Residents from across San Luis Obispo County who would like to learn more about autism through the dramatic story of a young boy and his parents and how a horse helped shed light on the beauty of human-animal interaction will soon have a unique opportunity.

This Friday, Dec. 11 the Central Coast Autism Spectrum Center will be hosting author Ruper Isaacson of "The Horse Boy" to premiere the documentary at The Palm Theatre located at 817 Palm St. in San Luis Obispo from 7 to 9:30 p.m.

"We are very excited and honored to have Mr. Isaacson join us for the premiere of “The Horse Boy” in San Luis Obispo County," said Juli Miller, chief executive officer of the Central Coast Autism Spectrum Center. "With the number of cases of autism now surpassing that of all types of pediatric cancer, diabetes, and AIDS combined, our center continues to bring awareness and support for families in our county with events like “The Horse Boy” movie premiere. Please join us on Friday, Dec. 11 at The Palm Theatre to show your support for our community."

Organizers described "The Horse Boy" as a "dramatic and heartwarming story of an impossible adventure."

"In Mongolia, the family found undreamed-of landscapes and people, unbearable setbacks, and advances beyond their wildest dreams. This is a deeply moving, truly one-of-a-kind story of a family willing to go to the ends of the earth to help their son and of a boy learning to connect with the world for the world for the first time," according to a media release.

Following the film, viewers will have the chance to exchange questions and speak with Isaacson, who will be available during a question-and-answer session. Limited copies of "The Horse Boy" will be available as well.

"We're really excited," Miller said. "It's not that often that we get big names in our community."

According to Miller, the event came to fruition through the efforts of volunteer Steve Lumm, who got the ball rolling, along with the cooperative efforts of Jim Dee of The Palm Theatre.

The Autism Spectrum Center invited and looks forward to developing a future partnership with San Miguel-based Heaven Can Wait, a sanctuary for horses and donkeys where organizers including executive Ramey Zamora said they hope to expand the interaction between horse and animal. In this particular case, Miller said the film demonstrates the great lengths that parents will go through to help their children and that her biggest hope for the film was awareness.

"[Awareness] is always first and foremost," she said, "To have autism out there in the public eye."

"Everybody seems to have somebody – a child, a neighbor, that is affected."

In addition, a portion of the proceeds will benefit the Central Coast Autism Spectrum Center.

Currently, statistics show that one in 91 people are diagnosed with Autism, Miller said. There are estimated to be at least 10,000 people in San Luis Obispo County that either meet or have been touched by autism and need services, according to Miller.

Zamora, who interacts with children and horses on a normal basis, said she was interested in seeing some of the nonverbal communication cues in the movie that she had witnessed at Heaven Can Wait as well over the years and that she was looking forward to the film.

"The interesting thing about animals interrelating with people is that very often it makes a difference to what the sufferer is going through – the kind of serenity and comfort that they get through horses; it helps them with whatever they're going through with their lives, but we are definitely learning about autism,” she said.

Miler said she not only looked forward to viewing the film...



For the complete article see the 12-11-2009 issue.

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