Son-Rise: A Miracle of Love
Encyclopedia
Son-Rise: A Miracle of Love is a 1979
NBC
television docudrama
film adapted by the biographical book Son-Rise (currently Son-Rise: The Miracle Continues) by Barry Neil Kaufman, and is the real life story of how, according to his parents, Raun Kaufman
completely recovered from severe autism. The film was directed by Glenn Jordan and the teleplay was written by Stephen Kandel, Samahria Lyte Kaufman, and Barry Neil Kaufman.
The film tells of Bears and Suzie Kaufman and their newly born offspring, Raun. By the time he was eighteen months old, Raun was diagnosed with a perpetual disability known as classic autism
— which, at the time, was classified as a form of childhood schizophrenia — and had mental retardation
. Accordingly, "although advised to institutionalize Raun, his parents...instead created an innovative home-based, child-centered program in an effort to reach [him]." Subsequently, Raun became typical of neural development
and earned his master's degree from Brown University
.
The therapeutic, distraction-free play therapy progressed into a teaching model called The Son-Rise Program
. By 1983, it was founded as The Option Institute and the Autism Treatment Center of America in Berkshire County, Massachusetts
. Raun, his family and other staff members currently serve on the board of directors.
Raun Kaufman gives conferences across the United States about his alleged recovery and how to utilize the methodology with other afflicted families. Nonetheless, a 2003 study found that there was a strong correlation between patterns of intervention implementation and parental perceptions of intervention efficacy. A 2006 study found that the program is not always implemented as it is described in the literature, which means it will be difficult to evaluate its efficacy.
The Kaufmans decided to work with Raun, although he had not yet reached the age of two. The Kaufmans' found a room that was free of distractions—their downstairs restroom. When Raun flapped his hands and spun plates so did Suzi and Bears—joining Raun. It is alleged that after Suzi spun plates with Raun for 11 days, Raun looked directly at Suzi for the first time, since Raun became autistic. Other forms of contact Raun made included crying when he was thirsty for juice. Suzi Kaufman worked with Raun for a total of 70 to 80 hours a week and Bears Kaufman sold his advertising agency to have more time to work with Raun. The Kaufmans work was successful. At the end of the film, Raun was six years old and was known as "a happy, active, bright, and loving normal boy."
took place in California. Because of California child labor laws that prohibits children from working over three hours, twin brothers Michael and Casey Adams portrayed the role of Raun.
The film was directed by Glenn Jordan, produced by Richard M. Rosenbloom, executive produced by Bernard Rothman, Jack Wohl, and teleplay by Stephen Kandel, Samahria Lyte Kaufman, and Barry Neil Kaufman. Throughout the film, singer Debby Boone
sang the track "Is there Room in Your World for Me?"
award in the 90-minute category.
1979 in film
The year 1979 in film involved some significant events.- Major events :* March 5 - Production begins on Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back.* May 25 - Alien, a landmark of the science fiction genre, is released....
NBC
NBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
television docudrama
Docudrama
In film, television programming and staged theatre, docudrama is a documentary-style genre that features dramatized re-enactments of actual historical events. As a neologism, the term is often confused with docufiction....
film adapted by the biographical book Son-Rise (currently Son-Rise: The Miracle Continues) by Barry Neil Kaufman, and is the real life story of how, according to his parents, Raun Kaufman
Raun Kaufman
Raun Kahlil Kaufman is a teacher and writer who serves as CEO for the early Intervention therapy program Son-Rise. Son-Rise is located at the Autism Treatment Center of America, a division of the Option Institute in Sheffield, Massachusetts, which is an independent non-profit organization that...
completely recovered from severe autism. The film was directed by Glenn Jordan and the teleplay was written by Stephen Kandel, Samahria Lyte Kaufman, and Barry Neil Kaufman.
The film tells of Bears and Suzie Kaufman and their newly born offspring, Raun. By the time he was eighteen months old, Raun was diagnosed with a perpetual disability known as classic autism
Autism
Autism is a disorder of neural development characterized by impaired social interaction and communication, and by restricted and repetitive behavior. These signs all begin before a child is three years old. Autism affects information processing in the brain by altering how nerve cells and their...
— which, at the time, was classified as a form of childhood schizophrenia — and had mental retardation
Mental retardation
Mental retardation is a generalized disorder appearing before adulthood, characterized by significantly impaired cognitive functioning and deficits in two or more adaptive behaviors...
. Accordingly, "although advised to institutionalize Raun, his parents...instead created an innovative home-based, child-centered program in an effort to reach [him]." Subsequently, Raun became typical of neural development
Neurotypical
Neurotypical is a term that was coined in the autistic community as a label for people who are not on the autism spectrum: specifically, neurotypical people have neurological development and states that are consistent with what most people would perceive as normal, particularly with respect to...
and earned his master's degree from Brown University
Brown University
Brown University is a private, Ivy League university located in Providence, Rhode Island, United States. Founded in 1764 prior to American independence from the British Empire as the College in the English Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations early in the reign of King George III ,...
.
The therapeutic, distraction-free play therapy progressed into a teaching model called The Son-Rise Program
Son-Rise
Son-Rise is a home-based program for children with autism spectrum disorders and other developmental disabilities, which was developed by Barry Neil Kaufman and Samahria Lyte Kaufman for their autistic son. The program is a parent-directed, relationship-based play therapy...
. By 1983, it was founded as The Option Institute and the Autism Treatment Center of America in Berkshire County, Massachusetts
Berkshire County, Massachusetts
Berkshire County is a non-governmental county located on the western edge of the U.S. state of Massachusetts. As of the 2010 census, the population was 131,219. Its largest city and traditional county seat is Pittsfield...
. Raun, his family and other staff members currently serve on the board of directors.
Raun Kaufman gives conferences across the United States about his alleged recovery and how to utilize the methodology with other afflicted families. Nonetheless, a 2003 study found that there was a strong correlation between patterns of intervention implementation and parental perceptions of intervention efficacy. A 2006 study found that the program is not always implemented as it is described in the literature, which means it will be difficult to evaluate its efficacy.
Plot
Raun was born "like all miracles, perfect" to Bears and Suzi Kaufman. Eventually his parents noticed that Raun could see only certain things and could sometimes hear. He had also lost a couple of words that he had been taught. He had 12 out of 13 symptoms of autism. Medical professionals were pessimistic about Raun's condition.The Kaufmans decided to work with Raun, although he had not yet reached the age of two. The Kaufmans' found a room that was free of distractions—their downstairs restroom. When Raun flapped his hands and spun plates so did Suzi and Bears—joining Raun. It is alleged that after Suzi spun plates with Raun for 11 days, Raun looked directly at Suzi for the first time, since Raun became autistic. Other forms of contact Raun made included crying when he was thirsty for juice. Suzi Kaufman worked with Raun for a total of 70 to 80 hours a week and Bears Kaufman sold his advertising agency to have more time to work with Raun. The Kaufmans work was successful. At the end of the film, Raun was six years old and was known as "a happy, active, bright, and loving normal boy."
Production
Principal photographyPrincipal photography
thumb|300px|Film production on location in [[Newark, New Jersey]].Principal photography is the phase of film production in which the movie is filmed, with actors on set and cameras rolling, as distinct from pre-production and post-production....
took place in California. Because of California child labor laws that prohibits children from working over three hours, twin brothers Michael and Casey Adams portrayed the role of Raun.
The film was directed by Glenn Jordan, produced by Richard M. Rosenbloom, executive produced by Bernard Rothman, Jack Wohl, and teleplay by Stephen Kandel, Samahria Lyte Kaufman, and Barry Neil Kaufman. Throughout the film, singer Debby Boone
Debby Boone
Deborah Anne Boone is an American singer and stage actress. She is best known for her 1977 hit, "You Light Up My Life," which spent a then record ten weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and led to her winning the Grammy Award for Best New Artist the following year...
sang the track "Is there Room in Your World for Me?"
Cast
The cast that played the role of the Kaufman family are listed below.- James FarentinoJames FarentinoJames Farentino is an American actor. He has appeared in almost one hundred roles, among them in The Final Countdown, Jesus of Nazareth, and Dynasty.-Career:...
as Bears Kaufman. - Kathryn HarroldKathryn Harrold-Background:Harrold was born in Tazewell, Virginia. She attended Mills College in Oakland, California, majoring in Drama.-Television:She has appeared in a number of TV series, including The Rockford Files, MacGruder and Loud, The Bronx Zoo, I'll Fly Away, The Larry Sanders Show, and Mister...
as Suzi Kaufman. - Michael and Casey Adams as Raun Kaufman. Michael and Casey are twin siblings and are the great grandsons of the well known film director, King VidorKing VidorKing Wallis Vidor was an American film director, film producer, and screenwriter whose career spanned nearly seven decades...
. - Shelby Balik as Bryn Kaufman.
- Missy FrancisMissy FrancisMelissa Ann Francis is an American television journalist and news anchor for CNBC. Melissa is the co-anchor of CNBC's morning show, The Call and MSNBC’s It’s the Economy. She is a frequent contributor to NBC’s Today Show and Weekend Today Show...
as Thea Kaufman. - Kerry ShermanKerry ShermanKerry Sherman is an American actress most notably recognized for her role as Amy Perkins Wallace on NBC's soap opera Santa Barbara. She portrayed the role from 1984 to 1986....
as Nancy, the family's nanny.
Awards and nominations
In 1980, Samahria Lyte Kaufman, Barry Neil Kaufman, and Stephen Kandel earned an Humanitas PrizeHumanitas Prize
The Humanitas Prize is an award for film and television writing intended to promote human dignity, meaning, and freedom. It began in 1974 with Father Ellwood "Bud" Kieser — also the founder of Paulist Productions — but is generally not seen as specifically directed toward religious...
award in the 90-minute category.