WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:07.448 Instrumental Music 00:00:08.516 --> 00:00:17.186 Instrumental Music 00:05:29.549 --> 00:05:33.339 Alex Plank: I come to this event every year NOTE Paragraph 00:00:20.220 --> 00:00:22.605 and I think it's amazing that NOTE Paragraph 00:00:22.605 --> 00:00:25.174 there's supposed to be 50,000 people here today. NOTE Paragraph 00:00:25.174 --> 00:00:29.465 My name is Alex Plank. NOTE Paragraph 00:00:29.465 --> 00:00:32.758 I run the website wrongplanet.net, NOTE Paragraph 00:00:32.758 --> 00:00:35.105 which is the largest website for autism. NOTE Paragraph 00:00:35.105 --> 00:00:38.677 And I also work on FX's The Bridge NOTE Paragraph 00:00:38.677 --> 00:00:41.409 as a consultant and actor. NOTE Paragraph 00:00:41.409 --> 00:00:47.638 I do a TV talk show online called Autism Talk TV NOTE Paragraph 00:00:47.638 --> 00:00:49.552 where we interview people about autism NOTE Paragraph 00:00:49.552 --> 00:00:51.773 and give how-to videos on subjects NOTE Paragraph 00:00:51.773 --> 00:00:54.596 such as social skills and things like that, NOTE Paragraph 00:00:54.596 --> 00:00:58.354 for people with autism to learn how to interact socially. 00:00:58.354 --> 00:01:01.577 Shoutout to Mahje, my cousin. 00:01:01.577 --> 00:01:04.171 When I was 9, I was diagnosed with Asperger's Syndrome 00:01:04.171 --> 00:01:05.835 which is a form of autism. 00:01:05.835 --> 00:01:07.741 So that is how I got involved in this cause. 00:01:07.741 --> 00:01:13.384 I think that the important issues we need to focus 00:01:13.384 --> 00:01:15.986 with in terms of autism are providing better services 00:01:15.986 --> 00:01:18.020 for individuals who are on the spectrum. 00:01:18.020 --> 00:01:20.055 Supporting them so they can live 00:01:20.055 --> 00:01:23.845 the most fulfilling life possible. 00:01:37.375 --> 00:01:39.897 Hi, my name is Preston. 00:01:39.973 --> 00:01:41.161 I'm the brand ambassador for 51 Fifty Energy. 00:01:41.161 --> 00:01:43.605 Our CEO, Carlos Vieira runs a non-profit organization 00:01:43.605 --> 00:01:45.996 called The Carlos Vieira Foundation. 00:01:45.996 --> 00:01:49.566 Actually, he's a very successful sweet potato farmer, 00:01:49.566 --> 00:01:52.541 and he started racing cars when he was 35 years old. 00:01:52.541 --> 00:01:54.513 People were calling him crazy, so that was NOTE Paragraph 00:01:54.513 --> 00:01:57.927 sort of his motivation to start this energy company. NOTE Paragraph 00:01:57.927 --> 00:01:59.712 But he didn't need the money, NOTE Paragraph 00:01:59.712 --> 00:02:01.691 so he would donate it to autism. NOTE Paragraph 00:02:01.691 --> 00:02:03.640 The car is actually one of our old race cars. 00:02:03.640 --> 00:02:04.706 We took the engine out 00:02:04.706 --> 00:02:06.960 and we sealed up all the windows and everything. 00:02:06.960 --> 00:02:08.841 And we bring to all the events 00:02:08.841 --> 00:02:10.497 and have people donate money. 00:02:10.497 --> 00:02:12.223 So once that car is full of money, 00:02:12.223 --> 00:02:15.047 we're going to donate it to autism. 00:02:15.047 --> 00:02:16.234 The families reach out to us, 00:02:16.234 --> 00:02:19.211 and we get them set up, 00:02:19.211 --> 00:02:20.244 whatever they need. 00:02:20.244 --> 00:02:22.216 We donate the money straight to families 00:02:22.216 --> 00:02:23.951 with autism. 00:02:23.951 --> 00:02:25.686 00:02:25.686 --> 00:02:27.421 The website is 51fiftyenergydrink.com 00:02:27.421 --> 00:02:29.051 My name is Larry Rosen 00:02:30.358 --> 00:02:32.394 I'm an advocate. I am a partner in a company 00:02:32.394 --> 00:02:33.837 called IHSS advocates 00:02:33.837 --> 00:02:36.125 We help families get protective supervision 00:02:36.125 --> 00:02:39.667 which is a component of in home support services 00:02:39.667 --> 00:02:41.641 which is a component of Medi-Cal 00:02:41.641 --> 00:02:44.588 Unfortunately, lots of families don't realize 00:02:44.588 --> 00:02:45.902 that there's a service out there 00:02:45.902 --> 00:02:47.592 that allows a parent to NOTE Paragraph 00:02:47.592 --> 00:02:49.341 be the stay-at home provider for their child NOTE Paragraph 00:02:49.341 --> 00:02:52.537 and get paid for it. NOTE Paragraph 00:02:52.537 --> 00:02:55.425 I'm Max Burkholder, I'm here because NOTE Paragraph 00:02:55.425 --> 00:02:58.204 I play a character on NBC's Parenthood NOTE Paragraph 00:02:58.204 --> 00:03:01.299 named Max Braverman who has Asperger's Syndrome NOTE Paragraph 00:03:01.299 --> 00:03:03.237 I don't think they attempted to cast NOTE Paragraph 00:03:03.237 --> 00:03:04.487 someone who was on the spectrum. NOTE Paragraph 00:03:04.487 --> 00:03:07.872 I think their first thought was to teach all the kids NOTE Paragraph 00:03:07.872 --> 00:03:09.378 who were auditioning about what people NOTE Paragraph 00:03:09.378 --> 00:03:13.064 who are on the spectrum go through. NOTE Paragraph 00:03:13.064 --> 00:03:16.068 And ever since I started playing that role, NOTE Paragraph 00:03:16.068 --> 00:03:17.418 I've gotten more and more NOTE Paragraph 00:03:17.418 --> 00:03:20.488 involved in the autism community NOTE Paragraph 00:03:20.488 --> 00:03:23.120 I'm Robin Rapaport and I am a tutordoctor. NOTE Paragraph 00:03:23.120 --> 00:03:25.034 And what we provide is NOTE Paragraph 00:03:25.034 --> 00:03:27.164 one-on-one in home tutoring NOTE Paragraph 00:03:27.164 --> 00:03:28.979 for students of all ages NOTE Paragraph 00:03:28.979 --> 00:03:30.455 and in any subject at all NOTE Paragraph 00:03:30.455 --> 00:03:31.862 And what's really different about it, NOTE Paragraph 00:03:31.862 --> 00:03:33.869 is that when it's appropriate, NOTE Paragraph 00:03:33.869 --> 00:03:36.623 we create a team with everybody that's involved NOTE Paragraph 00:03:36.623 --> 00:03:37.850 in the student's education, NOTE Paragraph 00:03:37.850 --> 00:03:39.356 because we really want to dig deep. NOTE Paragraph 00:03:39.356 --> 00:03:41.862 We're not like a band-aid situation. NOTE Paragraph 00:03:41.862 --> 00:03:43.521 We're really getting into the heart NOTE Paragraph 00:03:43.521 --> 00:03:44.398 of the matter., NOTE Paragraph 00:03:44.398 --> 00:03:45.839 and giving people the tools NOTE Paragraph 00:03:45.839 --> 00:03:46.814 and skills that they need, NOTE Paragraph 00:03:46.814 --> 00:03:48.474 so they don't need us forever. NOTE Paragraph 00:03:48.474 --> 00:03:50.228 Just really trying to be the best NOTE Paragraph 00:03:50.228 --> 00:03:53.201 service for tutoring on the planet. NOTE Paragraph 00:03:53.201 --> 00:03:56.213 That's our commitment. NOTE Paragraph 00:03:56.213 --> 00:03:58.463 Ernie: My name is Ernie Merlan NOTE Paragraph 00:03:58.927 --> 00:04:00.150 Yudi: And I'm Yudi Bennett NOTE Paragraph 00:04:00.150 --> 00:04:01.810 E: And we're part of Exceptional Minds NOTE Paragraph 00:04:01.810 --> 00:04:03.566 E: We're a school for young adults with autism NOTE Paragraph 00:04:03.566 --> 00:04:06.123 E: We teach them computer graphics and animation NOTE Paragraph 00:04:06.123 --> 00:04:10.972 Y: We're very unique in the special needs world. NOTE Paragraph 00:04:10.972 --> 00:04:13.019 Y: There are very few programs. NOTE Paragraph 00:04:13.019 --> 00:04:14.838 Y: Our program was designed to fill the need NOTE Paragraph 00:04:14.838 --> 00:04:17.310 Y: For young adults over 18. NOTE Paragraph 00:04:17.310 --> 00:04:19.377 Y: There are very few programs for this population, NOTE Paragraph 00:04:19.377 --> 00:04:22.257 Y: and there's tremendous unemployment. NOTE Paragraph 00:04:22.257 --> 00:04:23.454 E: We've been lucky enough to get them NOTE Paragraph 00:04:23.454 --> 00:04:24.611 E: jobs in some movies. NOTE Paragraph 00:04:24.611 --> 00:04:26.552 E: Last year we did 12 visual effects NOTE Paragraph 00:04:26.552 --> 00:04:28.774 on American Hustle NOTE Paragraph 00:04:28.774 --> 00:04:30.902 and we've worked on movies like Lawless, NOTE Paragraph 00:04:30.902 --> 00:04:34.258 and Judy Moody. NOTE Paragraph 00:04:34.258 --> 00:04:35.621 Dina: My name is Dina Kimmel and I'm the founder NOTE Paragraph 00:04:35.621 --> 00:04:36.779 of We Rock the Spectrum NOTE Paragraph 00:04:36.779 --> 00:04:38.099 the kid's gym for all kids. NOTE Paragraph 00:04:38.099 --> 00:04:39.882 So We Rock was founded NOTE Paragraph 00:04:39.882 --> 00:04:41.320 because our son has autism. NOTE Paragraph 00:04:41.320 --> 00:04:43.328 He was diagnosed back in 2009. NOTE Paragraph 00:04:43.328 --> 00:04:45.398 And we wanted to create a space for my son NOTE Paragraph 00:04:45.398 --> 00:04:48.281 and for my daughter, who's neurotypical. NOTE Paragraph 00:04:48.281 --> 00:04:50.790 And we created this kid's gym NOTE Paragraph 00:04:50.790 --> 00:04:51.388 in my home. NOTE Paragraph 00:04:51.388 --> 00:04:52.637 It's all sensory based equipment. NOTE Paragraph 00:04:52.637 --> 00:04:54.076 And then brought it out NOTE Paragraph 00:04:54.076 --> 00:04:55.140 into the community. NOTE Paragraph 00:04:55.140 --> 00:04:56.733 The local community in Tarzana. NOTE Paragraph 00:04:56.733 --> 00:04:58.766 And 3 weeks later, it exploded. NOTE Paragraph 00:04:58.766 --> 00:05:00.988 And now here we are, 4 years later. NOTE Paragraph 00:05:00.988 --> 00:05:02.644 We've got 12 locations. NOTE Paragraph 00:05:02.644 --> 00:05:04.051 We just started franchising out. NOTE Paragraph 00:05:04.051 --> 00:05:05.774 We opened our first one in Boca Raton, Florida. 00:05:05.774 --> 00:05:07.303 It's really exciting. NOTE Paragraph 00:05:07.303 --> 00:05:08.655 So we are about inclusion. NOTE Paragraph 00:05:08.655 --> 00:05:10.843 So with the sensory equipment, NOTE Paragraph 00:05:10.843 --> 00:05:13.104 we're able to have typical children, NOTE Paragraph 00:05:13.104 --> 00:05:14.926 and children with autism NOTE Paragraph 00:05:14.926 --> 00:05:16.428 or other disabilities NOTE Paragraph 00:05:16.428 --> 00:05:17.830 cerebral palsy, it doesn't matter. NOTE Paragraph 00:05:17.830 --> 00:05:19.772 There'e something for everybody. NOTE Paragraph 00:05:19.772 --> 00:05:20.991 So that's what We Rock is about. NOTE Paragraph 00:05:20.991 --> 00:05:23.843 Instrumental Music