Neurodiversity is a viewpoint that brain differences are to be embraced, rather than seen as deficits. Learn more about this topic using books, media and more resources from the library.
Autism in AmericaPutting the puzzle together, one beautiful piece at a time. This film is a genuine and straightforward look into the autism spectrum disorder as told by the families and individuals living with autism daily. Many parents are interviewed including Ruth Sullivan, Ph.D., the mother of a man named Joe who was the inspiration for Dustin Hoffman’s autistic character in the movie Rain Man.
Ben XBased on a true story, Ben is different. His life is a universe all to itself, where he avidly plays his favorite on-line computer game in an attempt to train for and block out the reality of his daily experiences. Ben has Asperger's Syndrome, a mild form of autism that prevents normal communication and makes him ideal fodder for all the school bullies. As the bullies' relentless attacks push him over the edge and out of control, his on-line dream girl, Scarlite, appears to him and helps him devise a perfect plan to confront the bullies and make them pay for their torment.
Embracing DyslexiaIn 2008 filmmaker Luis Macias learned that his eight-year old son, Alejandro, was dyslexic. Although diagnosed relatively early, Alejandro was held back in first grade due to poor reading and writing skills, which caused him countless homework battles and self-esteem issues. Macias decided to do what he does best, and the resulting film tackles the issues surrounding dyslexia like few other documentaries.
Generation A: Portraits of Autism and the ArtsThis fim is a powerful depiction of the daily challenges faced by young people on the autism spectrum, and what creative therapies and art programs are available to stimulate the brain and help young people on the autism spectrum reach their highest potential. Through eight compelling portraits, GENERATION A celebrates the talents of youths with autism, and provides them with a platform to speak openly about their struggles, as well as their hopes and dreams.
Normal People Scare MeReleased in 2006, Normal People Scare Me has made its way around the world on a mother and son speaking and screening tour. The film was conceived by Taylor Cross -- an aspiring filmmaker with autism -- when he was 15.
The Reason I JumpBased on the best-selling book by Naoki Higashida, later translated into English by author David Mitchell (Cloud Atlas), THE REASON I JUMP is an immersive cinematic exploration of neurodiversity through the experiences of nonspeaking autistic people from around the world. The film blends Higashida's revelatory insights into autism, written when he was just 13, with intimate portraits of five remarkable young people. It opens a window for audiences into an intense and overwhelming, but often joyful, sensory universe.
Spectrum - A Story of the MindTake a journey into the rich sensory experience of autism. Imagine a world where words taste and thoughts feel, where sounds swell with color and leaves on trees change tones visible to the naked eye, and where eye contact with another can cause physical pain.
SPECTRUM explores autism through the lens of diverse characters on the spectrum. The documentary aired on PBS stations nationwide for Autism Awareness Month.
Unstuck: An OCD Kids Movie - What Do You Do When Your Brain is Your Enemy?To uncover what OCD is -- and what it isn't -- filmmakers Kelly Anderson and Chris Baier focus on an unlikely group of experts: kids. UNSTUCK documents OCD through kids' eyes only. It avoids sensationalizing compulsions and obsessions, and instead reveals the complexity of a disorder that affects both the brain and behavior. As these six resilient kids and teens roadmap their process of recovery, the film inspires viewers to believe it is possible to fight their worst fears and beat OCD.
Wretchers and JabberersTwo men with autism embark on a global quest to change attitudes about disability and intelligence. Determined to put a new face on autism, Tracy Thresher, 42, and Larry Bissonnette, 52, travel to Sri Lanka, Japan and Finland. At each stop, they dissect public attitudes about autism and issue a hopeful challenge to reconsider competency and the future.
