What autism looks like on TV
Cavan woman highlights the lived experience of people with autism on 'The Assembly'
Starting Monday 9pm, a young woman from Cavan will feature national TV highlighting an overlooked issue: The lived experience of people with autism. “In society, autistic people may not always get a chance to speak up. The Assembly is showing that we do have a lot to offer and that we can voice our opinions," says Emily McPhillips-Sheridan. The TV Show ‘The Assembly’ airing on Virgin Media brings together 30 autistic and neurodivergent people to question four well-known public figures, offering viewers honest and unscripted conversations.
“Questions can vary from light-hearted to real serious stuff, and nothing is off the limits at all,” describes the 21-year-old the outline of the show featuring Micheál Martin, Joanne McNally, Rosie O’Donnell and Ryan Tubridy.
Emily was diagnosed with autism at 16, a diagnosis that came relatively late despite years of her parents seeking professional support. Like many autistic girls, she was overlooked, reflecting a broader issue around late diagnosis in females. That experience, however, became the starting point for her advocacy. “I could really see a need within the lack of services. I decided that there needed to be more lived experience spoken about because we had been listening to professionals and teachers and politicians talk about being autistic, but I didn't really see much actually lived experience being spoken about.”
Recognising the gap in how autism was represented, she began speaking publicly on her instagram channel, in podcasts, joined protests and went to politicians directly.
The main message she has is: Autism does not have a look. “You often hear people say, ‘he doesn’t look autistic’ or ‘she doesn’t look autistic,’” she explains. “But autism is often an invisible disability.” She also challenges the idea of autism being divided into “levels” such as mild or severe. Autism, she stresses, is a spectrum, meaning people have different needs and challenges that can fluctuate. No two autistic people are the same, and no one’s experience is fixed.
That range of experience is central to ‘The Assembly’. While Emily speaks confidently, other panel members communicate in different ways. One fellow participant uses a spelling-to-communicate board, pointing to letters to express their thoughts. The show respects all forms of communication equally, highlighting that communication is not one-size-fits-all. Emily says the production went to great lengths to support everyone involved. “They really accommodated our needs, and even though we were interviewing celebrities, our needs were always prioritised.” The production was accompanied by an autism consultant and a clinical psychologist, which made Emily and her fellow participants feel well looked after.
Filming took place over four days, with one celebrity featured per episode. Each day involved four to five hours of conversation, allowing time for meaningful discussion rather than soundbites. Even though around 30 neurodivergent participants took part, the setting felt intimate, she says. The studio was arranged in a semicircle, and participants approached the centre one by one to ask their questions, creating a personal and respectful atmosphere.
Of the celebrities involved, the Taoiseach left the strongest impression on Emily. “You'd never really see a human level, you’d always see the Taoiseach kind of in politician mode, but like he was chatting about the different areas of his life when he was growing up, and also how the loss of his children impacted him and his wife.” She was eager to ask him about suitable school places, and the lack thereof - “because I know that is a big area of concern for parents and children and young people.”
Ryan Tubridy also stood out as someone Emily admired, while Ireland AM presenter Muireann O’Connell, who led the discussions, fulfilled a long-held dream for Emily to meet someone she found inspiring in the media industry.
Asked if her concerns were actually heard, she showed journalistic proficiency herself: “Sometimes I feel I had to switch the question to something a bit different to be fully heard, but yeah I kept pushing until I got kind of the answer that I was trying to find out.”
Besides it being an “exciting experience”, ‘The Assembly’ offered her a unique platform: “I chose to speak up, so people might resonate with my story and hope to make a difference in people's lives.” Following her passion for supporting people, the 21-year-old continues her studies in Social Care in Dundalk. Looking like any other student.
The show can be seen here.