Special Release: “Finding The Words”

December 25, 2024

Nicole Shanahan • BACK TO THE PEOPLE PODCAST

Special Release: “Finding The Words”

“Finding the Words” was first released 20 years ago. It was censored from airing in the United States because it reflects the truth about autism: that it is biomedical, and kids can recover from it. For the first time ever, it is being made available for everyone online. This Christmas, may your heart be filled with hope and love. Here is a note from the director, my dear friend, mentor, and warrior mom, Elizabeth Horn.

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Nicole,

Thank you for reintroducing "Finding the Words" to your followers nearly 20 years after its premiere. The film’s central message—never give up on your children’s health—resonates more urgently than ever as autism rates (as well as other chronic conditions) continue to climb, now exceeding 1 in 36 children in the U.S.

Reflecting on my journey as a parent with a newly diagnosed daughter in the late 1990s, I remember well the despair of a confusing prognosis with limited answers about my daughter's future and how to help her overcome a growing list of limitations. "Finding the Words" followed my efforts to meet with families whose children with serious, complex issues related to an ASD diagnosis had gotten better. I met extraordinary parents who were willing to open their lives up to a film crew so they could give other families hope. And I interviewed the courageous researchers and clinicians who dared to listen to them and explore treatments and therapies that could relieve the suffering of children facing severe autism-related challenges, including self-injury, chronic infections, GI disease, and seizures. Despite countless obstacles and admonitions that the movie gave parents "false hope," the film found a global audience, inspiring parents worldwide. But it was never broadcast in the United States.

Fast forward to 2024, and the search for answers for autism has evolved. Our foundation, 2mfoundation.org, and the community that has developed around our vision continue the relentless work of "Decoding Autism" with the help of personalized medicine. We are exploring the roles of multi-omic biology and the environment to accelerate our understanding of this heterogeneous condition and targeting individualized treatments and interventions that may prevent some of the serious symptoms that hold our children back from their best lives.

Brave families like those in "Finding the Words" created the paths we parents travel. Their children are grown now. One young woman is an actress in New York; one of the most severely affected boys is a brilliant young man working at an AI startup in California; and another was his high school valedictorian. They give us hope that we too can find answers for our children. Without hope, nothing changes.

In 2025, our community stands with you and the growing MAHA movement to ensure that every child, every person with autism, has a chance at their healthiest, happiest life. Heartfelt thanks for your support, Nicole, and for inspiring us to continue this vital work—all for our kids.

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