Meet Stephen, aka Mr. Hollywood

Stephen was diagnosed with autism at age two and did not begin speaking until around age five, after years of intensive therapy. Communication came slowly at first, but even before he had all the words, Stephen was taking in the world around him.

Movies fascinated him from an early age. He would watch the closing credits, follow the names across the screen with his hand, and remember details most people never noticed. As he grew, he could recall directors, actors, release years, songs, scenes, and even product placements.

Once Stephen found his voice, he wanted to use it.

One family story still makes us laugh. Not long after he had really started speaking, Stephen found a microphone at school and began singing P!nk’s “Get the Party Started.” The school called because taking over the microphone was considered a problem.

Our reaction was a little different.

Here was a child we had spent years waiting to hear speak, and now he had found a microphone and wanted everyone to hear him.

We thought, let him sing.

For much of his school life, Stephen was educated in a contained autism classroom. Whenever there was an opportunity for him to participate, perform, learn something new, or simply be included, we wanted him to have that chance.

During high school, Stephen spent four years in TV production, working with cameras, production, and morning announcements. His love of movies and everything Hollywood was becoming a bigger part of his personality.

Around that same time, one of his Special Olympics coaches started calling him Mr. Hollywood.

The name fit, people kept using it, and before long, Mr. Hollywood became part of Stephen’s story.

Stephen went on to graduate from high school with a regular diploma, walking across the stage with his classmates.

There have been many moments in Stephen’s life that we once wondered if we would ever see.

Then Stephen surprised us.

That is why one phrase has followed our family through his journey.