'Understanding Autism' Premieres on PBS SoCal and Nationwide this April to Highlight National Autism Awareness Month
Press Contact
Petra Owusu
powusu@pbssocal.org
https://pbssocal.org/understandingautism
Select programming will also be available to stream on PBS.org and the free PBS App. Members of PBS SoCal get extended access through PBS Passport
Los Angeles, Calif. – March 13, 2024 – PBS SoCal, Southern California’s flagship PBS organization, announced today in collaboration with Stone Village Films, details around the television broadcast and streaming of the documentary film UNDERSTANDING AUTISM to bring awareness to National Autism Awareness Month in April. The film explores Director Scott Steindorff’s life and how he learned to understand his own Autism. On his journey, he discovers the gifts and challenges that Autistic individuals and their families experience. The 60-minute film will be broadcast on Thurs., April 4 at 7 p.m. on PBS SoCal with a special sneak preview on Weds., April 3 at 10 p.m. on PBS SoCal Plus in the Southern California region with streaming available on pbssocal.org, pbs.org and the free PBS app concurrent with broadcast. Additionally, it will be distributed nationwide by the National Education Telecommunications Association (NETA) beginning on April 13th and will be available to local PBS stations across the country.
UNDERSTANDING AUTISM was filmed across 40 cities in the U.S., Canada and the U.K., interviewing the world’s top researchers, scientists, doctors and psychologists. Filmmaker Scott Steindorff connects with each interview subject to share and unveil experiences of discovering neurodiversity in adulthood and what it means to live with Autism. The film focuses on the identification, diagnosis and treatment of various neurodivergences across the Autism spectrum.
In capturing personal stories of determination, resilience and hope as well as conduits such as music, dance and art which have been used to elevate lives and careers, UNDERSTANDING AUTISM aims to highlight the differences rather than the disorders, including the unique benefits that add to the beautiful complexity and uniqueness of those who live with them. The film sheds light on the programs, research and therapies that are being used to help improve the quality of life for those on the spectrum, while also helping reframe the understanding and perception of Autism.
Director Scott Steindorff shared, “I could not be more thrilled, especially during Autism Awareness Month, to authentically portray neurodivergent people.” Steindorff is a board member of The Arc Foundation at the national level. “There is a lot of misunderstanding around autism, and through a more thorough understanding of neurodiversity we can reduce the shame and stigma surrounding them. This film is not only for people on the spectrum, but also for the world to watch and learn.”
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About PBS SoCal
PBS SoCaluses the power of public media for good, strengthening the civic fabric of Southern California and providing our community with an essential connection to a wider world. As a local, donor/member-supported non-profit organization, PBS SoCal programming is available to viewers on all key streaming platforms via the free PBS App and PBS KIDS App as well as over-the-air, via seven channels — including 2 primary broadcast channels, PBS SoCal and PBS SoCal Plus. With a commitment to make content available anytime and anywhere for free, PBS SoCal reaches nearly 19M viewers in the region with programming that reflects the diversity of Southern California and showcases the full schedule of beloved and trusted PBS content spanning Education, News, Environment and Arts & Culture. PBS SoCal also sparks the sharing of ideas at in-person cultural events and community conversations as well as prepares children for kindergarten and beyond by bringing bilingual, hands-on learning experiences to the community for free.
About Stone Village Films
Stone Village Film is an independent, privately owned media finance and production company led by Producer and industry maverick Scott Steindorff and co-founder Dylan Russell. The company specializes in the production of commercial, studio quality television and films. The company has a premiere slate of premium commercial intellectual property and projects in development with A-level talent involved. The company focuses on television & films that can have a worldwide audience and be licensed to all global markets. Most recent credits include the critically acclaimed “Station Eleven” with HBO Max and Paramount Television, based on the novel by Emily St. John Mandel, written by Patrick Somerville (“Maniac”) and directed by Hiro Murai (“Atlanta”) starring Mackenzie Davis, Himesh Patel & Gael Garcia Bernal. Past television success includes the Netflix Original Docu-series “Fire Chasers”, the syndicated NBC series “Las Vegas” which starred James Caan and Josh Duhamel and the Golden Globe and Emmy Award winning HBO mini-series “Empire Falls” which starred Paul Newman, Ed Harris, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Helen Hunt, Joanne Woodward and Robin Wright.