Here’s What 'Extraordinary Attorney Woo' Got Right, According to a Real-Life Autistic Lawyer

Florida's first practicing autistic lawyer, Haley Moss, is speaking out to promote the portrayal of individuals with disabilities in the media.

Her comments came as the Korean drama 'Extraordinary Attorney Woo' was released in July. It went viral becoming one of most-watched non-English shows on Netflix during its first week. 

SEE: Is 'Extraordinary Attorney Woo' Star Park Eun Bin Diagnosed With Autism? Here's What We Know

The show follows the life of a young, rookie lawyer on the autism spectrum named Woo Young-woo, who struggles in her career while living with the stigma of her disability.

When interviewed by the Korea Herald, Moss expressed hope that the show would be able to clarify misconceptions about her condition.

She mentioned that "Many people on the autistic spectrum are afraid of being open about their disability because of the negative stigma surrounding autism. They don't want to be judged differently"

Moss highlights that teaching the audience about autism is not one-sided. The character grows and develops unlike most movies where such characters do not undergo development. 

"We need more positive portrayals of (autistic people)," she said.

Moss also shared some of her experiences working in the legal sector. She mentioned that she sometimes feels more pressured to prove she is as good as her colleagues. 

Once, when she got a job in a law firm and revealed that she was autistic, some of her co-workers began treating her like she was still a teenager. 

She felt trapped in settling her identity and constantly proving herself to her equals. She reminded the interviewee of her perfect memory. She also emphasized her exceptional relationship with her clients and her better half. They are her strengths in serving as a lawyer. 

Moss was diagnosed with autism at age 3. Her parents were told she'd be lucky if she got a driver's license or even made a friend.

Now, Haley Moss is openly promising that she will continue being an advocate for every autistic person despite the amount of misconception that comes her way.

"(Being openly autistic) basically means I'm very forthcoming about my autism," she said. 

SEE: K-Drama Stars Who Played Autistic Roles: Park Eun Bin, Oh Jung Se, More

What can you say about the story? Share your comments below

Kdramastars own this.

This article was written by:

Rovelyn Barba