New HBO Documentary 'Autism: The Sequel' Spotlights Autistic Young Adults
In a world where media focuses almost solely on children with autism, “Autism: The Sequel” will focus on what it is like to be an autistic young adult. Premiering on HBO on April 28, 2020 at 9:00 p.m. ET, this film is set to shatter damaging stigmas about people on the autism spectrum.
When “Autism: The Musical” was released in 2007, scores of young children were being identified as autistic. The original film followed five autistic children from The Miracle Project as they created and performed a live musical performance. Now, 12 years later, these children have become young adults with autism. “Autism: The Sequel” reconnects with these individuals and their families. Through their stories, viewers see the ways in which the world has changed to accommodate autistic people as well as the ways in which it still has not.
“Twelve years ago, we heard parents in the film echo one overwhelming concern – what will happen to my child when they are older? What will their lives look like?” said Sasha Alpert, executive vice president of Bunim/Murray Productions and producer of “Autism: The Sequel” and “Autism: The Musical.” “What has happened to these sons and daughters might surprise you.”
Elaine Hall, Founder of The Miracle Project, and now a consultant and on-set acting coach for several major TV/film studios, says that she is excited and honored to be featured with her son in “Autism: The Sequel.” She hopes that just as “Autism: The Musical” opened people’s hearts to children on the spectrum, “Autism: The Sequel” will open minds to the many abilities within autism.
Like its predecessor, “Autism: The Sequel” is produced by Bunim Murray Productions Films. BMP embraces stories that often are left behind by mainstream television. Telling authentic and inclusive stories has worked well for the production company. “Autism: The Musical” was picked up by HBO and subsequently was nominated for five Emmy awards in 2008 – winning two, for Nonfiction Film Editing and for Outstanding Nonfiction Special.
The success of “Autism: The Musical” paved the way for BMP to produce “Born This Way,” a reality TV show which showcases the lives of people with Down syndrome. The show premiered on A&E in December 2015. It has been nominated for 12 Emmy Awards and won the Emmy Award for “Outstanding Unstructured Reality Program” in 2016, along with Emmy Awards for “Outstanding Casting for a Reality Program” and “Outstanding Cinematography for a Reality Program” in 2017. Both “Autism: The Musical” and “Born This Way” prove that showing positive, accurate portrayals of people with disabilities is not only the right thing to do but also results in programming that finds success in the competitive media landscape.
Photo provided by RespectAbility.
Lauren is the SVP, Entertainment & News Media, of RespectAbility, a nonprofit organization fighting stigmas and advancing opportunities so people with disabilities can fully participate in all aspects of community, and managing editor of The RespectAbility Report, a publication at the intersection of disability and politics. As an individual with an acquired invisible disability - Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy - she writes about the intersection of disability, employment, Hollywood and politics. She’s also the proud mommy of a seven-year-old, navigating life as a mom with a disability. To reach her, email LaurenA@RespectAbility.org.
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