What 'The Minions' Can Teach Us About Life With Autism

What is it about the Minions and autism?

The seasons of life are even blurrier in our family than they are in most typical families.  Milestones are most certainly met – but on a very atypical timeline, meaning that days and weeks and months blend together in a way that can make progress hard to gauge. In our life, our Honda Odyssey minivan is the backdrop — and often a supporting character – in so many of these developments.

We have used it for emergency wardrobe changes and hiding from unexpected crowds at events.  Armed with Mr. D’s disability placard, we have used it as a “base” for tactical missions to specific exhibits or rides before immediately leaving. We have weathered meltdowns and driven in circles on nights sleep was slow to come.

More recently, we have even had injections and medical consultations while in our minivan. But perhaps our most frequent (non-commute) use of it has been as a mobile movie theater, complete with snacks in the cup holder. And while we certainly christened the minivan DVD player with some Thomas the Train, Elmo and Caillou disks, for several years now, the film of choice has been “The Minions.” Which has made it the soundtrack of our lives – at least in the car.

While I know plenty of autistic individuals with an affinity for Disney, trains or cars, we’re in the Minion camp at our house.  And according to Google, we are not alone.  Search “minions and autism” and you’ll find 1.5 million hits. Even though the movie didn’t garner much critical acclaim, it’s a winner in our house. 

Because what is true in so many families of kids with autism is that if something “works” you keep doing it. It’s why Mr. D’s Groundhog’s Day birthday is so fitting – and why when the pandemic forced a repetitive sameness on so many households, in some ways, our family was way ahead, already immersed in our own personal continuous loop.

So why the Minions and autism? Why are they are on our continuous loop? After untold hours spent listening to (and occasionally watching) the Minions, here is my take.

Why your autistic kid loves them:

Their language (or lack thereof)

The minions speak an unusual composite language of English and utter gibberish, with a touch of Spanish and French thrown in for good measure. And we swear Mr. D understands every word of what they say.

Their yellowness

The yellow is bright, stimulating and attention-grabbing.  It’s hard to lose the minions on the screen (except in the scenes where all the Minions are present at once!).  It is clear who you should be paying attention to.

Their shared love of bananas

One of the few clearly spoken English words in the movie is “bananas” – which also happen to be one of Mr. D’s favorite foods. Bonus:  there are plenty of shorts and stills of Minions eating bananas, which has been helpful in building vocabulary around food.

Their antics

An area of incredible growth for Mr. D has been increasing his use of “comments” on his AAC device, in particular, “ha ha ha.” The Minions provide many, many opportunities to comment with laughter.

Their agelessness

The Minions were the same age when dinosaurs roamed the earth as they were in the swinging sixties, angling to steal the British crown.  They are ageless, timeless and seem to be imminently relatable to many autistics.

What your family can learn from them:

Think outside the box

The Minions are seeking the evilest boss for whom to work, but they are nothing but creative in their thinking.  They use costumes, camaraderie and creativity to get themselves into – and out of – some wildly sticky situations.  There is a place in this world for each and every one of our own autistic minions.

You can have a successful, non-traditional life even if you communicate differently.

Yes, the Minions talk nonstop, but the rest of the characters miss out on 99 out of 100 words. But despite this seemingly limiting communication pattern, the minions continue to seek out, and work for, the most evil people they can find. And that is their definition of success.

A place for everyone

Though their mission is non-traditional, there is a place for the Minions in the world. And that is a fantastic reminder that all our square pegs will eventually find some square holes in which to find fulfillment in their lives.

Enjoy some 60s music

As far as movie soundtracks go, this is a pretty solid one – all the more important if you are the driver of the minivan, so you are resigned to listening, not watching. Sixties hits include “Happy Together” by The Turtles, “My Generation” by The Who, and a minion-y remix of the Beatles’ “Revolution.”

Don’t take life too seriously

In the end, it’s about quality of life. And for us, the minions embody that. They are intent on living their best lives, and they – along with our minivan – help make our family’s version of autism a little brighter, and a lot more fun.