Filmmaker Helps Give a Voice to Those with Autism

A new film by Oscar-winning documentarian Geraldine Wurzburg will screen May 12 at the Regency Rancho Niguel Theatre as part a nationwide event called 100 Cities, One Night for Autism.

Wurzburg was inspired to make Wretches and Jabberers after she saw  Tracy Thresher, 42, and Larry Bissonnette, 52, both of whom have autism, at a conference communicating with 300 people by typing, a method each of them had learned because of the challenges they faced when trying to speak.

“There was a real magnetism about Tracy and Larry,” Wurzburg said. “They were very passionate about dispelling some of the myths about people with autism, and I was compelled to approach them afterward to talk with them about making a film."

They agreed to work with her, and the result is Wretches and Jabberers.

"I was touched that they trusted me with their story,” she said.

Wurzburg's  previous films include Educating Peter, an Academy Award winner for best short documentary, and the Oscar-nominated Autism Is a World.

Wretches and Jabberers follows Thresher and Bissonnette as they travel to Sri Lanka, Japan and Finland to educate people about autism and try to undo some of the prejudices they may have.

Each man was presumed "retarded” when he was growing up and was excluded from normal schooling. With limited speech, they were both facing lives in mental institutions or adult disability centers. When they learned to communicate by typing, their lives changed dramatically.

Nancy Brady, a Laguna Niguel mom, helped coordinate  the screening of the film. Her son, Nicholas, has autism, and she said she is passionate "on the subject of giving him and other kids like him the ability to communicate."

A few years ago, Brady attended Chapman University, where she earned a master's degree in special education. She founded Supported Typing and Autism Resources to help kids with autism and their parents learn how to communicate.

Wurzburg is trying to make a difference too. 

“The problem with judging people by appearances, or a certain set of behaviors, is that we’re very often wrong about who the person is inside," she said. "Autism is really a human rights and civil rights issue. I think you’ll be amazed at the courage and strength of Larry and Tracy. It’s inspiring.”

For tickets to the screening of Wretches and Jabberers, visit the Regency Rancho Niguel Theatre's website.