Breaking the (Autistic) Code: Rachel from A Simple Date (2021)

Disclaimer: I am not a licensed medical professional and this series is not about diagnosing the character(s) with Autism Spectrum Disorder. This series is a personal examination of the film/TV show's plot, the character's traits and personality and how they relate to me as an Autistic woman. I will also examine canonically Autistic Characters, so take my personal opinions as just that, a personal opinion. I would encourage my readers to seek out different perspectives on disability representation especially from BIPOC disabled creators who are often ignored in the disability discourse. Also some of the topics I will discuss might be triggering so please take care of your mental health when reading. I will also try to avoid giving away any spoilers for those who have not seen the film/TV show but if I have to give context for my arguments, this will be a likely occurrence so please be forewarned.

In this article I will be talking about a short film that features an Actually Autistic woman playing an Autistic character. The film is called A Simple Date and it was released last year on Youtube. The film was written by, and stars, Rebecca Faith Quinn, an actress and influencer, and directed Tamia Young. I found this movie to be a humanizing representation of an Autistic woman’s experience and deserves a lot of attention.

We are introduced to Rachael, played by Rebecca Quinn, an Autistic woman who is getting ready for a date and we see that she is, understandably, nervous. She is talking to, who I assume, is her father as she is telling him about the potential date. She expresses her anxiety about the event since it has been awhile since she has dated, and she tries to brush it off like it is not a huge deal. Her father explains that a date is a small victory and reminds her of the mantra “give yourself some fucking cookies.” As an Autistic woman who also has anxieties about dating, this scene did resonate with me as I also often struggle with how to act during a date.

We see her again at the restaurant where it is very loud and busy. Before Josh arrives we also see Racheal rocking back and forth to soothe herself. She also mentions to her date that she is a picky eater when he suggests a burger to her. Personally, I do not have issues with trying new foods or having my fries touch my burger but this is my own personal experience with my Autism and does not match everyone else’s experience. Loud noises and crowds are very much an issue for me as someone with Auditory Processing Disorder, as well as tinnitus. I did really appreciate the attention to detail with the sound production, making the background noise louder than the actors, making Rachel’s experience in the restaurant realistic.

The date soon begins and the two have found that they have a common love of music, especially the band Queen, Josh invites Rachael to a Queen concert, she accepts the invitation at first most likely out of politeness rather than genuine interest. Racheal does show interest in Josh’s profession. She is trying her best to appear “normal” but it soon becomes apparent that she cannot hide her Autism. Josh is very attentive during the exchange, and is careful to be direct in his questions toward her and is sympathetic. I felt very happy for Rachel that she found an understanding date since my experience has been a mixed bag with people either refusing to accommodate my disability or being accepting and asking questions.

Rachel feels guilty for sharing her experiences as a girl, getting diagnosed at 15 and the difficulties of getting a diagnosis as an Autistic woman, and apologizes for oversharing. Josh rebukes that apology and asks her to not apologize for every natural action. Josh promises to accommodate Rachel after she explains that she does not deal well with neurotypical ways of communicating, when it is obvious that she is getting overwhelmed with the restaurant Josh proposes that they change locations. I related to the apologizing as well since I do often worry about oversharing anything related to me and making other people uncomfortable, it was great to see Josh ask Rachel to not be ashamed of her neurodivergency.

They go to a quiet park where Rachel feels more calm and relaxed, Rachel goes on to explain some of the misconceptions about Autism and her own personal experiences. Josh and Rachel seem to be getting along very well especially since Josh is openly accepting of her Autism. Rachel is also very cognizant of the fact that throughout the date, the conversation was mainly centered on her and not equally on Josh. He goes on to tell his “tragic backstory” to Rachel and after Josh mentions that he has a lot of homework Rachel wants to end the date. Not only is this scene great in showing how accommodating and considerate Autistic people are towards others, it also shows an Autistic person being aware of their energy levels and taking care of those needs.

When Rachel and Josh are walking to Josh’s car and they are having a conversation with each other, a car alarm goes off and Rachel goes into a meltdown; prompting Josh to put Rachel in a standing hold to calm her down. After Rachel comes back from her meltdown, Josh explains how he knew to calm her down despite her not telling him in advance, Josh reveals that his brother is Autistic but is non-verbal and that this method was the only way to soothe him after a meltdown. This scene was realistic in portraying an Autistic meltdown, as meltdowns are often not violent “temper tantrums” but are a natural consequence of overstimulation. This film also had a happy ending of Rachel and Josh sharing a kiss with Josh ASKING for HER CONSENT!

This film, along with Keep the Change, are important especially because they humanize the Autistic experience for all audiences. Rebecca Quinn and Tamia Young did a great film that challenges a lot of the assumptions and stereotypes about Autistic women and showed that it is possible to have an Autistic actor in a film, and be able to provide accommodations for said performer. The film was beautifully done and there was very great attention to detail especially in regards to sensory sensitivities. Here is to hoping that films like these will cause a powerful seismic shift in how Autistic people are represented in all forms of media.

A. S.imple D.ate (short film)