On Topic: America at 250 -- Profound Autism in America

When we watch the news, or shows like The Good Doctor and The Big Bang Theory, we are shown an often stereotyped snapshot of what autism spectrum disorder looks like and how folks who live with autism move through the world. But this is only a snapshot. With great care and a lens firmly rooted in humanity, this On Topic program welcomes filmmaker Jose Munian, photographer Lynn Johnson, and writer Amy S.F. Lutz to share their respective creative projects, which center on the real stories of people living with profound autism. Jose and Lynn collaborated on the photodocumentary Living With Profound Autism, which will be screened during the program, and discussed as a companion piece to Amy's book We Walk: Life with Severe Autism. We Walk features a collection of beautiful and raw essays, in which Amy writes openly about her experience as a mother of a now twenty-one-year-old son with severe autism. Her emotion and empathy drive through each page and challenge commonly held ideas that define autism either as a disease or as neurodiversity. We Walk is inspired by her own questions: What is the place of intellectually and developmentally disabled people in society? What responsibilities do we, as citizens and human beings, have to one another? Who should decide for those who cannot decide for themselves? What is the meaning of religion to someone with no abstract language? Exploring these questions, We Walk directly--and humanly--examines social issues such as inclusion, religion, therapeutics, and friendship through the lens of severe autism. All four programs in City of Asylum's limited On Topic: America at 250 series include a FREE BOOK GIVEAWAY. The first 25 pre-registered attendees who arrive at each program will receive a free copy of the book. The remaining five copies will be given out based on live audience participation at the program, and a chance drawing through social media.