Wednesday, April 2, 2008

"Beautiful Son" documents alternative autism treatments




With World Autism Day April 2, some PBS stations around the USA are playing the 2007 documentary, "Beautiful Son," this week, about the journey of Hawaiian filmmakers Don and Julianne King after they learned their 3-year-old son, Beau, had an Autism Spectrum Disorder.

The film synopsis says: "In BEAUTIFUL SON, Don and Julianne take us on their journey through the landscape of this debilitating neurological disorder as they attempt to recover Beau from autism. Along the way, through their research and personal interaction with various medical professionals, Don and Julianne come to believe the establishment has little to offer apart from advice of 'good parenting' and behavioral therapy. Desperate to find help, they stumble upon a community of doctors and parents who are experimenting with alternative treatments and who are, they believe, successfully recovering some kids from autism.
BEAUTIFUL SON is the story of an illness reaching epidemic proportion, now affecting one in 150 children. And, it’s the story of a grass roots movement of parents and doctors who believe that vaccines, mercury and other toxins may be triggering some forms of autism and demanding research be done to help their children."

Check here to see when Beautiful Son is being broadcast on your local PBS station.