Hosted by Susan Baker
In-person
When
Apr 30, 1:00 PM EDT
Where
Armour Heights Community Centre
2140 Avenue Road, Toronto, ON, M5M 4M7
Price
Free Screening
About the event
Join us in person, in Toronto, to view the highly acclaimed film, SPELLERS!
Hosted by Susan Baker (Toronto, Canada), parent to 14-year-old nonspeaker, Andrew, who, at age 9, was finally able to share his thoughts, insight and dreams with his family - Dad (Stuart) and his sister (Abby) - and one of thousands of families inspired to share this life-changing method with others, shifting society's perception of autistic individuals for good. As Andrew writes, "It is so exciting to think that more autistic individuals like me will find this method and break free." The film shares a strong message for every parent of a nonspeaker: your child can do this, too. (And an underestimated 50 million individuals worldwide!) Your life, as you know it, will be transformed; all you need to do is be open. What have you got to lose? Join the growing community of "spellers"!
Note: $20 admission per household (up to 4 people) collected at the event or in advance by emailing sbaker2191@gmail.com All proceeds above film licensing fees and room rental for the Toronto screenings will be donated to the Speller Access Fund at i-asc.org
To learn more about this communication method: https://i-asc.org/
Contact the organizer: Susan Baker ~ sbaker2191@gmail.com ~ 416-566-2191
About the film
Inspired by the book Underestimated, the new full-length documentary SPELLERS challenges conventional wisdom regarding a group relegated to society’s margins: nonspeakers with autism, who most “experts” believe are cognitively disabled. As the film opening asks, “What if we’ve been wrong…about every single one of them?” SPELLERS answers that question, in convincing fashion, through the stories of eight nonspeakers—Aydan, Evan, Sid, Maddie, Jamie, Vince, Cade, and Elizabeth—who all found their voice through the miraculous process of using a letterboard to communicate their thoughts and feelings. As Jamie explains, “we think, feel, and learn just like everyone else.”
Genre
Documentary
Runtime
1h 23m
Released
2023
Director
Pat Notaro
Executive Producer
Jenny McCarthy-Wahlberg, Donnie Wahlberg, Dawnmarie Gaivin, Dana Johnson, Gail Tanner
Cast
Aydan Boden, Jamie Handley, Cade Larson, Vince Rinicella, Madison Hollman, Evan Tastor, Elizabeth Bonker, Sid Sarathy
About the space
Armour Heights Community Centre is conveniently located in north Toronto at Avenue Road & Hwy 401. Free parking. Event: 1-3pm. Film runs 123 min. All families and individuals welcome. Please bring whatever you need - noise-cancelling headphones, cushions, floor mats, etc. $20 admission per household (up to 4 people) collected at the event or in advance by emailing sbaker2191@gmail.com All proceeds above film licensing fees and room rental for the Toronto screenings will be donated to the Speller Access Fund at i-asc.org Contact the organizer: Susan Baker - sbaker2191@gmail.com - 416-566-2191
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