New Delhi, July 6 -- For far too long now, global cinema has depicted neurodiverse people either as tragic sufferers or as super talents. Take, for instance, The Good Doctor, in which Dr Shaun Murphy, a surgical resident with autism, is known for his near-photographic memory. Then there is Extraordinary Attorney Woo, an acclaimed Korean series, in which a young lawyer on the autism spectrum shines for her brilliant and creative problem-solving abilities.

Mugdha Kalra, a mother to a neurodivergent child and co-founder, Not That Different-a platform that builds awareness and pushes for systemic change around autism, invisible disabilities and support systems for families-finds these portrayals problematic. "These affect the way society or ...