Hollywood actors who have played characters with autism and Asperger's (Photos)

Autism awareness has come a long way in Hollywood. For a long time, the only notable film that dealt with autism was "Rain Man." Though this film received critical acclaim, it became the main reference point for how people understood autism. Ask any parent of a child with autism, and you will probably hear that countless people have asked if the child is like "Rain Man." This has been incredibly frustrating for some parents, but fortunately, recent Hollywood films have helped to paint a better picture of the autistic community.

Actors who have taken on roles about individuals with autism have received awards and accolades for their work from film critics and the autistic community alike. A recent film about Temple Grandin helped to open the world's eyes to Asperger's Syndrome and autism. This film helped to pave the way for many other films dealing with the subject. Here is a look at some of the actors who have portrayed people living with autism.

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, Chicago Autism & Parenting Examiner

Whitney Levon, a freelance writer whose work has appeared on many sites around the web, including Yahoo News, is the parent of a fifteen-year-old boy with autism and a newborn baby girl. She manages to keep on top of local, national, and world news all while running a complex household.

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