A Los Angeles nonprofit is helping people with autism launch careers in animation and digital art — and their efforts are now reaching farther as they partner with HBO Max for a new television series.
HBO Max initially consultedExceptional Mindswhile they were developing their new series,On the Spectrum, which follows a group of roommates with autism as they lead independent lives.
Because the show was originally filmed in Hebrew, HBO Max had to dub the show in English — so the network turned to Exceptional Minds, hoping that some of the young adults they’ve helped through the years would be interested in the voice acting gig.
Previous graduates Shane McKaskle (class of 2015), Adam Schuering (class of 2016) and Jacob Lenard (class of 2018), along with current student Kate McSpadden, were ultimately chosen for the role and got to voice the show’s main characters.
Adam Shuering and Kate McSpadden.Adam Shuering and Kate McSpadden
Added McSpadden: “For autistic people, it’s very hard for them to get jobs and get recognized and especially for acting roles because as sad as it is, most people are just not patient or cooperative with autistic people.”
Exceptional Minds' Executive Director, David Siegel, tells PEOPLE his organization is working to lower the unemployment rate for people with autism and hopes other companies will follow HBO Max’s lead.
“One in 54 people are born with autism,” Siegel explains. “As young people approach the age of 18, they start to age out of all of the services that are generally provided for, with regard to people on the autism spectrum.”
“There’s endless incredible stories about how our students have found their way to our organization and ultimately they’re achieving greatness… in ways that they could only dream about before,” he adds.
For more about Exceptional Minds and HBO Max’s new series,On the Spectrum, check out the video above.
source: people.com
