March 28, 2008
Jonathan Mitchell is a writer in Los Angeles. He’s written a novel about his life experience with Asperger’s syndrome, an autism-spectrum disorder. Independent producer Tamar Brott met Mitchell in a writing class a few years ago.
And Kurt begins his conversation with researcher Blythe Corbett, of the U.C. Davis M.I.N.D. Institute in Sacramento, a center dedicated to autism research.
Documentaries like “Autism: The Musical” are showing how the arts can help autistic children express themselves and interact with others. Corbett explores the connection between autism and forms of creativity. She also addresses some of the controversies surrounding autism including the debate on childhood vaccinations and the emerging neurodiversity movement among adults on the disorder spectrum.
Amanda Baggs' "In My Language:"
Scientist are looking for ways to better understand an autistic person’s perception of the world. In a recent study, Ami Klin and Warren Jones of the Yale School of Medicine tracked autistic viewers’ gazes as they watched the 1966 film “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf.” David Gruber visited their lab and tried on the apparatus. Produced with Eric Molinsky.
In a new play by Damien Atkins, an anthropologist gets custody of her severely autistic daughter. Vivian's approach to Lucy's condition leads her to an extreme hypothesis: autism isn't a disorder –- it's the evolution of the species. "Lucy" was premiered in the US by The Ensemble Theatre/Alfred P. Sloan Foundation Science & Technology Project. Produced by Eric Molinsky.
Bob Clevenhagen has been the head designer at Rawlings for more than thirty years -- and he's only the third person to hold that title in the company's 130-year history. We found Bob in his office at the Rawlings factory in Washington, Missouri. Produced by Benjamin Conniff.
Studio 360 is a co-production of
Public
Radio International and
WNYC New York Public Radio, and is funded in part by
Ken and Lucy Lehman, the
National Endowment for the Arts, the Lily Auchincloss Foundation, and
DK Eyewitness Travel. Studio 360's American Icons series is supported in part by the
National Endowment for the Humanities. Our series on creativity and science is supported in part by the
Alfred P. Sloan Foundation. Our series on Underground Heroes is supported in part by the New York State Music Fund, established by the New York State Attorney General at Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors. 
