I honestly believe that we’ve hit a turning point in the autism conversation.  For the past few years I’ve pretty much been nothing but disappointed by the selection of autism documentaries.  However, this April, I’ve been fortunate enough to screen two films that have the ability to move the autism conversation into a completely different direction--acceptance and progress.  I can’t even begin to tell you how happy this makes me. 

I’ll start with Loving Lampposts: Living Autistic, a film by Todd Drezner.  Like many parents of newly diagnosed children, Drezner felt the need to be proactive after hearing that his son was diagnosed autistic. He set out across the country to meet as many people in the autism community as possible with a camera and an open mind.  The result:  a considerate, respectful and informative look into many of the mysteries and misconceptions surrounding autism.

Drezner introduces us to several parents of autistic kids.  Some of them were desperately searching for a cure and a reason why their child became “sick”. Others found comfort in celebrating their child’s strengths and supporting them in their weaknesses. Drezner’s narration is honest yet subtle.  He presents opposing sides of the autism debate without being disrespectful or leading. 

Throughout the film there are many familiar faces from Paul Offit to Simon Baron Cohen.  Some of the most respected researchers, scientists, doctors, parents and self advocates that support neurodiversity offer some excellent insight into the many misconceptions about autism.  People like Sharisa Kochmeister (non-verbal but genius) Dora Raymaker (co-director of AASPIRE who speaks via computer) and Stephen Shore (a once non-verbal child who now teaches music to autistic children) to name a few.    

Loving Lampposts is an excellent introduction into the autism community.  I’m hoping that when a parent receives the news that their child is autistic, this is a resource they come across when they start to search the web.  It might put their mind at ease and present hope in the form of reality.

Next I’d like to tell you about Larry and Tracy.  They are the stars of Wretches & Jabberers, the anxiously awaited autism documentary directed by Gerardine Wurzburg.  Imagine being strapped to a bed in an institution your entire adolescence or not knowing if you had a bed to sleep in at night.  Then imagine you could not speak the words to express the fear, loneliness and frustration—in other words, everyone presumes you are an empty shell.  Larry and Tracy experienced this and more.  It wasn’t until they were adults that they realized they could communicate through typing.

“…dispel the darkness around us poor wretches.  Take us for real people.  Don’t sideline us.”

--Antti, 21-year-old autistic man

This is just one of the many profound quotes from the autistic adults that Larry and Tracy met on their visits to Finland, Sri Lanka and Japan.  The film is inspirational, funny, chaotic at times, and other times is downright moving. 

The soundtrack was released on iTunes before the films opening to rave reviews.  There are 20 original songs by artists like Norah Jones, Stephen Stills, Judy Collins and Ben Harper.

Please be sure to catch it in the theaters but if you don’t, I’m sure Wretches & Jabberers will be around for a long time.  It will serve as an eye-opening education for those who presume incompetence when introduced to an autistic adult.  It encourages the neurotypical people of the world to get to know an autistic person.  And that is a good thing.