Autism spectrum disorder: Leo’s world arrives on TV

How does a child with autism spectrum disorder see and experience the world? To reveal it to us today is Leo’s worlda project that represents a new, important step forward in the offer of inclusive cartoons.

It is in fact the first Italian animated series which tells the adventures of a child with autism spectrum disordera neurodevelopmental disorder which, according to estimates by the Ministry of Health, involves in Italy as many as 1 child out of 77 (ages 7-9 years) and which, according to Angsa (National Association of Parents of People with Autism), affects a total of around 600,000 people and consequently families.

The protagonist of the series is Leo, a child who sees the world in a special way, all his own: «He loves following ants, wearing striped T-shirts, counting stars and smelling the smell of baked bread. And if he puts one thing in his head it’s very difficult to make him change his mind ». Fortunately, at his side are his best friend, the soft toy Babù, and his dachshund, the tender Lola: it is thanks to their company that Leo always finds a solution to all problems, even to those that seem insurmountable, learning, through the power of the imagination, how much fun can hide too behind an unexpected event, a novelty, daily habits. In short, to those situations that can be difficult to deal with for all preschoolers but even more so for those with autism spectrum disorder, like little Leo.

The objective of the series, produced by Rai Kids and Brand Cross, is in fact that to stimulate the habit of certain behaviors in children with autism which are not always as simple or obvious for them as they are for others, based on scientific belief that the language of cartoons is a valid way to overcome some barriers that prevent children on the autistic spectrum from enjoying normal educational opportunities.

How it was born Leo’s world

The series, which received the contribution of Ministry of Culturewas created with the scientific advice of Professor Emeritus of General Psychology Paolo Moderatoone of the highest authorities on the subject who provided his support for the realization of the project and to ensure that every smallest detail, at the level of music, images, colors and dialogues, best meet the needs of children with autism.

«Leo’s World is not a teaching tool, or rather it’s not just that, it’s an accessible world, in which a child with an autism spectrum disorder can feel at ease and enjoy this fantastic world, tuning into the environment, and where he can stay with his own special sensations – Professor Moderato explained during the presentation press conference – It was designed from the beginning in all its aspects, stories, drawings, dialogues, music, taking into account what are the distinctive psychological characteristics of many children with autismbased on scientific knowledge that we have accumulated to date”.

Co-creator of the project together with Emanuela Cavazzini, she is Eleonora Vittoni, mother of three children, a neurotypical 11-year-old girl e 8-year-old twin boys who were diagnosed with grade 3 autism at the age of 3, i.e. most severe.

«The idea for this project was born one day when I was looking at my son Carlo, who was on the sofa and was observing a cartoon with particular interest, a cartoon that he understood – tells Eleonora Vittoni – I wondered why and I realized that the cartoon he was watching was very basic in colors, shapes, voices, sounds, so exactly the opposite of the other cartoons. I asked Prof. Moderato why there weren’t specific programs with that language and he immediately expressed interest in this lack in the audiovisual world. So we figured we had the possibility of inventing something new that he could help children on the spectrum not only to have fun in front of an understandable cardboard, but what we could use it educationally and make them understand more complicated concepts».

The animated series, directed and illustrated by Dario Piana and written and scripted by Nicola Brunialti, will land on Rai Yoyo starting from Monday 28 November at 10:05 (repeat at 18:30) e will be available in preview on RaiPlay with all episodes from Friday 18 November. The cartoon Leo’s world but it is part of a wider multimedia project which also includes a picture book published by Il Battello a Vapore, already available in all bookstores, which will also be followed by the launch of one Educational game app developed by Brand-Cross together with WhiteSock.

Provide children with quality content

The arrival on tv de Leo’s World reiterates the importance of offer quality television content for children and teenagers. A public today perhaps more demanding than in the past and for which it is essential to design products that are able to maintain an educational purpose without giving up entertainment and without being too “didactic”. A difficult challenge, of course, but one that can still be won.

«The first thing we do is to involve the best Italian and European authors of stories and tales for children – explained the director of Rai Kids Luca Milano – Together we must ensure that the original production also offers a point of view on issues that we want to put at the center and that of inclusion, for Rai as a public service, is central, especially for children and teenagers. In such a fast-paced world where there are so many offers for children, it is essential to be able to keep together the element of fun and educational stimulusotherwise it would be a school offer, which is important, but which is not what children are looking for when they turn on the TV».

The importance of inclusive cartoons

Leo’s world in fact, it is not an isolated case in Rai Kids’ programming for the little ones but rather marks a new, important step forward in the offer of inclusive cartoonsin the wake of other virtuous examples such as it was, a few years ago, for Light bulb and Candythe first cartoon accessible to all children thanks to the use of a narrative voice, subtitles, sign language interpreters (LIS) and a studied animation style for different sensory disabilities.

Cartoons born under the sign of inclusiveness, not so much for the message they keep, but rather because they are capable of becoming a means to break down barriers and promote integration, since, for a child, even watching the same TV series as his companions can become a way of not feeling excluded. Lastly, cartoons that serve to remind us of a concept that is too often overlooked: ichildren with special needs need more than just assistance and care pathways but also, just like all the others, of entertainment. Of TV series, books and gamesin which they can have the opportunity to reflect themselves and rediscover part of their world. Like any other child.

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