（带文稿）0614VOA：为了帮助自闭症儿童，PBS广播公司做了这件事

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Characters from the PBS Kids series "Hero Elementary"

Transcript

In the United States, public television stations are launching a new show for children in June. The PBS Kids’ cartoon series is called Hero Elementary. It stars a group of young superheroes.

The show is set inside an elementary school, also called a grade school. In the United States, children from about age four to age 11 go to such a school.

The superheroes are four grade school students. They must learn how to use their superpowers as best they can.

One girl, Lucita Sky, can fly, but she is afraid of high places. Another girl, Sara Snap, has the power to make herself appear anywhere immediately or in a snap. That, by the way, is superhero language for “teleport.”

Next, there is a boy called Benny Bubbles who uses, that’s right, bubbles to create a protective area -- superhero language for a “force field.” Finally, a boy named AJ Gadgets owns and operates a large collection of cool, unusual devices -- superhero language for -- you guessed it -- “gadgets.”

In addition to his cool gadgets, there is something else about AJ. He has a condition called Autism Spectrum Disorder. It affects his ability to communicate and interact with other people.

Autism presents itself on different levels – from severe to high-performing. So, when we say someone is “on the spectrum,” we mean they have some level of autism.

AJ Gadgets is on the high-performing end of the spectrum. Some of his behavior is common to the autistic experience. For example, he does not like loud noises or wearing wet clothes. And he likes some things to stay the same. He likes to have his favorite things around him and hates it when they are lost.

People familiar with autism might recognize these signs of autism in the show. However, the creators are perfectly fine if others do not. The children’s show purposely does not directly talk about the issue of autism -- except for two shows running later in the series.

AJ’s autism just happens to be part of him. It is not the main part. As a valuable team member, he always comes to the rescue.

In the United States, public television stations are launching a new show for children in June. The PBS Kids’ cartoon series is called Hero Elementary. It stars a group of young superheroes.

The show is set inside an elementary school, also called a grade school. In the United States, children from about age four to age 11 go to such a school.

The superheroes are four grade school students. They must learn how to use their superpowers as best they can.

One girl, Lucita Sky, can fly, but she is afraid of high places. Another girl, Sara Snap, has the power to make herself appear anywhere immediately or in a snap. That, by the way, is superhero language for “teleport.”

Next, there is a boy called Benny Bubbles who uses, that’s right, bubbles to create a protective area -- superhero language for a “force field.” Finally, a boy named AJ Gadgets owns and operates a large collection of cool, unusual devices -- superhero language for -- you guessed it -- “gadgets.”

In addition to his cool gadgets, there is something else about AJ. He has a condition called Autism Spectrum Disorder. It affects his ability to communicate and interact with other people.

Autism presents itself on different levels – from severe to high-performing. So, when we say someone is “on the spectrum,” we mean they have some level of autism.

AJ Gadgets is on the high-performing end of the spectrum. Some of his behavior is common to the autistic experience. For example, he does not like loud noises or wearing wet clothes. And he likes some things to stay the same. He likes to have his favorite things around him and hates it when they are lost.

People familiar with autism might recognize these signs of autism in the show. However, the creators are perfectly fine if others do not. The children’s show purposely does not directly talk about the issue of autism -- except for two shows running later in the series.

AJ’s autism just happens to be part of him. It is not the main part. As a valuable team member, he always comes to the rescue.

Words in This Story

cartoon – n. a movie or television program made by photographing a series of drawings

in a snap – phrase. done, made, or carried through suddenly or without thinking

bubble – n. a tiny, round ball of air or gas inside a liquid

spectrum – n. a complete range of different opinions, people, etc.

diagnose – v. to recognize (something, such as a disease) by signs and symptoms

introduce – v. to make (someone) known to someone else by name

lesson – n. an activity that you do in order to learn something

backpack – n. chiefly US : a bag for carrying things that has two shoulder straps and is carried on the back