Review of The United States of Autism (2013) by Timothy W — 07 Aug 2013

The reviews are coming. The reviews are coming. It is so exciting to see our film project "The United States of Autism" make a bid for the academy award for best documentary. Oscar Dreams. I never knew the politics and process that goes into winning awards and distribution of a movie.  A theme that seems to be emerging in some of the reviews is a question about the Father Son reunion Rich Everts the Director decided to include In this new Autism feature film.

   I am writing today as a Dad who saw his son disappear before his eyes. Everyday is a struggle seeing this hulking specimen of a young man now almost 16 and not have the slightest ability to do any of the typical Father Son type activities. I am also writing in the throes of depression, as I just lost my Father unexpectedly who was my best friend and soul mate.  I believe we were both on a similar point on the spectrum. Just enough, that many times we talked but did not listen to other. Years of thinking we did not connect. Me singing "Cats in the Cradle" The line "When you coming home Dad I don't know when".

The film seeks not to dig deep into the many facets of Autism but to show the breadth of the situation and no matter the diversity ( Race, Religion, Region, Economic situation or point on the spectrum) our passion for our families and the drive to survive is basic to our way of life. The film teaches us no matter our differences the human spirit and "American Dream" is still alive. .

Rich Everts recently wrote this " A few people missed the point of the father-reunion as well, which was the inability to find answers for my son due to the challenges relating to my own father, a common issue with men and their sons, especially severely challenged ones." I  agree so much with this and the inclusion in the movie. Speaking directly to my heart it is a message of a pain that I wish more could understand. The reviewers just do not grasp the impact Autism has on a family.

The segment to me represents the separations we all feel when dealing with Autism. A mother to child, sibling to sibling, Grandparent to grandchild. I hope families stand up for this movie and declare for its beauty, grace, dignity and honesty in handling such a difficult and to date unaddressed in a serious way topic. A movie cannot address everything but as Rich has said often there is enough in the movie to make everybody happy and mad. I hope and pray the the discussions brought about by this wonderful piece of art spur conversations that lead to the many changes needed for the Autism community and maybe even ask the big Why question when it comes to causation.