"Autism Everyday" for the 'uninitiated'
BY MARLI GUZZETTA INDEPENDENT ARTS EDITOR
In "Autism Everyday," former CNN anchor and mother to a 9-year-old autistic boy, Lauren Thierry, undertook the challenge of bringing a realistic account of the developmental disability many people see only as Dustin Hoffman in a gray suit, reminding the world that he is an excellent driver.

"The true word is 'Autism Spectrum Disorder,' because 'autism' stands for so much," Thierry said. "You have everything from 'Rain Man' to the kids in my film, who will never be out in Vegas counting cards."

Thierry took her camera through a random sample of American homes - including one on Nantucket - where families are doing their best for children with a disorder that, though identified in the early 20th century, was hardly a part of the vernacular even 20 years ago.

"Some people will try to avoid the film, thinking it's too depressing," Thierry admitted. "But the truth is it's uplifting. …We end with hope. These kid are having a tough time, but their parents never stop loving them and believing."

Even if you don't have an autistic child in your family, you still stand to gain something from the film, because of the statistical probability that you someday will, according to Thierry.

"In 1992, one in 5,000 were diagnosed with a form of autism spectrum disorder. Today that number is one in 150," Theirry said. "Even if someone doesn't have an autistic child in their family, they will. There is no way this disorder won't affect all of us."

A 12-minute version of the film is available at www.autismspeaks.com.

What is the biggest misconception about children with autism?

What has been funny, up until this film came out, I would say that I have an autistic son, and people would say, "What special quality does he have?" The media really does focus on those aspects, like the boy who shoots 20 points in three minutes (which is a great story) or a savant who can count cards, because it's more facile, and I say that having been a news anchor. You go after what you can penetrate, what's easiest. But the vast majority of our children are not savants. The common misperception is that all autistics have a special ability. But most kids are not like that. They struggle to eat, to talk, to sit still. Where's the news when a kid is banging his head on the floor? That's not going to bring the cameras, but it brought my camera. And it wasn't to exploit the kid banging his head on the floor but to pan over to the mother and watch her face

Was your main goal to empower the families dealing with autism, or to educate people who aren't?

I was not trying to empower families dealing with autism. I knew from the get go - that if you try to put too much information, you lose your audience. I shot 53 hours of film. I knew I would lose my audience if I went into too much. There needs to be another documentary about the causes of autism, the potential cures, the lack of education and about the poor siblings of these people who have to try to live a normal life. But this was aimed at the uninitiated.

What was the most poignant moment of filming?

I took a mom and her son to a baseball field, knowing full well that her autistic son doesn't play baseball. But I wanted the juxtaposition. I wanted to pan from normal 9 year olds to her son. At one point, the mom looks up at me and says, 'Look at my face. I'm trying so hard to bring him out, and he's trying so hard to stay inside there.' That moment crystallized

autism I
When: Thurs., June 14, 5 p.m. and
Sat., June 16, 9:30 a.m.
Where: Bennett Hall
Cost: $25
For tickets go to
www.nantucketfilmfestival.org,
or stop by the American Legion
Hall at 21 Washington St.