In season 48 of “Survivor,” Eva Erickson made television history as the first openly autistic contestant to make it all the way to the finale.
In episode one, she confided in her castmate Joe Hunter, who looked out for her “as he would his own daughter.” Later, when a challenge rattled her, Hunter comforted Erickson despite being on separate teams. Overwhelmed by his support, she opened up to the rest of her contestants.
“Please let’s take a step away from the game and understand that this is what I deal with, with my autism,” she said. “And everyone who has autism should not be ashamed to ask for help and ashamed to receive it.”
Since the show has wrapped, Erickson has continued to use her platform to raise autism awareness.
In April, after Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. made unsubstantiated claims about the “tragedy” of autism, she took to Instagram to celebrate the many milestones in her life, from graduating from Brown University with a Ph.D. in engineering to her “Survivor” days.
“People with autism are stronger than he believes,” she said, “and I'm proud to represent this community."
How To Combat Misinformation About Autism
- Good: Stay informed and ahead of the curve on common misconceptions by reading “Vaccines Did Not Cause Rachel's Autism: My Journey as a Vaccine Scientist, Pediatrician, and Autism Dad” by Peter J. Hotez.
- Better: Donate to the Autistic Self Advocacy Network, a nonprofit that ensures the voices of autistic people are heard in policy debates and halls of power across the United States. Visit autisticadvocacy.org/donate.
- Best: Listen to, and amplify, autistic voices. Follow autistic creators like Louise Chandler (@neurodivergent_lou), James Ward-Sinclair (@autisticandunapologetic), and Amythest Schaber (@neurowonderful).
A version of this article originally appeared in the 2025 Helpers Edition of the Goodnewspaper.
Header image via Robert Voets/CBS
