Livinglovingandexploring!

Incredible.  Have you ever watched a show that just speaks to you?  HBO’s upcoming show, ‘Autism: The Sequel,’ did just that for me. This show airing now is especially powerful as April is also known as Autism Awareness Month!

We all know what autism is…. Per Merriam-Webster’s Dictionary: 

Definition of autism

: a variable developmental disorder that appears by age three and is characterized especially by difficulties in forming and maintaining social relationships, by impairment of the ability to communicate verbally or nonverbally, and by repetitive behavior patterns and restricted interests and activities

But knowing what it is and knowing a person that HAS autism is entirely different.  I do not know anyone personally that has autism.  This short documentary was informative and helpful to someone like me that has no clue what the autism world is all about.  I’ve heard of Autism Awareness and have seen posts on social media outlets about a child having autism or an adult having autism.  But I’ve never witnessed it.

This show is a perfect way to begin the journey of understanding how big autism is and the effect it has on millions of lives in our world.  We may not be affected by it in our immediate “circle,” but somewhere down the line, chances are you do know someone by association which was, is, or has been affected by autism in some way, shape, or form.

Back in 2006, HBO had another documentary they did, ‘Autism:  The Musical,’ which followed a group of kids in California who live their lives on varying degrees of the autism spectrum.  While I can’t say that I’ve seen that documentary, they did show bits and pieces in the sequel that I just had the honor of watching.  The point of the sequel is to highlight where the kids from the musical were in 2006 and how they’re faring twelve short years later, in 2018, as adults.

You get a chance to meet Neal, Lexi, Adam, Wyatt & Henry.  Their stories are filled with inspiration, but also a lot of heartaches.  Their parents all make an appearance and describe what their thoughts are on how their kids have turned out.  They discuss whether they can or will be able to live in a society on their own, or if they’ll always need hands-on care.

It’s incredible to see how much a persons’ life has to change to help someone else succeed in any way that they can.  Kids on the autism spectrum require that much more heart and effort and love to be given to them to ensure that they can do just that – succeed.

This documentary will air on HBO tomorrow, Tuesday, April 28^th (9-9:45 P.M.  ET/PT). If you’re at all curious or just want to know more about the world around you, I highly suggest watching this show. Here’s the trailer: ​https://youtu.be/E28LfTbhEiA.  It’s a very informative and well put together piece that gives you just a glimpse into a life you may not even know exists.  OR, you DO know it exists, and this piece will show you that you’re not alone and there are resources out there for you and yours.

A HUGE thanks to Tiffany with a PR firm for reaching out to me before this show aired and letting me know about it – and getting me an “in” with HBO to watch it before it came out!  A huge thanks to HBO for allowing me to give this a review and share it with my followers!

Drop me a comment if you get the chance to watch this gem!  Now, pardon me while I go and find the original musical and watch that too!

Website: hbo.com/documentaries/autism-the-sequel

Love ya,

Kelly Ann

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