Autism Beyond Behavior: A Process-Based Contextual Behavioral Analysis of Neurodiversity Representation in Ezra (2023)

Media portrayals of autism have often reflected deficit-oriented perspectives that frame autistic traits as symptoms requiring correction. Drawing on process-based therapy, contextual behavioral science, and neurodiversity-affirming scholarship, this study examines how the film Ezra (2023) represents autism through relational, environmental, and contextual processes rather than diagnostic labels alone. Using qualitative narrative inquiry, the film was analyzed with attention to caregiver responses, relational dynamics, sensory experiences, and environmental influences. Four themes emerged: autism as a meaningful contextual adaptation, relational misattunement as a contributor to distress, caregiver psychological flexibility as a mechanism of change, and environmental responsiveness as a foundation for regulation and connection. Rather than positioning the autistic child as the primary site of change, the film highlights how well-being emerges through shifts in relationships and environments. Findings suggest that Ezra offers a neurodiversity-affirming narrative that challenges deficit-based portrayals and supports more relational, systemic, and contextually grounded understandings of autistic experience.