The Foorce

Happy “Night Before School Resumes” to you all! I hope this post finds everyone well-rested and ready for another busy week. As spring break dragged on, recklessly fun and free of schedules, James started to get a little bit loopy (as did I) so the return to any kind of normalcy this week is being viewed very much like the real holiday on my part!I just wanted to take a moment this evening to let you know about a special campaign ongoing during April (which also happens to be Autism Awareness Month). Autistic Like Me: A Father’s Perspective is a feature documentary chronicling the journey of five fathers whose children have all been diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder. The film is currently in post-production, with director/filmmaker Charles Jones and his team looking toward the next step. That step is the ALM Outreach Campaign, an initiative to raise awareness about autism and the special role of fathers of children with autism.

The film serves as the centerpiece for the Campaign, which aims to take the film on tour with director Charles Jones, primary advisor and clinical psychologist/speaker Dr. Robert Naseef, and some of the fathers who are featured in the documentary.

The ALM Outreach Campaign will hold educational forums (free and open to the public) where they will introduce audiences to the critical issues covered in the film, dispel some of the myths that can debilitate fathers and families, and encourage community groups and men to create their own resources for support.

With the goals of reaching families at forums around the country, beginning with various nearby cities including New York, Boston, Washington DC, Philadelphia, Richmond, Charlotte, and Miami, the cast and crew are relying on donors to help make their dream a reality. The money raised will all go directly to touring the film and hosting community-building forums.

Donations of all amounts will receive a special “Thank You” in all ALM Outreach Campaign materials and on the NYMetroParents blog. Larger contributions may receive additional perks which will be announced throughout April, Autism Awareness Month, until the end of the fundraising period (for my donation I got some educational card decks!).

To watch a touching (kind of gut-wrenching) trailer of the film or to find out more about the campaign, click here.