Synopsis
The United States of Autism weaves the tale of a broad spectrum of American life in all its faiths, disparities, colors, and cultures -- and the story of one man's 40-day, 11,000 mile journey across America to find answers for his family and son. What he learns along the way changes not only his life forever, but the lives of those he meets. If ever there were a story that embodies the heart of America, it's the story found in individuals affected by autism and their families. Autism is a bio-neurological developmental disability that generally appears before the age of 3, and is one of the fastest growing developmental disabilities in the United States, affecting 1 to 1.5 million Americans. The United States of Autism, co-produced by Richard Everts and Sugey Cruz-Everts, brings a new vision to the world of autism and is a film that all families living with autism can look to for answers. Interviewees come from a broad cultural spectrum from Mormon to Muslim and Hispanic to Chinese. Each person shows how autism has shaped their world and, in many cases, made them stronger. The film started as a small idea of two parents, Richard and Sugey, sitting around a living room table- a small project they would fund on their own to help their son, profoundly affected by autism, and the thousands of kids and individuals they knew could benefit. That idea began to grow when a friend of the family suggested a new program Pepsi Refresh Project which could provide some funding for the movie. They entered and won. With a grant in place, the project would eventually lead to dozens upon dozens of TV interviews, newspaper articles, and radio shows around America- a success they never could have imagined in bringing their community closer together.