Why I'm thankful for 'The Good Doctor'

Kerry Magro is an award-winning professional speaker, best-selling author and autism entertainment film consultant who’s on the autism spectrum. 

I can only hope that the impact this show has had will continue the conversation of featuring autism in more TV and film projects.

The Good Doctor for all intense and purposes has hit the entertainment industry by storm. Reaching countless millions week after week and hitting many of us in the feels on more than one occasion, it looks like The Good Doctor truly has staying power. Any time I go to speak now it seems like a question about either The Good Doctor or Atypical is right around the corner. At the very beginning of the show I wrote reviews about the impact they could have and now seeing the popularity they have been able to build has been incredible.

I have a connection with The Good Doctor growing up on the autism spectrum because some of my friends both in high school and college were inspiring doctors and surgeons. They would talk in great length about one day being in the field. It would always fascinate me about the technicality of the human body. I would often sit in on study sessions to learn more about their field. It’s always something I felt a connection with. There is so much structure when it comes to anatomy.

I think this may be a big reason why I enjoy this show. The way Dr. Shaun Murphy thinks in pictures of the human body makes me often think about how Dr. Temple Grandin, one of the leading autism advocates in the world also thinks in pictures. I was always a fan of House as well that featured a doctor who at times was socially awkward in situations much like Dr. Shaun Murphy who has autism and savant syndrome.

Each week now a new episode comes on the air I’ve enjoyed the show while taking to Twitter to Live tweet as an autism advocate and have conversations with others in our community about The Good Doctor’s impact. Conversations in previous weeks have included topics such as employment, relationships, guardianship and much more.

The more episodes I watch, the more Dr. Shaun Murphy reminds me so much of myself. We have similiar stories growing up on the spectrum. 

I think most importantly though, The Good Doctor has started a larger conversation about autism within our communities.

I’m thankful for what The Good Doctor has done and I hope that one day I’ll have the opportunity to be involved with this show, as a consultant or in another capacity. I grew up with a key interest in theater and the entertainment industry and have been able to consult on several autism-related projects. This would be something truly special to me.