Representation Matters

Random fact about me, I LOVE Survivor. Yeah, that reality show that's been going on for almost 25 years.

It's pretty random, and maybe a little bit of an accident. I watched Season 2 back in the day when I was in Junior High and then didn't watch it again, honestly didn't even realize it was still going until a few years ago I was sick and needed something to binge watch and it turned up, and my kids started watching with me, and now we're hooked.

And with Season 48 I am hooked even more because I am so impressed with how they are representing the community I care so deeply about.

This season they have two differently abled contestants.

Mitch is a PE coach from Waco, TX. So far he has been amazing at challenges both physically and intellectually, he's building good relationships, and he has a prominent stutter.

In an early episode, while trying to answer a question from Jeff, Mitch got stuck in a stutter and needed an extra moment to answer. After finishing his response Jeff asked Mitch when he gets stuck if he wants help with the next word or if he prefers to be given the time to finish answering. Mitch said that he really appreciates it when people give him the time to get through his response without filling in words for him and thanked Jeff for asking.

Eva is the captain of the men's club hockey team at Brown University. She has demonstrated exceptional athletic abilities. She pulls her weight around camp. She strategizes. She found an ally. And she has autism.

Early on Eva explained in a side interview that she knew that she would need to confide in someone about her diagnosis in case she had what she referred to as an "episode" and needed support getting through it. She quickly felt a connection with her tribemate Joe and explained her situation, explained warning signs to recognize if she was struggling, and showed him what supports she would need to help her work through it. She showed him how to squeeze her hands and give her deep pressure to help her regulate.

For the first several days she was fine. And then they mixed up the tribes and Joe ended up in a different tribe. She was nervous being without her confidante, but did not disclose to her new tribe immediately, and was able to go about business as usual up until the immunity challenge on day 11.

The final task in the immunity challenge was a large table maze. Contestants had to navigate a ball through the maze by carefully maneuvering the table. While strong and incredibly athletic, Eva was struggling to complete the maze. She traded out a few times as she became frustrated, but this particular challenge was something each contestant had to complete. It eventually came down to her and a contestant from another tribe in a very close race.

Eva was visibly distressed over the unexpected struggle, but eventually did pull through and allowed her team to win immunity.

Which should be so exciting right? She should be celebrating right? Her tribe was so happy and banded around her.

But Eva became completely dysregulated. She could not stop crying and shaking. She couldn't get herself calmed down and the one person who knew what was going on and how to help her was separated from her.

Jeff could see that Joe was silently pleading to help her and invited him to go to her despite the typical protocol to keep tribes separated after challenges.

In a truly moving moment, Joe was able to get Eva grounded and she was able to come out of her episode and join in the celebration with her tribe.

She went on to open up to everyone on the island (and all of us watching at home) about her diagnosis and how it impacts her. She said that when she was first diagnosed her parents were told that she would never live independently and that she would never hold a job.

Eva was crying, and Joe was crying, and Mitch was crying, and I was crying, and even Jeff Probst was crying!

Watch the clip here.

And this is why REPRESENTATION MATTERS!!!

Because my autistic son was sitting there watching this. He got to see someone with similar struggles as him compete, and be included, and struggle, and be helped.

Because my neurotypical daughters were sitting there watching this. They got to see a strong woman compete and overcome. And they got to see a strong man be an example of softness. And they got to see an example of tribemates being inclusive.

Because as a parent I got to see that my efforts matter, and that there are people in the world that will love and care for my kid.

Because Jeff Probst led by example that with a simple accommodation, to allow Joe to go to Eva despite "typical" protocol, diverse individuals can be successful.

Because we all need to see that Eva and Mitch are not caricatures. They have some specific struggles AND they are strong, and smart, and have important things to say, we just gotta let them say it.

If you need help advocating for you child's needs or figuring out the tools to help them regulate emotionally and behaviorally so they can be successful, please reach out because we all deserve the contributions they are destined to make.