Meet Sydney C.

For a long time, Sydney felt like something wasn’t “quite right with her.” While others seemed to be immersed in their high school cliques, she had a hard time navigating the social rules around friendships and had been told by other kids that she came across as "weird.”   

It wasn’t until she was watching a “Let’s Play” video on YouTube with a female character who exhibited familiar signs of autism that she decided to ask her parents about getting tested. At 17, Sydney learned that she was on the autism spectrum. 

While Sydney’s diagnosis helped her better understand her struggle around certain social interactions, she often encounters questions that reflect a lack of understanding and acceptance around her diagnosis. 

“I've been told that ‘I'm coping really well’ for having autism, whatever that means. People tend to talk over me if I share about my autism diagnosis and instead talk about what they, as neurotypicals, think autism means.”

Society’s limited understanding of autism can contribute to autistic individuals’ challenges, especially those experienced in transitioning to adulthood. Many young autistic adults struggle in finding a fulltime job—with only 1 in 5 adults with disabilities, including autism, employed in the U.S.  The complex social rituals involved in the interview process are often a hindrance to autistic jobseekers’ success, but a general lack of understanding around the diverse strengths and abilities of the autism community can discourage employers from even considering autistic candidates, let alone adapt hiring processes to be more inclusive. 

For some autistic adults like Sydney, the way society perceives autism can even influences their career path.

“I wanted to become a therapist for many years, but I worried that I wouldn’t be able to control my facial expressions or tone when talking with clients. I always thought that being in the spotlight, whether it be for acting, dancing, singing, or as an influencer, would be too much pressure.”

But thanks to a special resource Sydney has access to—her dad who works in Autism Speaks’ employment development area—her vision for her future changed. With her dad’s encouragement, Sydney started making more connections her senior year of college. That’s when she was invited to participate in Lights, Camera, Friendship on the Spectrum. The docuseries, produced by Joey Travolta and Little Documentary Films, a division of Inclusion Films, follows young, autistic adults in locations across the U.S. as they explore friendship together.

Sydney joined the cast for their first set of episodes in Lodi, California, and later, excited to learn more about being behind the camera, Sydney became a member of the crew as they filmed Valdosta, GA and Amelia Island, FL episodes.

“This was the first time I had been around so many cameras and I got mic'd up for the first time! It felt like I never stopped moving during those shoots, which not only gave me a great appreciation for the crew of any TV or movie production, but also gave me the confidence to be myself and understand social interactions just a little bit more.”

As a production assistant, Sydney helped with everything from managing release forms, notifying local businesses of filming and escorting actors to onset locations, to setting up shots with necessary props, assisting with the set up of filming equipment, communicating call times to the cast and crew, and working with the sound department to mic guests. 

“I loved being a bridge between the cast and the crew while on the set. I was able to empathize with some of the concerns of the cast like sudden schedule changes, while being able to appreciate the crew’s side of things as well. I feel as though I was able to understand challenges, both from an autistic perspective and from the perspective of someone who was overwhelmed by a new experience in front of cameras. I even had cast members who shared with me issues that they were experiencing both on set and in their personal lives, and sometimes turned to me for guidance.”

By the end of the production, Sydney had not only built lifelong friendships with members of the cast and crew, but also had an important realization of the strengths she has to offer.

“Working on the crew and in the cast Lights, Camera, Friendship on the Spectrum changed me for the better; I am not nearly as nervous or scared to interact with strangers now. I know that things can go wrong, but when they do, I have the ability and the determination to fix them. I know now that while, yes, I am weird, I am free in who I am. I don't have to plate myself in a way that satiates everyone's palette because my opinion about taste is really the only one that matters.” 

When it came to being in front of the camera, Sydney says her favorite part was feeling like her voice mattered—her anxiety around social interactions often led her to wonder if people noticed or really cared about what she was saying, but being on camera with crew members that were ready and willing to help her express herself made her and her castmates feel truly heard.

Gaining that confidence inspired Sydney to look at a new career path. Today, she works as an instructional assistant at her community college's special needs 4+ program, and hopes to one day teach classes there. 

“I finally see my future as a bright and an optimistic one. I see a world where I can uplift others who have had struggles like my own and were too scared to step out and stand out. I recently worked at Joey Travolta’s film camp for individuals with special needs and it was an absolutely amazing experience—coupled with my experience on the set of Lights, Camera, Friendship on the Spectrum, this has shown me that the world is not such a scary place, that I am worthy of good things”.

In addition to celebrating differences and individuality, Sydney describes the mission of Lights, Camera, Friendship on the Spectrum as “challenging perception,” the goal of all of Inclusion Film’s training programs and projects, which encourage and enable employment of individuals with developmental differences. 

“Lights, Camera, Friendship on the Spectrum aims to look beyond the tired, traditional meaning and perspective of autism, but what’s more is its power to influence how we see each other as fellow humans. No two people with autism are the same regardless of a diagnosis, yet we all can have so much in common with each other if we just look beyond what we see at first glance. Instead of seeing others as intimidating strangers, maybe we can all look at one another as potential friends.”

Sydney hopes that others, such as employers, will consider this perspective in looking at the autistic community as potential employees. She reinforces that the endlessly hard working, authentic, and kindhearted individuals she worked with on the set of Lights, Camera, Friendship on the Spectrum made all the difference in production and highlight why business owners should not only consider autistic jobseekers, but empower autistic voices in the workforce. 

“People see disabilities as roadblocks to success rather than a small detour. Sure, it may take me longer to get to the same destination as you, but both of our journeys are valid. I’m so proud to be apart of a production that demonstrates that while most people can run in the race of life, others who need wheelchairs, bikes, or crutches, are still strong competitors who should not be discounted.”

Lights, Camera, Friendship on the Spectrum supports the efforts of Autism Speaks’ Workplace Inclusion Now program, designed to promote diversity in hiring and create an inclusive workplace culture in which not just autistic adults, but all employees can thrive.  

Learn more about Lights, Camera, Friendship on the Spectrum, including where you can watch it!