Bruno the brake car

News today that a new character who is On the autistic spectrum will join Thomas the tank engine and friends. I think this is an excellent idea as a great many children are on the spectrum which typically gets diagnosed around the age of 5/6 (though often a bit later for girls) and as Thomas remains a popular children's character this should help other kids to be more understanding and accepting. Good too that they have developed the character with input from the National Autistic Society. As a parent with an AS son (who used to love Thomas) I shall be interested in seeing how he is portrayed.

Some may feel such inclusions are pandering to minorities but I disagree. It's true that tv especially sometimes goes overboard to the extent that some fictional villages appear to have far more than the average number of "gays in the village" for example, or fall over themselves to include brown/black faces but I think that it is important to show positive portrayals of not only those across the spectrum of ***ual orientation or from different ethnic backgrounds but also of disabled people for example. When I've been to the cinema recently there has been a campaign to feature characters with a stutter in tv/film and why not? Having worked with someone with a stutter and seen the issues and difficulties this can cause I think it is a good idea. Doubtless some idiots will take the p iss, but if done correctly it should garner more understanding and acceptance from most.

Sounds an excellent idea!

All for this, the number of kids highlighted with learning difficulties is rising and those kid should have characters they can relate too in their TV. As with all things this should be proportionate to the populous.

How long before we get a train with both wheels and a hover skirt because it doesn't know what "it" identifies as?

In my opinion this is virtue singling nonsense.

I have a grandson who's very autistic, I doubt this will make any difference to him at all.


Autistic children are VERY specific, you can't point at something like this and make them like it and understand that Bruno is them, they simply don't get that concept at the ages this is aimed at.

My grandson is mad on dinosaurs and The Hulk, absolutely nothing else resonates with him no matter how much you try to encourage him.


The only possible benefit of doing this is to highlight the issue to "normal" children but even then I'm skeptical.

My granddaughter is nearly 6 and very intelligent, there's an autistic child in her class and although she is encouraged to be sympathetic with the lad and to interact with him both her and her friends just think he's naughty and aggressive and are wary of interacting with him because of what's seen as odd behaviour.

I see both sides of this having a very bright grandchild and two who have issues, one who's very autistic and one who has slight tendencies.

I think it only becomes "virtue singling" if it is inappropriate and over done. I agree with DaveP that anything like this should also be proportionate (hence my comment about the number of gay characters on tv). I think that just one tv series featuring a character with a stutter, for example, could be very beneficial but for such a character to become common in all would be obviously not representative of society and therefore a turn -off for many if not ludicrous. When I talk about appropriate, I also include age appropriate and discussing issues around trans, as an example, is not something I believe should be done in a childrens tv show/books but it is something that could be of value and benefit if brought up in programmes aimed at older viewers, some of whom may be experiencing these issues themselves. Just do it in an informed manner and don't bloody over do it!

You are right that AS kids themselves may not identify with the character of Bruno-or at least appear not to as a common trait is apparent lack if empathy. As a rule (the spectrum is vast so I am generalizing) AS kids can also become obsessed with particular things and struggle in social situations as well as have a variety of sensory issues. But the inclusion of Bruno is likely more for the benefit of others so that other children (and adults-including teachers!) gain a better understanding and acceptance of AS kids and their behaviours. Typically, they can be seen as rude (they tend to avoid eye contact because it complicates processing other information and they find it hard to read body language) and aggressive (because they cannot process/verbalize their emotions and anxieties this frustration can lead to melt downs) or "odd" (their love of specific routine or tics). In the past many on the spectrum were written off and ended up in institutions or even borstals.

We are far better today at showing adult AS characters (think Sherlock in either the BBC drama or Elementary or Saga in The Bridge) but less so in childrens TV. Tbh, I can only see positives in having Bruno in Thomas if it helps with greater understanding and acceptance of children o the sectrm.