Have you seen the movie, "The Horse Boy"?

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r2d2
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06 Nov 2014, 8:57 am

preview on youtube:

http://youtu.be/cYkT_GndKtE

The true story of how the highly educated and somewhat unconventional parents of a profoundly classically autistic little boy inadvertently discovered how horses help relax and settle the child. They took that notion with them on a trip to Mongolia where they sought out the healing energy from traditional Mongolian Shamans. By no means was the child cured of autism. Frankly I don't think that would be a good thing if that were even possible. But the child's most debilitating and restrictive aspects of his autism did improve quite significantly.

http://www.amazon.com/The-Horse-Boy-Sim ... B003TVQA4M

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CockneyRebel
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06 Nov 2014, 9:56 am

That looks like it would be a good movie. I want to see it now. We need something that is different from Rain Man.

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06 Nov 2014, 1:20 pm

I have heard about this story and I would love to see it. Being around horses does wonders for me as well so I know that it helps.

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r2d2
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06 Nov 2014, 1:24 pm

I should mention that the film is a documentary using real live footage all the way through. The film also includes some commentary from Temple Grandin and Simon Baron Cohen. I cannot remember when I have seen such a great documentary.

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r2d2
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06 Nov 2014, 1:27 pm

I should also mention that the film is available on NETFLIX and amazon instant video online streaming:

http://www.amazon.com/The-Horse-Boy-Sim ... B003TVQA4M

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WelcomeToHolland
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06 Nov 2014, 2:54 pm

I loved it. Read the book first, then saw the movie. Awesome, awesome, awesome.

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Raleigh
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06 Nov 2014, 2:58 pm

Yes. I loved it. 5 stars. Such a beautiful feeling when you see the changes in that lovely little boy who suffered such distress.

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r2d2
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06 Nov 2014, 3:24 pm

Horse Boy Camp -- Here is a short 9 minute video about the camp for autistic children set up by the couple from the documentary:

http://youtu.be/3wXIkK2ppLA

Here is a 24 minute film about the same camp:

http://youtu.be/TihsDJ3zTM0

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nyxjord
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06 Nov 2014, 3:52 pm

You know what, this is actually on Netflix and I started watching it a few months ago. However, I stopped within 10 minutes of the movie starting because it pissed me off. I became very angry and frustrated because of the parents. It's more of the same NT parents-- we must FIX our broken child. We will travel many many miles to fix him because he is broken and we want a child who is not broken.

Or at least that's the way that they seemed to me. Honestly, I just try to stay away from documentaries like that because it is never about what life is like FOR US-- It's always about how horrible life is for the PARENTS who want a non-broken (as they see it) child.

BTW, I guess it is nice that the boy saw some good effects from the trip but it just seemed like the trip was more for the parents than the son.
If I'm the only one that thinks this way though, maybe I was just becoming defensive because the movie hit "too close to home" and I was reminded of my own deficiencies. I saw this movie before I was DX'd.

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06 Nov 2014, 4:19 pm

nyxjord wrote:

I didn't see it like that at all. I don't know if you have any children but for a parent it's the most heart-wrenching thing in the world to see your child suffer. The parents in this documentary were very focused on trying to alleviate the distress their son was experiencing. I didn't see it as focused on the parents wanting an unbroken child. They were clearly suffering as well.

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nyxjord
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06 Nov 2014, 4:26 pm

Yeah, like I said, I will probably be in the minority because it just struck me the wrong way- at a very bad time in my life. Just ignore my post, all.

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r2d2
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06 Nov 2014, 5:56 pm

nyxjord wrote:

Honestly, I just try to stay away from documentaries like that because it is never about what life is like FOR US-- It's always about how horrible life is for the PARENTS who want a non-broken (as they see it) child.
.

Frankly if you watch the movie through to its conclusion - you will see that the parents fully accept the child as being autistic - But for everyone's concern they rejoiced that finally little Rowan stopped having constant meltdowns, learned to use the toilet, became much more verbal and interactive and made a few friends. At the same time the film went out of its way to point out the positive sides of autism and the parents made that point too that they don't want to take away Rowan's very special mind. -

Of course this was a great relief for the parents and improved their quality of life too. But the biggest winner is Rowan who still maintains his colorful neurodiverse mind but suffers a lot less.

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EzraS
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06 Nov 2014, 11:38 pm

That looks really interesting, I'm going to watch it on Netflix. Funny, when I was little and more severely autistic I was scared of horses.

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