02 Apr 2025
It’s How You Show Up: A Campaign to Create Real Change
At Don’t Panic, we believe in the power of storytelling to shift perspectives, spark conversations, and inspire action. That’s why we’re incredibly proud to partner with the National Autistic Society on It’s How You Show Up - a campaign designed to bridge the gap between autism awareness and true understanding.
Autism affects over 700,000 people in the UK today, yet public understanding often falls short. Many people want to be supportive but don’t always know how. This campaign was created to change that - offering real, practical ways for people to better support autistic friends, colleagues, and loved ones.
A Story That Speaks for Itself
At the heart of It’s How You Show Up is a deeply personal short documentary, directed by Sasha Nathwani and produced by Caviar. The film follows Chris, an autistic father, and his autistic daughter, Penny, offering an intimate glimpse into their world. Through Chris’ powerful voiceover, he reflects on a lifetime of being misunderstood, his hopes for his daughter’s future, and the ways in which society can do better.
The film brings to life real, everyday moments and struggles that many autistic people face, from sensory sensitivities to being overwhelmed in social situations. It also captures something just as important: the joy, love, and deep understanding that exists between autistic people and their loved ones.
Authenticity at Every Stage
Bringing this project to life required a genuinely collaborative approach. Working from an initial script by our creatives Jake Moss and multi-BAFTA-winning writer Ada Rose, the film was shaped through consultation with autistic-led steering groups from the National Autistic Society.
Rather than using actors, we worked closely with a real autistic family, ensuring that their lived experience was represented with honesty and care. The result is a film that blends documentary and scripted elements - an approach that allowed us to craft a deeply authentic, moving, and nuanced portrayal of autism.
Spending time with the family gave me a real insight into a neurodivergent household. One of the key things I discovered in my research is that no two autistic children are the same. Parenting an autistic child is a journey - challenging, deeply personal, but ultimately life-affirming. With this film, I wanted to take the audience on that journey.
A Campaign That Goes Beyond Awareness
This campaign isn’t just about raising awareness. It’s about action.
It’s How You Show Up provides accessible, practical ways for people to support autistic individuals in their lives. Whether it’s understanding sensory needs, recognising the impact of social situations, or simply listening without judgement, small actions can make a big difference.
Our goal was to show that generational change is needed in how we, as a society, show up for autistic people. Autism is complex to portray onscreen, and across charity, agency, and production, the work done preparing this script and crafting this edit was some of the most rigorous I’ve overseen in my career.
The film concludes with a powerful call to action, urging people to learn how they can show up for autistic people because true inclusion starts with understanding and everyday action.
Join the Movement
We’re incredibly proud to have worked with the National Autistic Society to create a campaign that doesn’t just ask for empathy, but provides a way forward.
The time for change is now. Watch the film, learn how to show up, and help us create a more inclusive world.
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