In A Different Key

Series / 1 Season

A mother tracks down the first person ever diagnosed with autism, now an elderly man living in rural Mississippi, to learn if his life story holds promise for her own autistic son. Her journey exposes a startling record of cruelty and kindness alike, framed by forces like race, money and privilege – but leads to hope that more communities are learning to have the backs of people on the spectrum.

Get Cascade PBS Passport to watch

Mickey Visits a Cat Shelter

3m 27s

Mickey has a thing about cats. He talks about them. He purrs and meows like them. He collects stuffed animal cats and he makes a lot of cat-based puns. But when he visits a cat shelter, maybe to take home a kitten of his own, his mother finds out Mickey is actually scared of the real thing, which is more unpredictable than he's comfortable with. But his cat patter serves a purpose.

Living with Profound Autism

2m 30s

Jonah Lutz is an autistic man whose challenges are so profound that society tends to look away, rather than celebrate his differences in TV dramas and movies. Yet at least 30 percent of people on the spectrum live with challenges of a similar degree. His family is his main support system.

In A Different Key - The Trailer

2m 35s

A mother tracks down the first person ever diagnosed with autism, now an elderly man living in rural Mississippi, to learn if his life story holds promise for her own autistic son. Her journey exposes a startling record of cruelty and kindness alike, framed by forces like race, money and privilege – but leads to hope that more communities are learning to have the backs of people on the spectrum.

Supported by