Who Is Jennifer Cook? Meet the 'Love on the Spectrum' Autism Expert (EXCLUSIVE)
By Shannon RaphaelJan. 17 2024, Updated 2:04 p.m. ET
Following the breakout luck of the Australian docuseries Love on the Spectrum, its writer and govt manufacturer Cian O'Clery brought the concept stateside with Love on the Spectrum U.S. The first season of the spin-off launched on the streamer in May 2022.
Like its predecessor, the U.S.-based series follows a gaggle of adults who are all on the autism spectrum and need to fall in love. The forged contributors are arrange on dates (frequently with others who are on the spectrum, as well), and many undergo first date jitters and feelings for the first actual time.
Autism expert and recommend Jennifer Cook is a part of the collection as she works with some of the forged members on the American model to lend a hand them get in a position for their dates.
Jennifer Cook
As somebody who is on the Autism spectrum herself, Jennifer has a novel working out of ways the members may really feel on their dates.
She spoke completely with Distractify in May 2022, when the first season dropped, about why she decided to enroll in the show and how she adapted her pre-date "bag of tricks" to each and every Season 1 cast member.
Jennifer Cook stocks why she made up our minds to join 'Love on the Spectrum U.S.'
Jennifer is a part of the sequence as an autism expert and advocate. She worked with Los Angeles-based members Abbey Lutes and Subodh Garg forward of their dates with David Isaacman and Rachel Osterbach, respectively.
The Brown University alum and mother of 3 was recognized with Asperger Syndrome when she used to be 35.
Following her prognosis, Jennifer wrote seven best-selling books, together with the Temple Grandin Award-winning Asperkids: An Insider's Guide to Loving, Understanding, and Teaching Children with Asperger Syndrome.
As anyone who may "do a little bit of translating between that neurodiverse and neurotypical intersection," Jennifer's resolution to sign up for Love on the Spectrum U.S. used to be a no brainer.
"The fact that Cian [O'Clery] wanted to bring me on was something that made me really respect him and his intentions," Jennifer instructed Distractify. "I really wanted to get involved from the from the get-go."
By sharing her own autism diagnosis with Subodh and with Abbey right away, Jennifer famous that everyone concerned felt more comfortable.
"It made it comfortable working with the folks who were dating as well, because we were already starting from sort of a level playing field," she added.
Jennifer Cook says she tailored her "bag of tricks" to get the individuals ready for his or her dates on 'Love on the Spectrum U.S.'
As audience make their manner via the debut season, they'll realize that Jennifer used different methods when she was offering the members recommendation.
On the premiere, she tossed round a ball with Abbey while the two mentioned their not unusual interests. On a later episode, she held a mock dinner date for Subodh. During her chat with Distractify, Jennifer said that she sought after the members to practice talents that they could switch to a formal date scenario.
"I had sort of my bag of tricks ready for whomever I was going to meet," Jennifer said about meeting with a couple of of the castmates, prior to noting that she would "tailor" her strategies "exactly to them in the moment."
Though her approaches modified between Abbey and Subodh, the purpose used to be to have them each and every follow having conversations before their dates.
"An easy dialogue can be difficult for people on the spectrum, and being able to switch perspectives and turn-take can be really tricky," Jennifer said. "I wanted to give concrete experiences, where the participants could feel like they were practicing a skill without necessarily feeling like they were being taught something."
While Jennifer wanted to provide a couple of etiquette tips and to help the stars in finding topics to talk about with their dates, she wasn't there to inform them to make any type of major changes.
"Nobody was trying to be fixed. My role as a coach and my role as a sometimes-teacher was never as a fixer, or as a changer. And that was a big deal," Jennifer stated, earlier than noting that Abbey and Subodh's particular person apply sessions had been a hit. "It happened, and it worked."
Jennifer Cook is again for Season 2 of 'Love on the Spectrum U.S.'
While some of the Season 1 contributors are again for the second U.S. installment of the courting docuseries, Jennifer is also here to lend a hand once more. She guides the new cast members as they project into the courting word for the first time. From putting in place mock situations to work thru with them to following up after the dates, Jennifer is here for the show's individuals through it all.
Watch Love on the Spectrum on Netflix.
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