Powerful and emotional storytelling always comes first for me, in writing and in my advocacy and social work. On the page or screen, I create dynamic, authentic Autistic characters who are non-stereotypical and who contribute meaningfully to their worlds. I also counsel Autistic people on a daily basis, giving me a strong knowledge base to pull from in my creative process.
More than that, though, I just love telling great stories that impact the world around me. Feel free to check out my portfolio below, and get in touch if you have projects for us to work together on!
Screenwriting, Publishing, and Creative Consulting
Thomas and Friends: All Engines Go!
Mattel
- Writer
- 5 TV episodes
- 1 ‘Storytime Podcast’ episode
- Co-Writer
- “The Mystery of Lookout Mountain”
1-hour special
- “The Mystery of Lookout Mountain”
- Consultant
- Co-created ‘Bruno the Brake Car’, first Autistic character in historic franchise.
- Bruno nominated for Diversity Media award.
In 2020, I was approached by Mattel, who was looking for an Autistic writer to help create a character to add a touch of neurodiversity to the iconic ‘Thomas and Friends’ franchise. I drafted the character’s initial personality, quirks, interests, and descriptions of his relationships with his friends. We then worked with Easter Seals and the Autistic Self-Advocacy Network to further flesh out Bruno the Brake Car, a joyful, pun-loving Autistic brake car who encourages the others to slow down and view the world from his perspective. In 2024, he was nominated for a Diversity Media award. Through the episodes, movies, and other content I’ve written, as well as my consulting on other writers’ episodes and a Bruno-centric YouTube series, we’ve given Autistic and non-Autistic viewers a rich character who engages in heartfelt stories while defying stereotypes at every… ‘brake’.
Do You Want to Play? Making Friends with an Autistic Kid
Published 2024
- Author
- TV series adaptation in development with Little Scooter Productions
“Do You Want to Play? Making Friends with an Autistic Kid” tells the story of Jamie, who wants to make friends with the cool new kid on the playground, Dylan, who loves cars just as much as she does. What she doesn’t know at first is that Dylan is Autistic, and she’ll have to see things from a different perspective and learn to play the way he likes if she wants to earn his friendship.
The book has earned a 4.7/5 rating on Amazon from Autistic people, parents, teachers, and mental health professionals alike for how Dylan is not forced to change to be accepted, and for its realistic depiction of a tried-and-true method of bonding with our population–a technique called ‘parallel play’.
Renowned autism researcher Professor Tony Attwood had this to say: ““Autistic children have a different way of initiating and maintaining play with their peers. This endearing and educational story illustrates those differences and provides guidance in how to play together. Autistic children can be great friends.”
We’re developing a TV adaptation, but don’t tell anyone!
Additional Writing Work
- Blanket and Pillow (development)
Purple Office Productions- Animation Series – Consultant
- Paw Patrol (spec script)
- Animation Series – Writer
Social Work
- Dori Zener & Associates
- Individual Therapist
- Agency dedicated to strengths-based counselling for Autistic clients
- Otonabee Family Counselling
- Social Worker
- Associate at small private agency in Peterborough, Ontario.
There’s a mental health crisis in the autism community caused by systemic barriers to success in relationships, school, jobs, and our communities. I work to address it in counselling exclusively-Autistic clientele of all ages. Most therapeutic approaches focus on making the Autistic person conform to societal expectations, changing their behaviour to ‘fit in’ and make those around them comfortable. I work through a strengths-based positive psychology lens, which focuses on using the person’s aptitudes and passions to set and achieve goals to increase their enjoyment of their life. This allows me to make positive changes directly in my community and informs my approach to storytelling and content creation as well.
Public Speaking and Advocacy
- Motivational speaker workshop facilitator, and advocate regarding Autistic thriving since 2004.
- Notable speaking events
- 2016 – York University TedxTalk “Dear Society… Signed Autism”
- 2017 – Atlanta Centres for Disease Control 2017 Autism Awareness Month Event – Keynote speech
- 2023 – Inclusive Futures Autism Autism Employment Expo – “My Strengths-Based Autistic Life”
- Community Advocacy
- 2018-2019 – Consultant, Mindfulness for Autistic Adults, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH)
- Contributed to research paper “Virtual Group-Based Mindfulness Interventions for Autistic Adults: A Feasibility Study”
- 2018 – Member, Disability Curriculum Development Committee, Factor-Inwentash School of Social Work, University of Toronto
- Co-developed disability curriculum for Social Work students
- 2014-2018 – Advisor and Communications Consultant, York Autism Advisory Committee
- 2018-2019 – Consultant, Mindfulness for Autistic Adults, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH)
I’ve done motivational speaking on the subject of living as an Autistic person and provided workshops for parents, teachers, and other professionals for 20 years, going from my teachers to a local vice principals’ association, all the way up to my 2016 TedxTalk and 2017 keynote address at the Atlanta Centres for Disease Control’s annual Autism Awareness Month event. I have also developed disability curriculum for York University Social Work students, developed communications and resources for York Region’s York Autism Advisory Committee, and advised on a program researching adapting guided mindfulness techniques for Autistic adults, which was run by Toronto’s Centre for Addiction and Mental Health. While speaking and direct advocacy are no longer my focus, the knowledge gained from these endeavours informs my creative and professional work to this day.
Education and Other Qualifications
- Post Graduate Certificate (Honours), Centennial College – Children’s Media
- Bachelor of Social Work (Honours), Lakehead
- Registered Social Worker, Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers
- Bachelor of Arts, Communications (Honours), University of Ontario Institute of Technology
Daniel Share-Strom 