Ep 1. Autism

In season 4 episode 1 of Louis Theroux, the renowned documentary filmmaker tackles the issue of autism. The episode starts off with Louis meeting families who have autistic children. He showcases the different struggles that these families have to go through, from dealing with tantrums to facing the social stigma of having a child with special needs.

He then meets with different experts to understand autism better. He meets with Dr. Eric Hollander, who is a leading expert on autism and is also the director of the Autism and Obsessive-Compulsive Spectrum Program at Albert Einstein College of Medicine. Dr. Hollander explains to Louis about the different levels of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and how each level presents itself.

Louis also visits the Bakersfield School System in California that provides education for children with autism. The school provides individualized education programs (IEPs) that cater to each child's needs. The episode follows Louis as he learns from the school administrators and teachers how they approach teaching a child with ASD differently and with more specific techniques to support their growth and development.

Throughout the episode, Louis spends time with three children with different levels of ASD. He spends a day with Joey, a six-year-old boy with high-functioning autism. Joey's parents have had a tough time trying to find services and support for their child and have had to create their own personalized approach to manage Joey's behaviors. Louis spends a day with Joey and his family, observing how they interact and how Joey responds to different stimuli.

Later, Louis meets Tom, an 11-year-old child with low functioning autism. Tom requires round the clock care and attention, and his parents have a caretaker who stays with him at all times. Louis spends a day with Tom and his caretaker to understand the different behaviors that a child with low-functioning autism experiences.

Lastly, Louis meets Nicky, a 16-year-old boy with Asperger's syndrome. Nicky has high functioning autism and attends a school for children with special needs. Louis spends a day with Nicky to learn about his interests, hobbies, and how he interacts with others.

Throughout the episode, Louis Theroux provides a balanced and comprehensive view of autism. He goes beyond the statistics and explains the condition's nuances that many people may not understand.

The episode ends with Louis giving a hopeful message to families with autistic children and advocating for more attention, support, and resources to be given to families and researchers who are working to better understand ASD and help those impacted by it. It is a sensitive and poignant look into the world of autism, and it is guaranteed to leave the viewer with a deeper understanding and respect for those who are affected by it.