Getty Images Pairs Up With Dating App To Combat Unhelpful Autistic Stereotypes

Hiki, the world’s largest friendship and dating application for the autistic community, recently teamed up with stock image library Getty Images to launch #AutisticOutLoud, a campaign to combat stereotypes autistic people are often subjected to.

While 15% to 20% of the world’s population is considered to be neurodivergent—spanning various genders, ages, and ethnicities—many stock images and videos of the community tend to represent it as a monolith.

“In media and entertainment, they’re often infantilized or stereotyped as savants with a voice that typically centers the experience of white males,” explained Jamil Karriem, Founder of Hiki.

Introducing #AutisticOutLoud, a joint initiative with @hikiapp, @mindshare and Getty Images to increase authentic representation of autistic people through the lens of the community. Through a curated gallery of images and videos, #AutisticOutLoud brings in content creators and… pic.twitter.com/gIX3J9jx89

— Getty Images (@GettyImages) June 20, 2023

“Our mission is to connect all people across the autistic community, and give them a place where their identities and lived experiences can be honored and validated. A crucial part of that is for the autistic community to be seen for all of their tremendous differences and nuances as unique individuals.”

To develop the campaign, which centers around a curated gallery of images and videos that help display the diversity and resilience of autistic people, Hiki worked with creative agencies WPP, Mindshare, and VMLY&R.

Rachel Lowenstein, one of the autistic creators featured, said that she was tired of seeing the “regressive, disempowering images of autistic folks in mass media,” aiming to use the project as a platform to reshape the media landscape.

POV: you partnered with @GettyImages to celebrate authentic autistic representation🥹💚 #AutisticOutLoud pic.twitter.com/sEjrltZAhZ

— paff ✨ (@thisispaff) June 21, 2023

The gallery will be added to Getty Images’ Disability Collection and Unsplash to be used commercially by media publishers worldwide. Initially, ten photographers and videographers will share their content, with more to come.

“We’re excited to be a part of this initiative and bring in new perspectives from talented creators who very much represent the diversity of the autistic community,” remarked Dr Rebecca Swift, Global Head of Creative Insights at Getty Images.

“This content is another step in our ongoing work of visualizing disability and our aim is to emphasize to content creators, brands, and agencies the true nature of our global community.”

[via LBB Online and Medical Marketing and Media, cover image via Paff Evara / Getty Images]