''After Thomas'' is a television
drama film
In film and television, drama is a category or genre of narrative fiction (or semi-fiction) intended to be more serious than humorous in tone. The drama of this kind is usually qualified with additional terms that specify its particular ...
first broadcast in the United Kingdom on 26 December 2006 on
ITV. It was produced by
Beryl Vertue
Beryl Frances Vertue (''née'' Johnson; 8 April 1931 – 12 February 2022) was an English television producer, media executive, and agent. She was founder and chairman of the independent television production company Hartswood Films.
Early lif ...
and Elaine Cameron, directed by
Simon Shore, and written by
Lindsey Hill. It follows a severely
autistic
Autism, also known as autism spectrum disorder (ASD), is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by differences or difficulties in social communication and interaction, a preference for predictability and routine, sensory processing di ...
child Kyle Graham and the progress he makes when his parents adopt Thomas, a
golden retriever. It is based on the true story of Scottish child Dale Gardner and his dog Henry.
Plot
Kyle Graham is a severely
autistic
Autism, also known as autism spectrum disorder (ASD), is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by differences or difficulties in social communication and interaction, a preference for predictability and routine, sensory processing di ...
child with limited communication skills, has intense meltdowns and is not toilet-trained. His condition tests the patience of his parents Nicola and Rob.
Nicola believes that the symptoms of Kyle's autism can be
made less severe over time by attempting to integrate him with the world around him. Rob, however, believes that the best solution is to send Kyle to a specialist boarding school run by the charismatic and caring headteacher John Havers. Rob, who has not had sex with his wife for years, becomes more torn when family friend Rachel offers him casual sex. Nicola's only respite is the unwavering support of her mother Pat and father Jim, who dote on Kyle and provide practical support when needed.
Open–minded on