Films

OCTOBER 12, 2007

SNOW CAKE

7:00 PM – 10:00 PM

Synopsis: The story of a developing friendship between Linda (Sigourney Weaver), a woman who has autism, and Alex (Alan Rickman), an ex-convict who is traumatized after a fatal car accident. In this award winning movie, Alex discovers new friends while learning about the uniqueness of Linda as he struggles to come to terms with his own grief. This is the WNY premier for the screening of this film.

Running time: 2 hours.

Rating: Unrated

Speaker: Stephen R. Anderson, Ph.D., President, Summit Educational Resources, Inc. and an expert on autism

OCTOBER 13, 2007

THE TIC CODE

12:30-3:00 PM

Synopsis: A 10 year old boy (Chris Marquette) who wants to be a jazz pianist becomes, with his mother’s (Polly Draper) help, an underage regular at a local nightspot where he teams up with a sax superstar (Gregory Hines). Both learn that each has Tourette Syndrome. Winning many awards, this is a movie about three people who come to accept that life doesn’t always deal you a fair hand and you must play the hand you’re dealt.

Running time: 1 hour, 28 minutes.

Rating: R (language)

Speakers: Susan Conners, President, Tourette Syndrome Association of Greater New York and “Air” Gordon Scherer, Board Member Tourette Syndrome Association of Greater NY and WBEN/STAR 102.5 Radio Personality.

UNFORGOTTEN: 25 YEARS AFTER WILLOWBROOK

3:30-6:00 PM

Synopsis: This critically acclaimed and award winning film examines the impact that, in the wake of Geraldo Rivera’s shocking 1972 expose, the closure of Willowbrook State School had on patients and their families. Using old film clips, photographs and contemporary interviews to show what life was like before, during and after Willowbrook, the film traces the lives of five people who once lived in Willowbrook. One of these individuals is Bernard Carabello, who was institutionalized at Willowbrook for 18 years because he had cerebral palsy and who now works as a self-advocate.

Running Time: 57 minutes.

Rating: Unrated

Speaker: Bernard Carabello, Award-Winning speaker who is considered to be the “Father of the Self-Advocacy Movement.”