In August of 2013, I reported on the tragic case of Alex Spourdalakis: a teen who had autism and severe gut-related health issues. His mother and Alex’s caretaker suffered extreme distress after finding themselves unable to care for him and unable to get proper help. Together, they stabbed him to death and attempted their own suicides.
What makes this horrible story more compelling is the fact that prior to Alex’s death, the Autism Media Channel had followed the family’s travails for a documentary. The resulting film provides an extraordinary and perhaps unprecedented look at the stresses faced by some families of autistic children and the shortfalls in the system that is, sometimes, ill-equipped to help.
Recently, the film won Best Documentary at the New York City Oktoberfest Film Festival.
Watch the CBS News story on Alex’s case
Watch viewers respond to the film at a NYC film festival
Originally published on Oct. 9, 2014
