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Follow the Sound of My Voice
He dreams of living on his own and writing screenplays for Marvel Studios. He climbs mountains that most of us only read about. And just like millions of other young adults in this country, my brother Troy is on the autism spectrum. But he doesn't see autism the way many people do, as a mental disability to be cured or overcome. Instead, he attributes his personality, his talents and his potential—everything that makes him unique—to his being on the spectrum.
In 2015, Troy hiked Mt. Kilimanjaro, the world's tallest free-standing mountain. Joined by my parents, a videographer, and a host of mountain porters, Troy's ultimate purpose wasn't just to reach the top. He climbed to raise tuition money for other students with intellectual disabilities
who can't afford to go to college.
Award-winning director and cinematographer Ben Stamper takes us on a visually stunning journey into the lesser-known side of autism, where the defining characteristics are empathy, empowerment and self-discipline. Against the pristine backdrop of Tanzania, this film reveals the strength, perseverance and poetry of one young man from San Diego who is discovering how to use his disability to change the lives of others.
To further Troy's cause, I created a poetry zine to showcase the unique perspective of his trek up Kilimanjaro.
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