When this story was first published in 2016, about 1 in 68 children in the US were diagnosed as autistic (current estimates are higher, largely because of better recognition). For many parents, a diagnosis brings big questions about the future, and one of the biggest is work. The story of two autistic animators who found work on Hollywood films shows what is possible.
Finding meaningful, secure work is still one of the biggest barriers to inclusion and independence for autistic adults. Too many workplaces aren’t set up for autistic ways of thinking, communicating and processing the world.
That’s why stories like that of Patrick Brady, then aged 26, give so much hope and motivation to parents and young autistic people.
Patrick Brady: An Autistic Animator in Hollywood
Brady is a skilled visual effects and animation artist with an IMDb page that lists high-grossing Hollywood releases.
His work has given him credits on films like ‘American Hustle’, ‘Captain America: Civil War’ and ‘X-Men: Apocalypse’, with more on the way at the time.
Brady works for Exceptional Minds (EM), a non-profit digital arts school and studio in Sherman Oaks, California.
The school is dedicated entirely to young autistic people, which made it one of a kind when it opened.
Many people with autism find traditional, one-size-fits-all school settings a poor fit for how they learn. Given the right environment, their talents can shine in creative and technical fields.
How Exceptional Minds Trains Autistic Animators
Exceptional Minds aims to help creative people with autism reach their potential, and their talents are often put to use in the ever-growing Hollywood industry.
Tasks handled by the autistic animators and artists at Exceptional Minds include rotoscoping, 2D animation, camera stabilization and green screen work. Susan Zwerman, executive director of EM, believes the school particularly helps people who would find it hard to secure a regular job.
According to Susan Zwerman, who has worked as a visual effects producer, “This type of work is really good for someone with autism.”
The school offers a three-year course. Graduates can then work as junior artists, and later senior artists, in the Exceptional Minds Studio.
In recent years, many technology companies have also started hiring people with autism, valuing their attention to detail and their ability to focus deeply on repetitive, precise work.
The same strengths matter in animation and visual effects, where details need attention frame by frame.
These artists show a fantastic level of focus, especially in processes like rotoscoping. “They are really into the pixels, . . . They zoom in and they really want to fix it to the Nth degree”, says Zwerman.
Exceptional Minds was founded in 2009 by Mollie Burns Keith and Yudi Bennett. Its very first graduating class in 2011 had just 9 students. By 2015, it had expanded into an in-house studio hired by big Hollywood names.
Unfortunately, the organization has limited funding, so it sometimes has to turn applicants away.
What Is Exceptional Minds?
Exceptional Minds is a non-profit digital arts school and working studio in Sherman Oaks, California, set up for young autistic adults. Students learn animation and visual effects skills over a three-year course, then can work as paid artists in its studio on film and TV projects. It was founded in 2009 by Mollie Burns Keith and Yudi Bennett.
Nico Arredondo’s Story
Another artist, Nico Arredondo, has a similar story to Patrick Brady’s. Arredondo, from Argentina, had searched for an animation school in a number of countries before choosing Exceptional Minds. He went on to add the Marvel film Doctor Strange to his résumé.
Every student gets the chance to work in the Exceptional Minds Studio. Susan Zwerman brings in the work herself, acting as the go-between for the studio artists and the production houses and visual effects studios looking for artists. She matches artists to what each producer needs.
Beyond employment, EM artists form a close-knit group, and many are friends outside work hours.
With this experience, people like Nico and Patrick can look for work elsewhere, broaden their options and build the kind of working life that too many autistic adults are still shut out of.
What Parents Can Take From This
- Notice your child’s deep interests. A love of drawing, cartoons, computers or detail can be the starting point for skills that lead to work.
- Give them tools early. Free drawing and animation apps let children experiment at their own pace.
- Look for the right environment. Autism employment programs, courses and employers that understand autism make a huge difference. In Australia, ask your school, NDIS planner or local autism organizations about work experience and transition-to-work options.
- Connect with autistic adults. Seeing someone like them doing work they love can be powerful for young people.
We need more places like Exceptional Minds, and more workplaces that adapt to autistic people rather than expecting them to fit in. It’s important to let people with autism know that they, too, can choose to dream.
I am Ash and I celebrate Neurodiversity! Growing up with an elder brother with severe Autism was tough – but it has also taught me essential life lessons. I don’t believe that people with Autism are necessarily or have any disorder (except in extreme cases). They are just different! And that is something to be proud of! I am passionate about helping other families who may have Autism conditions in their family. So please reach out and drop me a note. I will be glad to help 🙂
