Episode 0006-Autism Talk Radio-Free and Low-Cost Success Strategies that Work for Autism with Keri Bowers
June 12, 2009
Today’s show features an exclusive interview with a single mother raising a child on the spectrum, to nationally respected disabilities advocate, spokeswoman, and filmmaker Keri Bowers.
You’ll Discover:
>>Keys to mapping transitions to your child’s future
>>Secrets to teaching your child to communicate emotions
>>Tools to support current and future goals
>>Low-cost success strategies for working with your child
It’s a long road from young, single mother raising a developmentally disabled child, to nationally respected disabilities advocate, spokeswoman, and filmmaker, but Keri Bowers’ mission remains constant: to raise awareness and opportunities within the global disabilities community. Educating others through the medium of film to understand her point of view in “possibilities, disabilities and the arts” is Keri’s goal, and her work begins at home with sons Taylor, 20, and Jace, 14.
Working with her son Taylor, who was diagnosed with “high functioning autism” at 6, and with her son, Jace, with the sibling issues he faced in having a chaotic life as a “sib,” Keri forged an advocacy path that gave rise to a groundbreaking artistic collaboration with her kids and others with disabilities. The result includes three feature length documentaries, and a new project now in development.
The first film written and directed by Keri in collaboration with her son, Taylor, called Normal People Scare Me, is a film about autism. Co-directed by the duo when Taylor was only 15, the documentary was produced by Joey Travolta, who played a key role in mentoring the pair to make the film. Normal People Scare Me includes title song “Locked Inside of Me” performed by double platinum recording artist, Taylor Dayne, and shares a number of moving musical compositions performed by a variety of talented musical artists. A soundtrack for the film, “Dave Koz and Friends” featuring eclectic musical artists as Gregg Field, Joey Travolta (on vocals).
Since its release in April, 2006, Normal People Scare Me has made a BIG splash throughout the world. The film, comprised of 65 interviews Taylor conducted with other autistic individuals, ages 9 to 57, shares life and living with autism from a first-person perspective. The film has been featured on CNN/Paula Zahn Now, PBS/California Connected; Geraldo at Large; The Today Show; Extra, Access Hollywood, The New Naomi Judd Show, with news segments throughout the country on NBC, CBS, ABC, and FOX. Magazines, including People, Spectrum, Scholastic, Scholastic Science, and the The Autism Perspective have featured Keri and Taylor’s work in film and public education. The Centers for Disease Control, school districts, universities, colleges, hospitals, and other organizations have used the film for in-service and educational purposes.
Keri’s second release, The Sandwich Kid, a film about siblings of people with disabilities, was created by Keri’s and son, Jace. The film features interviews by Jace with dozens of siblings from a variety of backgrounds, ranging in age from 6 to 59. They describe how living in the midst of disability has affected their lives – the challenging and the triumphs, and the tremendous love and compassion they often offer. “With 650 million people in the world with a disability from mild to severe, siblings have always been the silent heroes. This film tells a part of their story, giving them a voice and the recognition they deserve.” says Keri.
Keri’s newest film, ARTS, is a film about “Possibilities, Disabilities and the Arts.” This documentary delves into the drama, writing, painting, dance, music, and public speaking of an array of fascinating subjects who share incredible talents, gifts, stories, and the arts they love. Each artist has a disability which historically has precluded them from seeking career paths in mainstream society. Keri’s film demonstrates that the ARTS and the immense benefits the arts provide to individuals with disabilities can and should support them to explore career paths and interventions in the arts. Interviews with internationally known artists and luminaries, Temple Grandin, Stephen Shore, Geri Jewell, Donna Williams, Mary Newport, Jerry Newport, Elaine Hall, Stephen Wiltshire, Karen Simmons, and Joey Travolta, among other gifted artists of all abilities and disabilities, show how the arts have the power and impact to create viable and specific interventions for people with disabilities to improve communication, language, social skills, personal relationships, responsibility, self-advocacy, self-esteem, and even career paths.
Keri’s current projects include a newly released workbook, Mapping Transitions to Your Child’s Future. The workbook helps parents and professionals discover & describe what is important to their child or client in everyday life. Keri is currently working on her book, Normal People Scare Me Too; From “Here to There”. The book will show how a young mother overcame her past to discover a present and future of hope and possibility – despite the disability of her young son.
Keri, who was a former paralegal in West Hollywood working with such bands, musicians, and celebrities as Motley Crue, KISS, Blind Melon, Graham Nash, Pamela Anderson, and many others, got a sense of the film business through her work, and will be the first to tell you “I sat, watched, and listened.” After 14 years drafting recording contracts and tour riders, Keri began to build a career on her own. Beginning with the publication of her first book, Single Pregnancy, Single Parenting (1995). While honing her skills as speaker and media guest, in 1998, Keri formed PAUSE4kids, a non-profit organization based in the Conejo Valley area of Southern California.
The organization was formed to serve children with developmental disabilities through the development and facilitation of summer camp programs, social and life skills training, family/sibling support, and advocacy workshops. “Those were the years I paid my dues to learn how to work with other kids besides Taylor. I worked with hundreds of children and realized I had created some interesting techniques to support life and social skill development.
Programs Keri developed include “Art-a-Thon”, an annual, art-based community awareness program; Abilities Awareness, a program designed to educate middle school students about disabilities earned Keri’s work the 2002 Phoebe Apperson Hearst PTA Award for Excellence in Education. The program continues to educate 1200 middle school children each year. Keri has also been an active advocate in policy and legislation in her home State of California. Keri continues to be proactive in her home state of California in legislation and policy reform.
Keri travels extensively – with and without her sons – to provide key note talks and workshops on topics including Screenings of Normal People Scare Me and/or The Sandwich Kid, with a meet the Filmmaker Q&A; “Mapping Transitions to Your Child’s Future,” a talk that includes strategies for creating a written plan of action to support future goals and growth for children with disabilities. Another hot topic is “The Spiritual Nature of Raising a Child with Special Needs” which is a new, but accelerating topic Keri is supporting, along with “The ART of Developing Social and Life Skills” with a focus on “how-to” strategies utilizing the arts for social and life skill development.
From fine art, to music, dance, theater, writing and other expressions of a creative nature, Keri shows how to use these alternative and expressive mediums to develop a comprehensive plan to develop essential life and social skills, self-esteem, self-awareness, and self-determination for persons with disabilities; Perspectives in Guilt, Fear and Other Annoying Roadblocks to Improved Advocacy” This interactive talk walks audience members through interactive and didactic processes to see where fear, guilt, lack of knowledge, and other roadblocks exist to improved advocacy, parenting and teaching. This “hands-on” program goes deep into the underlying reasons we get stuck, and provides ideas on moving to a new level of possibility in advocacy; and “What Professionals Need To Know” Working with a student, a client, or patient with a disability is a delicate balance. How can you create better understanding and awareness of the person’s life and needs? How can you create improved communication and collaborations? Strategies in mirroring, creating a “quick check list” to improve your role as an important part of their professional team.
Keri lives in Thousand Oaks, California, with her son, Jace, 14, and Taylor, now 20.
To learn more about Keri’s other films and projects, visit her website “Normal Films”.
Comments
Got something to say?