The Reason I Jump

Written by a thirteen-year-old boy with autism, this memoir demonstrates how an autistic mind thinks, feels, perceives, ... (more)

Written by a thirteen-year-old boy with autism, this memoir demonstrates how an autistic mind thinks, feels, perceives, and responds in ways few of us can imagine. Using an alphabet grid to painstakingly construct words, sentences, and thoughts that he is unable to speak out loud, Naoki answers even the most delicate questions that people want to know. Parents and family members who never thought they could get inside the head of their autistic loved one at last have a way to break through to the curious, subtle, and complex life within. Naoki shares his unique point of view on not only autism but life itself. His insights, into the mystery of words, the wonders of laughter, and the elusiveness of memory, are so startling, so strange, and so powerful that you will never look at the world the same way again. In his introduction, novelist David Mitchell writes that Naoki's words allowed him to feel, for the first time, as if his own autistic child was explaining what was happening in his mind. (less)

Based on the best-selling book by Naoki Higashida, is an immersive cinematic exploration of neurodiversity through the e... (more)

Based on the best-selling book by Naoki Higashida, is an immersive cinematic exploration of neurodiversity through the experiences of nonspeaking autistic people from around the world. The film blends Higashida's revelatory insights into autism, written when he was just thirteen, with intimate portraits of five remarkable young people. It opens a window for audiences into an intense and overwhelming, but often joyful, sensory universe. Moments in the lives of each of the characters are linked by the journey of a young Japanese boy through an epic landscape; narrated passages from Naoki's writing reflect on what his autism means to him and others, how his perception of the world differs, and why he acts in the way he does: the reason he jumps. The film distills these elements into a sensually rich tapestry that leads to Naoki's core message: not being able to speak does not mean there is nothing to say. (less)