newt: autism is rarely portrayed in the media, and when it is, 99.9% of the time it’s in a negative way or as some kind of saviour p0rn stuff. Newt Scamander is not only a positive (AND CANON!) representation of autism, it’s the only one in a major franchise such as the Wizarding World, and he’s the main hero to boot. Cancelling the remaining films means we don’t get a full franchise with an autistic hero, which would suck so hard. As an autistic person, I really want to see more of Newt and am beyond thankful for how Eddie has clearly done his research and played Newt so beautifully and respectfully.

Newtina: Even putting aside the fact I’m a Newtina shipper, it would be awful if we don’t get the remaining two films to show how Newt and Tina ended up married with great grandkids and living in Dorset in their 120s. Not being funny but all the side couples have had their time to shine: Jacob and Queenie are now married, and Grindelwald/Dumbledore’s blood pact thing is solved, although yes, there’s also the duel but still, it definitely felt like there was closure of some kind to the romantic side of their story in SoD. Newt is the main character and Tina is (supposed to be, fuck you JK/WB) the female lead as well as his canon love interest/future wife. It’s just stupid to tease them in the first movie and not give any kind of closure or progress to their relationship beyond the literal crumbs in the following two films. It’s long past overdue to let Newt and Tina have some focus and to give Jacob/Queenie / other couples a more background role.

Tina Goldstein: What they’ve done with Tina’s character is disgusting. “She’s busy” - fuck off with your lame excuse for her absence in this film. It’s so painfully obvious Katherine was cut because she spoke out about JKR - and if it’s not that, she’s certainly had a huge falling out with JK/WB because she has done zero promotion for SoD beyond turning up at the London premiere specifically just for the fans (as shown by the hours she spent taking photos and signing stuff, which btw I witnessed in person! I was there!), and when she posted a picture of herself at the premiere, she didn’t mention the film, just shouted out her make up and hair people. She’s supposed to be the main female character, and they’ve delegated her to little more than a cameo. As a Tina fan, it really hurts to see because she’s the reason I fell in love with the first film because I saw myself in her character. I want the last two films just so that Warner Bros can give her character the development she deserves because apart from the first film, her only role in CoG and SoD has been reduced to 1) to be mad at Newt, 2) to go after Credence and then have that plot line dropped, and 3) to turn up at a wedding.

Other Characters: I want to see more of Lally because I fucking adore her! She’s probably my favourite female character after Tina! I want more of Theseus, and more of the Scamander brothers relationship! What happened to Nagini? I want to see more Jacob too, more Queenie, more Yusuf, and I even can’t wait to see any new characters that might appear! (They can keep Bunty tho lmfao her and her actress are trash - and yes, I am allowed to say that because I witnessed VY being shit in person so yeah fuck her)

The Beasts: Umm, hello??? Warner Bros are really going to deny us more of Teddy the Niffler??? More of Pickett??? The Baby Nifflers??? I want to see more Mooncalves, more Fwoopers, more magical creatures! The series is literally called “Fantastic Beasts”, can we PLEASE have more beasts???

The Cast: I just love so many of our cast and miss the days where they seemed to be enthusiastic about the franchise - now the only ones who seem excited anymore are Eddie and Mads (and VY but like I said she’s stuck up so f*ck her) I miss seeing Eddie and Katherine on screen together, I miss the Fantastic Foursome of Eddie/Katherine/Dan/Alison on-screen together. I want to see more of Mads as Grindelwald despite the controversy surrounding his casting. I love Callum and Jessica and Jude, and want to see more of them.

[uefb]

The Business of Worrying (link)

A story about Newt’s first year at Hogwarts, featuring communication, bizarre wizarding expectations of ability, autism, ableism, nonverbal magic, and accessibility. (Also, with a side of 'Hogwarts is a Mess' and 'Complicated Families are Complicated'.) Starts at age 5, and ends at age 12.

SUMMARY: Newt has always had plenty of people worrying about him, so he doesn't bother with it much himself. But that doesn't mean things are always easy; and just because talking doesn't come to him naturally doesn't mean he has nothing to offer, or nothing to say at all. Luckily—sometimes—people manage to recognise that. Over time, though, Newt realises it's more important he simply believe it himself.

Opening Scene:

Newt is five-and-three-quarter years old when his mother takes him to St. Mungo’s for the first time. 

The day before had been a “disaster” and the Underage Magic Officers had very crossly told his parents they needed to “figure something out”. That command had apparently been what sparked his mum to gently wrestle him into his cleanest trousers and the itchy sweater with no holes that morning, before rushing him through their chores, tossing him an apple, and carting him off to London. She’s knelt before him, now, with that smile on her face that makes his heart beat like hippogriff wings on a late summer updraft, and she promises him over and over again that everything will be alright.

“Just try your best to talk so they can help you. Let them inside that brilliant little mind of yours. Think you can do that, cinnamon?”

They meet his aunt-the-mediwitch in the hospital lobby, and then Newt is ushered up behind her to the Children’s Ward, placed in a room with his mother seated behind him and a woman he doesn’t know across the table in front. 

The chair is too big and his legs are too small and he does not want to answer her questions. 

After several long minutes of discomfort, he lets his gaze drift to the wall and he pretends he is somewhere else ( anywhere —the doxy nest in the back garden); and when he starts paying attention again, he is suddenly and viscerally aware that his mother is crying. She’s pulled up her chair to sit directly beside him, and she is leaning slightly forward—toward the healer, who frowns at him—and she is vibrating with the kind of repressed and desperate energy he gets himself when he very much wants to leap for the next branch but knows (with his brother watching, for example) that it would be entirely inappropriate.

“Once a week, I think, Mrs. Scamander, should break him of the quiet.”

Newt blinks, watches the quivering reflection of the charmed lights on the enamel table top, swings a leg in agitation. 

“His father can be like this, though... Isn’t it possible he’ll grow out of it? That’s normal for children, isn’t it? Things like this?”

The healer he doesn’t know is rocking her head back and forth as if considering, and he thinks she looks a bit like a plimpie, bobbing about when stuck in an eddy.

“And your husband, when he was a child…” the healer is kindly saying, in the sort of voice Mother reserves for skittish hippogriffs. “Has your mother-in-law reported this kind of accidental magic? This single-minded mania?”

Newt looks up at his mum and watches her shake her head and bite her lip (No… No, nothing quite the same… ); and there is a part of Newt that wants to crawl into her lap and pet her head the way he does the stray dogs in the village, when they duck away from contact and skitter fast into the shadows. 

But he does not know this place so he does not move.  

They’re talking again, and Newt does not like it here, and he wishes his father were there with his steady voice, and firm grip; the enchanted paper he’d taught Newt to use to communicate when his words are a fog in his mind (but he wasn’t allowed to bring it today because the point was to talk ), but Dad is at work so he’ll see him at home.

“Well, we’ve no way to know about that,” the stranger-healer is saying when he starts paying attention again. “But if something happens again—like yesterday—it would be the Ward’s recommendation to admit Newton for observation.”

His mother is crying particularly hard now — she sounds like she’s choking on something very big and very important, perhaps even her heart, he thinks — and Newt feels that buzzing anxiety just beneath his skin, and he shakes his hands out from his wrists to stop the magic.

No one notices.

“Mrs. Scamander, I’ve sent a note to be placed in his file at the Improper Use of Magic Office, that his parents are reacting appropriately to the Ministry’s concerns.”

His mum pulls a handkerchief embroidered with flowers and griffins from her coat pocket, and she dabs her eyes and is herself again. Newt doesn’t look at the healer, but he watches her press some papers into his mother’s hands, listens as she rattles off the date he is meant to come back.

(Newt distinctly does not want to come back.)

His mother hasn’t carried him in years—not since he got too big to ride pick-a-back as she worked in the barn—but she scoops him up anyway as they leave the office, hefts him onto her hip as she says goodbye to her sister-the-mediwitch at the door to the Children’s Ward, floo’s them to his father’s department at the Ministry so they can all go out for lunch. 

His dad even clocks out early to take him to the menagerie and the bookstore after they eat. 

It is when Newt is on his tiptoes peering inside a terrarium that he suddenly realises his mum has begun to cry again, but this time it seems to be because he won’t stop talking (asking the man behind the counter if he can please see the kneazles! and telling him all about the horklumps he’s been studying in the garden).

It makes no sense, so Newt clings to his father’s hand and pretends it is not happening.