Celebrate April: Autism Awareness and Acceptance Month with Two Screenings of Film ‘Neurotypical’

March 24, 2014. Today, 1 in 88 children has been identified with an autism spectrum disorder (ASD), according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). In the state of North Carolina alone, there are more than 60,000 individuals living with autism.

imgresThis April marks Autism Awareness and Acceptance Month, an entire month devoted to raising awareness about Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). The film, Neurotypical, will be shown twice in honor of this month: March 29 at 10:30 a.m. at Harvest House Performing Arts Center located at 247 Boone Heights Drive and on April 1 from 7-9 p.m. at Appalachian State University’s Belk Library Room 114. 

Neurotypical is an unprecedented exploration of autism from the point of view of autistic people themselves. Filmed primarily in North Carolina and Virginia, Directed by Adam Larsen and produced by Ron and Linda Larsen of Asheville, North Carolina.

“Neurotypical originates from the shared experiences of our family with the autistic population in North Carolina over the past 20 years. Working closely with autistics of all ages and abilities has given us a profound respect and affection for this culture,” said the Larsens. 

Neurotypical parallels the lives of three individuals on the autism spectrum and their families. Through segmented interviews, these three individuals and four other highy articulate people (both on and off the autism spectrum) bring their personal stories, found philosophies and candid observations to Neurotypical, calling attention to the subject of neurodiversity as an urgent and multi-layered issue within the 21st Century civil rights debate. 

This screening is free and open to the public. For the March 29 showing, a limited number of free childcare slots are available. To reserve childcare slots, please call Rebekah Cummings at 828-263-4802 by noon on March 28.

The viewings are sponsored by Parent-to-Parent Family Support Network-High Country, High Country Families on the Spectrum, the Innovative Approaches Collaborative led by Appalachian District Health Department and the Reich College of Education at Appalachian State University. The NC Innovative Approaches Initiative is supported through the NC Division of Public Health Children and Youth Branch. 

For more information about the film, log onto www.apphealth.com on Innovative Approaches or if you would like to be involved, please contact Stephanie Bunch at the Watauga County Office of Appalachian District Health Department at 828-264-4995. To learn more about Parent to Parent Family Support Network of the High Country, log onto parent2parent.appstate.edu.