Fred Friedman, Ph.D.
In commemoration of Autism Awareness Month, The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) and
the Office of Autism Research Coordination (OARC) hosted a presentation on April 27, 2022, by
Exceptional Minds (EM), a Los Angeles non-profit organization that prepares young adults and adults on
the autism spectrum for careers in the digital arts and entertainment industry. The event included an
overview of the training programs, a sample of the animation skills as presented by students, and an
interview and Q&A with the students and staff.
EM offers technical training in professional software used in the entertainment industry such as tools for
animation, visual effects, 3D gaming, movies and storytelling. The three-year full-time program offers
several tracks and is open to high school graduates. In addition to technical training, employment
prospects are enhanced by a focus on career development such as interview and communication skills,
mentorships and internships. Besides its full-time academy, EM also offers summer workshops for ages
14 and up, which provide introductions to basic tools of the entertainment industry.
More information on this program as well as an archived video is available at:
iacc.hhs.gov/meetings/autism-events/2022/april27/exceptional-minds.shtml
www.fredfriedman.org and www.linkedin.com/in/friedmanfred