Video: "We can shine" - An Aspie's film on developmental delays

Patrice Walsh

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Adrian Espositio was diagnosed with autism at the age of four and Asperger's Syndrome when he was 8.

This didn't mean much to Adrian as a child--He realized he had some kind of disorder that was frustrating at times, But he didn't let it define his life.

Fast forward to 2011--Adrian, 22, is an emerging filmmaker who has made many films and documentaries including one he narrated about Asperger's Syndrome.

It is called "We can shine--From Institutions to Independence."

Adrian says he never let his Asperger's slow him down but admits certain things frustrate him. Like trying to spell or do math problems. His mother Kristina says she was devastated when she first learned her only child was autistic.

But she encourages parents of autistic children to find the one thing the child is passionate about and let them do it. For Adrian, it was film.

Kristina says "this can unlock they keys to their minds." She says the new classification for Asperger's as an autistic disorder, isn't news at all. But she does believe it will be helpful for other families.

In fact, the American Pyschiatric Association said the hope is that by better defining Asperger's and other disorders, this will lead to better and more accurate diagnosis of these disabilities.

More at www.espocinema.com