September 7, Day 250. The real road to happiness is in here

The creative team (from left) Tim Sharp and Dead Puppet Society's David Morton and Nicholas Paine.

Research this week is music to the ears to everyone who is closely associated with a person on the autism spectrum. Almost one third of people with autism have special talents of savant abilities. This is three times as many as previously thought. And better still, while popular perceptions thinks these people are probably computer geeks, the special talents are, pun intended, across the spectrum. The report found that early identification and fostering the abilities is key to long term success. If anyone is a poster boy for these findings it would be Tim Sharp. Tim is the creator of the cartoon super hero Laser Beak Man. His artwork is highly sort after and Laser Beak Man has been turned into a ABC TV animated series. And next week Laser Beak Man the visual theatre production will have its world premiere at La Boite Theatre as part of the Brisbane Festival. Tim has worked with Dead Puppet Society's David Morton and Nicholas Paine to bring Laser Beak Man to like on stage. At a La Boite Chatterbox event tonight Tim, David and Nicholas excitedly talked about the work. Tim talked about how his favourite puppet was Laser Beak Man's arch nemesis Peter Bartman and how he loved the music by Sam Cromack of Ball Park Music. He sang a couple of verses from The Real Road to Happiness is in Here. This shows just how far down the road Tim and his mum Judy have come. Judy has been quoted as saying that when Tim was diagnosed at age three the doctor told her "that the best thing to do was put him away and forget about him" .  Judy did what researchers are advising. She fostered his ability to draw as a way to communicate. Now look where that road has taken them. The sneak peek behind the scenes makes me so excited to see how this collaboration will come together.