COMING UP NEXT ON ARIZONA HORIZO WE'LL MEET ARIZONA'S FIRST-EVER CHIEF HEAT OFFICER.

ALSO TONIGHT, WE'LL HEAR ABOUT AN EFFORT TO HELP PREVENT INCREASING SUICIDES AMONG CURRENT AND FORMER MILITARY SERVICE MEMBERS AND, A NEW DOCUMENTARY EXPLORES AUTISM RESEARCH AND THE PERSONAL STORIES OF THOSE "WITH" AUTISM.

THOSE STORIES AND MORE, NEXT, ON ARIZONA HORIZON GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME TO ARIZONA HORIZON.

I'M TED SIMONS PROSECUTORS TODAY SAID THAT THEY WILL "NOT" RE-TRY AN ARIZONA RANCHER ACCUSED OF MURDER IN THE FATAL SHOOTING OF A UN-ARMED AND UN-DOCUMENTED MEXICAN MAN WHO WAS ON THE RANCHERS PROPERTY NEAR NOGALES.

A JUDGE DECLARED A MIS-TRIAL AFTER JURORS IN THE TRIAL OF GEORGE ALAN KELLY WERE UNABLE TO REACH A UNANIMOUS VERDICT AFTER MORE THAN 2-DAYS OF DELIBERATION.

KELLY WAS CHARGED WITH 2ND-DEGREE MURDER.

HE'D BEEN ON TRIAL FOR NEARLY A MONTH.

TRAFFIC IS MOVING AGAIN ON I-40 ALONG THE ARIZONA-NEW MEXICO BORDER AFTER A TRAIN DE-RAILMENT FRIDAY.

WESTBOUND LANES OF I-40 ARE NOW BACK OPEN, THOUGH AT LAST REPORT, THE EASTBOUND LANES ARE STILL CLOSED.

THE DE-RAILMENT INITIALLY CLOSED 50-MILES OF THE INTERSTATE.

THE AREA WAS ALSO EVACUATED.

BUT THAT EVACUATION ORDER'S NOW BEEN LIFTED AND THE AREA WAS EVACUATED.

35-CARS JUMPED THE TRACKS.

6-OF THOSE CARS WERE CARRYING PROPANE.

NO INJURIES WERE REPORED.

POLITICAL NOTE: THE STATE REPUBLICAN PARTY SELECTED AN INDICTED STATE LAWMAKER AND A "FORMER" LAWMAKER WHO WAS EXPELLED FROM THE LEGISLATURE TO REPRESENT ARIZONA ON THE REPUBLICAN NATIONAL COMMITTEE.

SENATOR JAKE HOFFMAN WAS ELECTED BY PARTY MEMBERS DESPITE FACING INDICTMENTS FOR HIS ROLE AS A FAKE ELECTOR FOLLOWING THE 2020 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION.

AND LIZ HARRIS WAS EXPELLED FROM THE LEGISLATURE LAST YEAR FOR LYING ABOUT "HER" ROLE IN INVITING A GUEST WHO MADE MAKE FALSE ACCUSATIONS THAT VARIOUS PUBLIC OFFICIALS AND JUDGES LAWMAKERS WERE ACCEPTING BRIBES FROM MEXICAN DRUG CARTELS AND A NEW NATIONAL POLLS SHOWS THAT 4-IN-10 REGISTERED VOTERS SAY THEY'RE "SOMEWHAT" ENTHUSIASTIC ABOUT AN UPCOMING REMATCH BETWEEN PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN AND FORMER PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP.

THE MONMOUTH UNIVERSITY SURVEY FINDS THAT VOTER ENTHUSIASM HAS RISEN MODESTLY ACROSS PARTISAN LINES, BUT A PARTISAN "GAP" IS STILL THERE, WITH 63-PERCENT OF REPUBLICANS EXPRESSING SOME ENTHUSIASM, COMPARED TO JUST 36-PERCENT OF DEMOCRATS AND 27-PERCENT OF INDEPENDENT VOTERS.

ARIZONA HAS A NEW "CHIEF HEAT OFFICER."

IT'S THE FIRST SUCH OFFICIAL IN ARIZONA AND THE FIRST SUCH "STATE" OFFICIAL IN THE U.S JOINING US NOW IS ARIZONA CHIEF HEAT OFFICER, DR. EUGENE LIVAR GOOD ON HAVE YOU THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

YOU OTHER FIRST YOU NEED TO BE FIRST OF SOMETHING >> IT IS BUT HAS BURDEN.

I THINK HAVE YOU TO HAVE HUMILITY WHEN STEPPING IN A ROLE LIKE INFORM >> CHIEF HEAT OFFICER WHAT DO YOU DO?

>> THAT ROLE IS IN CHARGE OF THE IMPLEMENTATION OF GOVERN'S HEAT PREPAREDNESS COMPLNS OVER SEEING TO GET IT FROM HEAT SEASON TO HEAT SEASON THAT IS A BRIDGE BETWEEN OUR LOCAL COMMUNITIES AND FEDERAL PARTNERS TO MAKE SURETY COMMUNICATIONS AND ANYTHING THAT NEEDS TO GO BACK AND FORTH IS IN AND OUT OF HEAT SEASON >> AS FAR AS AN AGENT WHO DO YOU REPORT TO?

>> OUR EXECUTIVE OFFICER IN HEALTH SERVICE.

>> AND THE DAY AGENCIES YOU WILL BE WORKING WITH INCLUDE.

>> NAY INCLUDE THE GOVERN'S OFFICE OF RESILIENCE WITH DIRECT MA HONEY.

AND WE WORK WITH OFF THE STATE AGENCIES ACROSS THE BOARD WITHIN ARIZONA.

>> TALK ANY THE PLAN AND THE GOVERNOR'S IDEA.

WE CAN GO THIS THAT WE TALK ABOUT THIS SO MUCH HEAT AND THE PROBLEMS.

WHAT REAL -~ICALLY WITH BE DONE?

>> I THINK WHEN WE ARE LOOKING AT IS PREPARATION AND COLLABORATION.

AS WE MOVE FORWARD THE HEAT PLAN CAME OUT MARCH OF THIS YEEK.

IT ANY PREPARATION STEP TO 2024.

WHAT CAN WE DO TO PREPARE OUR STATE AGENCIES, PARTNERS AND LOCAL COMMUNITIES AS WE GET IN HEAT SEASON STARTING IN MAY.

AND GETTING THE CONNECTIONS DONE SO THIS WE CAN BE RED TO TAKE NEXT STEPS >> DEVELOPING AND TRAINING FOCUSED ON IMPROVING ACCESS TO HUMAN SERVICE PROVIDERS THAT IS INCLUDES.

WHAT DOES THIS MONEY?

>> WE WANT TO DO IS AS WE ARE LOOKING AT COOLING CENTERS AND THE SERVICE THEY PROVIDE, WHAT CAN WE DO TO EXPAND THE TOUCH POINTS TOANCE LATER SERVICE MENTAL HEALTH AND HEALTH CARE IF YOU HAVE SOMEBODY AVAILABLE TO YOU WE WANT TO MAKE KEKSDZ.

JOT WEATHER SHELTER AND COOLING CENTERS EXPLAIN WHAT THEY ARE AND WHERE AND HOW MANY THAT ARE?

>> THERE ARE MANY ACROSS THE STATE IT VARIES FROM AREA TO AREA AND COUNTY TO COUNTY.

WE SEE THE MOST IN URBAN AREAS SUCH AS MARICOPA WITHIN TUCSON AND PHOENIX THE AREAS SOMEBODY CAN GET RELIEF FROM HEAT AND STEP IN AND AN AIR CONDITION ENTITY.

THEY CAN GO AHEAD AND TAKE A BREAK FROM THE HEAT AND LET TEMPERATURES LOWER DOWN AND WHAT WE HOPE IS PER OF THE PLAN IS YOU IDENTIFIED IS WHAT CAN WE DO TO MAKE THE CONNECTION POINTS MORE VALUABLE TO ARIZONA.

>> WHERE ARE THE SHELTERS HAVE BEEN ARE THEY USE SND TO PEOPLE KNOW WHERE AND WHEN THEY ARE?

>> THAT IS THE PART OF THE COMMUNICATION PLAN IDENTIFIED WITHIN THE EXTREME HEAT PREPAREDNESS PLAN.

WE HAVE A WEBSITE THAT GETS THAT INFORMATION OUT AND IDENTIFIES COOLING CENTERS WE WANT THAT INFORMATION TO GET TO PEOPLE WHO REALLY NEED TEMPERATURE >> UPDATING THE HEAT EMERGENCY RESPONSIBLES.

WHAT CAN YOU DO AS THE CHIEF HEAT OFFICER TO IMPROVE THAT?

>> WHAT I CAN DO IS LONE ON MY BACKGROUND ASSISTAND DIRECTOR AND LOOKING AT WHEN WE CAN DO.

WE CAN LOOK AT WAYS TO ORGANIZE, STREAM LINE COMMUNICATIONS AND BE READY TO PULL LEVERS AS WE GO THROUGH HEAT SEASON IN CASE NEEDS ARE THERE.

>> YOU REFERRED TO THIS THE COLLABORATION INVOLVED WITH MUNICIPALITIES, ALONG WITH THE STATE, PUBLIC, PRIVATE AS WELL.

THAT IS A LOT GOING ON THERE HOW WILL YOU TIE IT TOGETHER.

WHY ONE THING WE ARE DOING TO TIE THE PEATSES TOGETHER IS STATE LEVEL WORKING GROUPS WITHIN OUR STATE.

COVER 6 MAJOR AREAS WE NEED TO BE RED FOR DURING HEAT SEASON AND HAVE 75 PARTICIPATES FROM ALL OVER THE STATE PARTICIPATING IN THE WORK GROUPS THAT COVERS STATE AGENCIES.

COVERS LOCAL MUNICIPALITIES.

COUNTIES.

PRIVATE SECTOR.

COMMUNITY BASED AND OTHERS.

>> I KNOW REGARDING HEAT AND HEAT CONCERNS, THE GONER WAS PUSHED FOR SAFE AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING.

WHAT CAN YOU DO AS A CHIEF HEAT RALPH TO ADDRESS THAT?

>> YOU KNOW FROM MY POSITION WE ARE LOOK ATHWHAT CAN WE OVER SEE TO MAKE THAT VISION HAPPEN IF YOU LOOK IN THE HEAT PLAN THAT IDENTIFIES ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE DRIVING PIECES THAT NEED TO MOVE FORWARD WHAT CAN WE DO TO GET THAT TO THE FINISH LINE?

>> WE HAVE 625 HEAT RELATED DEATH IN MARICOPA LAST YEAR.

395 OF THEM WERE IN PHOENIX.

THEY HAVE GROWN THE PAST 3 YEARS.

MANY OF THE FOLKS ARE UNSHELTERED.

UNHOUSED AND HOMELESS.

SO MANY THERE ARE SO MANY WAYS TO ATTACK THAT ISSUE AND TRY TO ADDRESS THAT ISSUE.

WHAT ARE YOU DOING TO DO ABOUT IT?

>> I THINK WE LOOK AT HEAT RELATED DEATHS AS A TRAGEDY.

AND I THINK WE LOOK AT HEAT RELATED DEATH AND ILL KNOWS AS PREVENTIBLE.

WE LOOK AT THE HOMELESS OR UNHOUSED POPULATION WE NEED TO BE CREATIVE AND THINK OUTSIDE OF THE BOX AND LOOK FOR EXAMPLES ACROSS OUR STATE.

PHOENIX EXTENDING THEIR HOURS OF COOLINGS CENTERSES SO THEREOPEN AND AVAILABLE PAST THE 5 O'CLOCK TIME OF CONNECT THE INDIVIDUALS TO SERVICES AS THEY WISH TO MAKE CONNECTIONS AND HOW CAN WE GET COMMUNICATIONS OUT TO THEM SO THEY KNOW HOW TO GET RELIEF.

WE NEED TO START THERE AS WE MOVE FORWARD WITHIN 24.

WE NEED TO REALIZE WE WILL NOT SOLVE ALL HEAT RELATED PROBLEM IN 6 MONTHS OR LESS THIS IS AN ON GOING PROCESS.

WE HOPE TO TAKE BEST PRACTICES AND LEARN YEAR TO YEAR TO IMPROVE OUR STANCE.

>> I SAY BEST PRACTICE ARE TOUGH THIS .

IS A DESERT ENVIRONMENT.

WE EXPECT TEMPERATURES IN THE 100 AND TEENS YOU CAN'T LOOK AROUND MASSACHUSETTS AND WYOMING SAY WHATTING ARE YOU DOING, TRUE?

>> THAT IS TRUE.

THERE IS IN NATIONAL HEAT PLAN NOW.

SO WE ARE REALLY GETTING IN THE FOREFRONT AND SEE WHEN WE CAN DO TO MITIGATE THE ISSUES WITHIN OUR STATE T. IS IMPORTANT TO NOTICE YOU IDENTIFIED SOME OF THE DEATHS IN MARICOPA COUNTY.

HEAT RELATED DEATHS ARE OVER 980.

THERE IS AN IMPACT ACROSS THE STATE AND AS THE CHIEF HEAT OFFICER IN ARIZONA IT IS IMPORTANT WE HAVE A STATE WIDE VISION AND APPROACH >> DOCTOR LAVARD.

ARIZONA CHIEF HEAT OFFICER.

BEST LUCK TO YOU.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

SUICIDES AMONG MILITARY SERVICE MEMBERS ARE ON THE INCREASE.

A NEW STUDY IS LOOKING AT THE "PSYCHOLOGICAL AUTOPSIES" OF THESE SERVICE MEMBERS TO BETTER LEARN WHY THE MILITARY SUICIDE RATE IS CLIMBING AND WHAT CAN BE DONE TO ADDRESS THE ISSUE.

ASU PSYCHOLOGY PROFESSOR DR. REBECCA BLAIS WAS AMONG THOSE CONDUCTING THE RESEARCH, SHE JOINS US NOW GOOD TO HAVE YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

MILITARY SUICIDES WE HAVE TALKED ABOUT THIS ISSUE ON THIS PROGRAM.

IT DOES SEEM IT IS INCREASING IS IT?

>> CONDITIONS TO INCREASE A NUMBER OF YEARS AGO SERVING IN THE U.S. MILITARY WAS PROTECTIVE AGAINST SUICIDE RISK.

LEFT 20 YEAR ITS IS INCREASING.

AND AT THIS POINT THE RISK DEATH BY SUICIDE IS HIGHER AMONG THOSE WHO SERVED IN THE MILITARY COMPARED TO CIVILIANS >> I FIND IT INTERESTING PROTECTED, EXPLAIN THAT.

JA THIS IS CHALLENGING TO UNDERSTAND WHY IT MIGHT BE PROTECTED.

ONE THING THAT MAKES MILITARY RESEARCH DIFFICULT IS WARS ARE DIFFERENT EACH TIME.

SOME VIETNAM VETS SAY WHEN THEY CAME BACK AFTER DEPLOYED THEY WERE NOT WELCOMED BACK OR THANKED.

WE ARE SEEING SOMETHING DIFFERENT WITH THE FOLK WHO IS SERVED IN IRAQ AND AFGHANISTAN AND WARFARE CHANGED THE WAR ENVIRONMENT IS AFTER EVER CHANGING CULTURE.

WE ARE SEEING ONE OF THE MOST DIVERSE FIGHTING FORCES WE HAD IN HISTORY.

THERE ARE SO MANY FACTORS AT PLAY.

A COMBINATION LOOK ONE PART CHANGES ANOTHER PART CHANGES AND SO CAN BE DIFFICULT TO PIN POINT EXACT CAUSES >> THEY CAN BE STRESSORS.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

THEY CAN.

>> YEA.

AS FAR AS THE INCREASE IS IT A STEADY RISE?

IS IT PEEKS AND VALESSAY SPIKE?

>> IT WAS NOT A SPIKE.

WE ARE SEEING THERE ARE SOME DIPS.

A NUMBER OF YEARS AGO WE DID SEE IT GO DOWN A BIT.

>> INTERESTING.

>> OVERNIGHT PAST 30 YEARS IT LOOKS LIKE IT IS A RISING TREND.

WHY THE STUDY WHAT DID YOU LOOK AT AND FIND?

>> OUR TEAM WAS TASKED LOOK AT POLICIES AND PROCEDURES HOW THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE HANDLES SUICIDE WE REVIEWED AND VISITED 10 HIGH RISK MILITARY INSTALLATIONS.

INTERVIEWED OVER 2500 PEOPLE TO UNDERSTAND WHEN THEY THOUGHT WAS GOING OF AND WE SPENT 4 MONTHS AS A TEAM UNDERSTANDING WHAT NEEDS TO CHANGE TO SEE THIS TREND GO DOWN.

>> YEA IT IS WHAT DOES NEED I SEE GUNS ARE IN HERE AS WELL.

DIFFERENT KIND OF THIS .

IS INTERESTING.

FOR FIREARMS MAY BE A DIFFERENT METHOD IN TERMS OF GUN CONTROL FOR SERVICE MEMBER THAN I COME FROM A DIFFERENT BACKGROUND.

WHY YEA THAT IS WORN THING WE LOOKED AT T. IS A HOT TOPIC.

WHEN PEOPLE HEAR ABOUT THIS THEY MIGHT THINK OUR RECOMMENDATION WAS TO LIMIT GUN OWNERSHIP.

THAT WAS NOT IT AT ALL WHAT WE SUGGESTED WAS SPEAK ABOUT THE TIMES WHICH SERVICE MEMBERS COULD PURCHASE FIREARMS AND HAVING A DELAY PERIOD WHEN YOU PURCHASE OR PICK UP OR NOT BUYING THEM AT THE SAME TIME.

ONE THING MOST IMPORTANT THE THING I NOTICED THE MOST IS DEATH AT LARGE IS CHALLENGE TO TALK B.

DOES NOT MATTER HOW SOMEONE DIE WHEN SOMEONE DIED BY SUICIDE PEOPLE HAD A HARD TIME KNOWING HOW TO TALK ABOUT TEMPERATURE WE SAW PEOPLE WOULD NOT TALK ABOUT IT.

THEY DID NOT KNOW WHAT TO SAY.

WHAT THAT SENDS A MESSAGE TO THE SURVIVORS THE LIFE OF EXPENDABLE WHEN IT WAS NOT.

A LOT OF WHAT WE TALKED ABOUT TEACHING PEOPLE HOW TO TALK ABOUT SUICIDE WHEN IT IS DIFFICULT.

AND BEING REALLY CAREFUL NOT TO INSERT YOUR OWN PERSONAL BELIEFS WHEN YOU GIVE THAT MESSAGE >> INTERESTING AND I GO BACK TO THE ORIGINAL POINT OF HOW MAY BE IN PAST GENERATIONS BEING IN THE MILITARY WAS A PROTECTOR.

DID PEOPLE ADDRESS SUICIDE BACK IN THE 40s SHALLING 50'S WHATEVER IT WAS, DIFFERENTLY?

>> I CAN'T SAY THEY D. ONE THING WE HAVE SEEN OVER TIME WE DO GET A BIT BETTER IN OUR METHODS.

SO, MENTAL HEALTH RELATED DIFFICULTIES WERE NOT DISCUSS IN THE 40'S AND 50s.

THAT WAS NOT WHAT WAS GOING OF THE CHANGING DEMOGRAPHIC AND OUR UNDERSTANDING HOW SUICIDE OCCURS HAS CHANGED >> YEA.

REPORT MENTIONED MAKING THE MILITARY BETTER SUITED FOR FAMILIES.

IF YOU LOOK AT WHAT THE MILITARY HAS BEEN THE PAST HUNDREDS OF YEARS IN OUR COULD YOU WANT ROW IT IS LEARNINGLY MADE UP OF FAMILY MEMBERS WHERE THE MALE OR DAD WILL BE SERVING AND HE WILL HAVE A FAMILY AT HOME.

A WIFE TAKING CARE OF CHILDREN.

NOW THERE ARE CAREER MILITARY FAMILIES.

WE SEEN THERE WERE OCCASIONS ONE SPOUSE WOULD BE DEPLOYED TO ONE AND ANOTHER TO THE OTHER AND THERE ARE CHILDREN TYPESET IT IS NOT EASY TO FIGURE OUT WHO STAYS HOME WHEN THE KID IS SICK >> YEA.

AS FAR AS HAZING INCIDENTS, AS FAR AS SEXUAL ASSAULTS, WE READ ABOUT THESE STORIES.

ARE THEY MORE COMMON OR BEING REPORTED MORE OFTEN?

>> THEY ARE REPORTED MORE OFTEN.

AND SOMETIMES THEY ARE MORE BLATANT.

A NUMBER OF SERVICE MEMBERS STORIES INDIVIDUAL WHO WENT IN THE MILITARY TO SECURE CITIZENSHIP TO THE COUNTRY WHEN HE HAND IN THE PAPERS TO HIS OFFICER TO GET PAPERWORK GOING HIS OFFICER TOOK A LIGHT AND THREATENED SET THEM ON FIRE.

THIS IS SOMEONE WHO IS COMING TO OUR COUNTRY TO LIVE AND BE A SERVICE MEMBER AND GIVE UP THEIR LIFE AND THAT'S HOW THEY ARE TREATED.

PEOPLE WOULD SAY IT IS JUST AS HURT AND WILL DAMAGING TO REPORT IT BECAUSE OF HOW THEY ARE TREATED AFTER.

AND SO, PEOPLE ARE REPORTING BUT IT SG COME WITH CONSEQUENCE >> YEA.

WOW.

>> THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE WANTED THE STUDY.

THEY GOT WHEN ARE THEY DOING WITH IT?

>> WE SPENT 6 MONTHS AFTER IS PART OF THE COMMITTEE AND WE CAME UP WITH A PLAN TO INSTITUTE ABOUT 87 OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS.

RECOMMENDATIONS NOT PUT FORWARD WERE THINGS IMPOSSIBLE OR ARE ALREADY IN THE PIPE LINE AND SO WE PUT TOGETHER A PLAN TO INSTITUTE THE 87 RECOMMENDATIONS AND THOSE WILL BE PUT IN PLACE THE NEXT 2-3 YEARS >> WE HAVE 30 SECONDS LEFT.

GIVE ME THE ELEVATOR SPEECH.

>> I THINK YOU NEED TON HOW TO TALK ABOUT SUICIDE WHEN YOU NEAR A POSITION OF CONTROL.

>> YEA >> AND SO TELL PEOPLE THEY MATTER.

WHEN YOU LOSE SOMEONE BY SUICIDE IT IS IMPORTANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE LOSS AND TAKE CARE OF THE PEOPLE AROUND THEM >> VERY GOOD.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE AND SHARING YOUR INFORMATION.

GOOD STUFF, THANK YOU.

>> OF COURSE, THANK YOU.

"UNDERSTANDING AUTISM" IS A NEW DOCUMENTARY THAT EXPLORES AUTISM RESEARCH AND BRINGS TO LIGHT THE PERSONAL STORIES OF THOSE "WITH" AUTISM.

-* I DON'T THINK I UNDERSTOOD WHAT HAVING AUTISM MEANT.

AFTER I WAS DIAGNOSED AND -- IT WAS HARD.

BECAUSE -- HI LIKE ADULTS THAT WOULD FOLLOW MOW IN CLASS AND HELP ME AND I KNEW I WAS DIFFERENT AND I NEEDED THEM BUT DID NOT KNOW WHY.

I JUST FELT ISOLATED BECAUSE NOBODY WAS LIKE ME.

AND IT WAS HARD FOR AWHILE.

>> BUT I UNDERSTOOD WHAT AUTISM MEANT IT WAS EASIER I COULD FIND MY COMMUNITY.

>> "UNDERSTANDING AUTISM" WAS MADE BY FILMMAKER SCOTT STEINDORFF, WHO EXPLORES HIS OWN PERSONAL JOURNEY WITH AUTISM IN THE FILM.

AND JOINS US NOW.

WELCOME TO ARIZONA HORIZON.

>> THANK YOU.

GOOD TO HAVE YOU HERE.

UNDERSTANDING AUTISM IS THE TITLE.

WHY THAT TITLE?

>> BECAUSE IT IS SO MISUNDERSTOOD.

AND SO I WANTED DO A FILM TO REALLY RESEARCH WHAT IS GOING ON WITH IT.

IT IS SO UNDER DIAGNOSED.

HOW IS IT MISUNDERSTOOD IN START WITH DIAGNOSE.

>> YEA, A LOT OF PEDIATRICIANS DON'T KNOW HOW TO DIAGNOSE AUTISM OR EVEN UPON ADHD OR SPECTRUM ISSUES WE NEED TO EDUCATE THE PROFESSIONALS.

IT WOULD SEEM AS THOUGH THAT WOULD HAVE GOTTEN BETTER.

PEOPLE ARE MORE AWARE OF EVERYTHING ON THE SPECTRUM.

YOU SAY NOT MUCH.

>> NO.

>> WE ARE AT THE GIVENING >> WOW.

THE FILM LOOKS AT THE LATEST RESEARCH YOU TALK LIKE HUNDRED EXPERTS WHEN DID YOU HEAR?

>> I LEARNED EVERY DAY I WAS LEARNING SOMETHING THE BIGGEST MISCONCEPTION ABOUT AUTISM IS WE DON'T FEEL.

IN REALITY WE FEEL TOO MUCH.

THE FEELINGS ARE SO INTENSE EMOTIONS ARE SO INTENSE.

YOU HAVE TO UNDERSTAND EMOTIONAL LIES.

AND YOU USED THE WORD, WE N. THIS FILM YOU WERE LOOKING FOR THINGS FOR YOURSELF.

>> CORRECT Y.

WHAT WERE YOU LOOKING FOR?

>> UNDERSTAND MY OWN AUTISM.

>> HOW MUCH DU BEEN YOUR OWN SITUATION BEFORE YOU STARTED THE FILM I FELT, I'M A READER THAT WAS MY SPECIAL SKILL.

SO I READ EVERYTHING AND TALKED TO EXPERTS.

AND I THINK JUST EVERY DAY I WAS LEARNING SOMETHING NEW.

FROM THE FAMILIES AND EXPERTS.

>> YOU INTERVIEWED A BUNCH OF PEOPLE ON THE SPREKTECTRUM AND PARENTS WAS IT DIFFICULT TO TALK ABOUT THESE TYPES OF THINGS.

YES.

BECAUSE MOST PEOPLE WITH AUTISM DON'T UNDERSTAND.

LIKE I SAID WE ARE AT THE BEGINNING.

AND I THINK YOU KNOW, I'M IN MY ALLERGY 60s AND WE DID NOT DIAGNOSE THAT GENERATION OR YOUNG ARE GENERATION.

WE ARE JUST STARTING TO UNDERSTANDS.

>> YES >> WHEN YOU TALKED TO THE FOLKS AND FAMILIES, DID THE RESPONSES SURPRISE YOU?

WHAT DO YOU MAKE OF WHAT YOU HEARD?

>> THE BIGGEST SURPRISE WAS I CALL IT AUTISTIC JOY.

AND AUTISTIC LOVE.

THESE FAMILIES COME TOGETHER AS A COMMUNITY WITH FRIENDS AND THE LOVE THAT I SAW SO BEAUTIFUL.

JOY WAS GOING TO SAY WAS IT GOOD FOR THEM TO TALK TO YOU?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

>> YOU GOT THAT IMPRESSION.

>> YES.

>> DID YOU SEE YOURSELF IN THE KIDS AND THE YOUNG ARE FOLKS?

>> OF COURSE.

I HAVE ADULT CHILDREN ON THE SPECTRUM IN THE FILM.

AND SO, IT IS VERY YOU KNOW THE ONE OF THE THINGS WE DID A LOT OF RESEARCH, IT HAS A BIG GENETIC COMPONENT.

AND I NOTICED THE IMPACT OF EMPATHY AND EMOTION PEOPLE DON'T THINK OF THAT BEING WITH AUTISM.

YOU KNOW IT IS THIS AND THIS IS FWU MAKES A DIFFERENCE.

>> IT DOES.

HOW?

MOST AUTISTIC PEOPLE HAVE SOCIAL DIFFICULTIES.

AND SO TO UNDERSTAND WHERE THEY ARE COMING FROM THEY ARE MISUNDERSTOOD.

THEY ARE MISUNDERSTOOD IN THE CLASSROOM OR WITH PEERS.

IN REALITY THEY ARE FEELING MORE INTENSE LOW >> YEA.

>> AND IN THE FILM YOU TALK ABOUT THE HISTORY OF AUTISM.

SOME OF THAT INCLUDES BAD STUFF.

SHOCK THERAPY COME THIS BUSINESS?

>> THEY STILL DO IT.

>> THEY DO?

>> IN CERTAIN PLACES, WHICH IS NOT OKAY.

>> NO.

DOESN'T SOUNDS OKAY.

YOU PUT TOGETHER THIS FILM.

YOU ARE A FILM MAKER.

>> YES Y.

HOW LONG DID IT TAKE TO PUT THIS TOGETHER?

>> I WAS GOING TO START FILMING BEFORE COVID AND THEN I HAD A FV SHOW CALLED STATION 11 ON HBO THIS GOT GREEN LIT DITHAT BEFORE THIS.

>> WOW.

>> AND SO YOU KNOW THERE IS A LOT OF PEOPLE IN THE CREATIVE FIELD IN SILICON VALLEY A LOT OF PROBABILITY REAL ESTATE DEVELOPERS IN ARIZONA OR INVENTORS HERE THAT PROBABLY HAVE AUTISM.

AND THEY DON'T REALIZE IT.

>> THEY UPON DON'T REALIZE IT.

THAT IS PART OF THEIR SUCCESS.

>> I REALLY BELIEVE SOMEBODY ASKED ME, DID AUTISM HINDER YOUR SUCCESS IN THE FILM BUSINESS?

IT ACTUALLY MADE ME SUCCESSFUL I LOOK AT THINGS DIFFERENTLY.

>> I THINK YOU LEARNED A LOT DOING THIS FILM.

>> YES.

>> WHEN DID YOU KNOW YOU HAD AUTISM?

>> I MEAN AT THE AGE OF 10 I WAS DIAGNOSED WITH SOMETHING.

THEY DID IN THE CALL IT AUTISM.

>> RIGHT.

>> I COULD NOT MAKE EYE CONTACT AND DREAMING AND SOCIAL DIFFICULTIES.

AND STARING IN SPACE.

>> THEY THOUGHT I WAS TAKING DRUGS AT THE AGE OF 10.

IT WAS MY FIRST DIAGNOSE.

IT WAS THE FIRST EXAMPLE OF UNDERSTANDING AUTISM.

CORRECT.

WHY THERE YOU GO AND THE FILM IS A SUCCESS WITH STONE PHILLIPS YOU ARE QUITE A SUCCESSFUL FILM MAKE AND LIVE IN MALIBU, CALIFORNIA, LOOK AT YOU THANK YOU FOR JOINING US AND CONTINUED SUCCESS >> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

NICE MEETING YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

THAT'S IT FOR NOW I'M TED SIMONS THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

YOU HAVE A GREAT EVENING.