Autism: The Musical

Last night, HBO premiered a documentary called "Autism: The Musical". We of course do not have any premium cable channels, so I was glad to see that the movie is actually being streamed online for free through March 30th.

From the HBO website:

Autism: The Musical is a call to arms, bringing attention to a modern-day epidemic while celebrating the value of the human spirit in overcoming any challenge. The film introduces Neal, Lexi, Henry, Adam and Wyatt - five autistic kids who, along with their parents, take part in a groundbreaking theatrical workshop. The Miracle Project was started by Neal's mother Elaine Hall with an eye towards helping children with autism express themselves while learning to socialize with other kids. Over the course of six months, we experience the frustrations, challenges and triumphs of the families both on stage and in their home lives as they prepare for the show. The creative process provides a key to unlocking the children's inner worlds. We also see how patience, understanding, love and community can be used to help children with autism better adapt to the world at large.

To watch the movie online, visit http://www.hbo.com/docs/programs/autism/video/. I've not watched it in full yet, but I've been warned that it is a real tear-jerker, especially for those personally affected by autism.

And special thanks to HBO for making the movie available to everyone.