{"id":10723,"date":"2015-10-01T18:07:04","date_gmt":"2015-10-02T01:07:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.pbs.org\/independentlens\/?post_type=films&p=10723"},"modified":"2025-10-14T15:46:41","modified_gmt":"2025-10-14T22:46:41","slug":"autism-in-love","status":"publish","type":"films","link":"https:\/\/dipsy.pbs.org\/independentlens\/documentaries\/autism-in-love\/","title":{"rendered":"Autism in Love"},"content":{"rendered":"

Finding love can be hard enough for anyone, but for those with an autism spectrum disorder, the challenges may seem overwhelming. The disorder can jeopardize the core characteristics of a successful relationship \u2014 communication and social interaction. Filmed in a highly personal style, Matt Fuller\u2019s <\/span>Autism in Love<\/i><\/b> offers a warm and stereotype-shattering look at four people as they pursue and manage romantic relationships.<\/span><\/p>\n

Thirtysomethings Dave and Lindsey have been together for eight years. Both \u201chigh functioning\u201d and employed, they met at a conference on autism and, through the years, have learned to cope with each other\u2019s quirks and different ways of communicating. The couple contemplate marriage, despite misgivings. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Lenny, who lives in Los Angeles with his single mother, constantly struggles to accept that autism will always be part of who he is. The biggest hurdle in his life, the label has made meeting and dating girls seemingly impossible. Frustrated and angry, he spends his time watching sports, playing video games, and just trying to fit in, confiding that he \u201cwould rather be a normal man than an autistic person with a million dollars.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Meanwhile, Stephen\u2019s autism manifests itself in more obvious ways than the others we meet in the film, but even his detached affect and monotone speech are no barrier to love. After 20 years of marriage to Gita, they are faced with the ultimate test of terminal illness. Despite his limited speech and her physical deterioration, their love persists as Stephen supports Gita in her battle with ovarian cancer. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Autism in Love<\/span><\/i> shows us the wide range of perspectives on the spectrum, as it asks the question, \u201cWhat happens when children with autism become adults and want to have lives of their own?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Finding love can be hard enough for anyone, but for those with an autism spectrum disorder, the challenges may seem overwhelming. The disorder can jeopardize the core characteristics of a successful relationship \u2014 communication and social interaction. Filmed in a highly personal style, Matt Fuller\u2019s Autism in Love offers a warm and stereotype-shattering look at […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":13,"featured_media":10726,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"topic":[1293],"class_list":["post-10723","films","type-films","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","topic-youth-and-family"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nAUTISM IN LOVE | Love on the Autism Spectrum | PBS<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Documentary that follows four adults on the autism spectrum as they navigate the challenges of dating, love and romantic relationships.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/dipsy.pbs.org\/independentlens\/documentaries\/autism-in-love\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" 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