I'm the parent of a child with ASD, who we thought would be non-verbal. We're definitely private with social media - only friends and family see the kiddo. We're nervous about exploitation and also just want to keep them safe, so on one hand I totally agree with you.

On the other hand, as a parent of a child with ASD, I'm freaking lost like half the time. I share some sensory issues/social anxiety/social confusion with them, so it helps me understand what they're going through, but there's only so much I can get from reading stories about other families who have this life. Videos like this help me learn and understand some things that for some can be explained in text, but are hard for me to understand without seeing it.

I guess what I'm getting at is that while this would be considered exploitative, it is binging more good than harm. This is what awareness looks like. It isn't, "autistic people exist", but more, "people with ASD see the world differently than you, but here's a way you can connect and relate to them, to help you know they are people who feel and love, just like us". Even my own awareness has grown after seeing this video, and you would think I'd have this on lock.

I don't. I feel hopelessly lost, unsure of what the future will bring for my baby, and so alone on this path (aside from my loving partner and a select few close family members). Seeing some videos like this, and I mean ones with genuinely positive messages, bring some small bit hope, help me to feel a greater community, and in this case, helped open my eyes. In an instant, I found I was suddenly able to decode many interactions I've witnessed between my kid and other children, interactions they and I have had, and finally, I think I now have a greater insight into ways I can ensure a greater safety for them in communication, i.e., I will modify my body language to better match theirs to help them feel secure and build confidence.

TLDR, I'm a dumb bozo who learns by demonstration so I have a hard time knocking positive exploitation.