Autism educator Elaine Hall, director of the innovative Vista Inspire Program at Vista Del Mar Child and Family Services, was recently invited by the United Nations to launch the paperback version of her acclaimed book, “Now I See the Moon: A Mother, a Son, and the Miracle of Autism”. The event will occur in conjunction with April’s World Autism Awareness Day and National Autism Awareness Month.
Hall’s book chronicles the challenges and triumphs of raising her son Neal, who was adopted from a Russian orphanage and later diagnosed with autism. When traditional therapies proved unsuccessful with Neal, Hall—a former Hollywood acting coach—pioneered her own, unique approach incorporating the performing arts as a means of reaching out to children on the autism spectrum.
As a result of her personal journey, Hall created The Miracle Project—a theater and film-arts program for children with special needs that was profiled in the Emmy-Award-winning documentary, “Autism: The Musical”.
Founded on the principles of The Miracle Project, the Vista Inspire Program serves children with autism and other special needs through several therapeutic, after-school programs focusing on art, dance, drama, voice, music, and musical theatre, as well as on Bar/Bat Mitzvah education and preparation.
Vista Del Mar Child and Family Services was established in 1908 and, over the course of more than a century, has evolved from an orphanage to a union of five specialized agencies working together to provide comprehensive, therapeutic, as well as educational programs and services for children and their families on a picturesque, 18-acre campus in West Los Angeles. For additional information, visit http://www.vistadelmar.org.
