SPELLERS
Hosted by Fatima Hassan
Virtual
When
Apr 23, 4:00 PM EDT
Price
$15.00 per person
Available in
Worldwide
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About the event
What if everything you thought you knew about Autism and non-speakers was wrong? This powerful film brings to light the incredible depth of potential for your children when we presume competence. We as parents, educators, therapists and community members have to function with an open heart and mind exploring all avenues to give our non-speakers the best chance at communicating. They deserve to live a life unlocked within their own mind, free to express and this film showcases the potential. Join me in meeting, celebrating, championing, advocating and learning from these 8 Spellers and their loved ones!
About the film
Inspired by the book Underestimated, the new full-length documentary SPELLERS challenges conventional wisdom regarding a group relegated to society’s margins: nonspeakers with autism, who most “experts” believe are cognitively disabled. As the film opening asks, “What if we’ve been wrong…about every single one of them?” SPELLERS answers that question, in convincing fashion, through the stories of eight nonspeakers—Aydan, Evan, Sid, Maddie, Jamie, Vince, Cade, and Elizabeth—who all found their voice through the miraculous process of using a letterboard to communicate their thoughts and feelings. As Jamie explains, “we think, feel, and learn just like everyone else.”
Genre
Documentary
Runtime
1h 23m
Released
2023
Director
Pat Notaro
Executive Producer
Jenny McCarthy-Wahlberg, Donnie Wahlberg, Dawnmarie Gaivin, Dana Johnson, Gail Tanner
Cast
Aydan Boden, Jamie Handley, Cade Larson, Vince Rinicella, Madison Hollman, Evan Tastor, Elizabeth Bonker, Sid Sarathy