Navigating Autism

06/05/2026

Please help us recover our autistic artist accounts! Please reshare this video, tag , and use hashtags like and to get their attention! These acconts represent YEARS of hardwork and connections that we cannot lose.

06/04/2026

Our Instagram is down. In fact, all of our autism services sites are down. It seems to think we don’t look autistic or something. Also down for our autistic led short film Once More, Like Rain Man, and Bella’s first short film, Glory & Injustice.

The movie is taking a huge hit. From over 1 MILLION views on the trailer to nothing.

Apparently fb is fine although the same company.

It also took out our daughter’s pages on fb and Instagram (Kennedy Areffi - who is also autistic), and she’s completely distraught. That’s her main contact with the world.

(Our other daughter - Bella Zoe Martinez - had her actor page go down, my personal instagram and my husband’s - although those came back up again without warning or reason).

Even when we got a person on the phone (shocker!) they acknowledged the AI that seems to have screwed up the accounts of millions BUT there is no structured way to have a person review or override this. Their suggestion was wait and it might fix itself. Huh???

06/01/2026

🚨 WE NEED YOUR HELP 🚨
Instagram has permanently disabled several of our accounts, including:

🎬 (Once More, Like Rain Man)
🎬
🧩
🎨

These accounts represent award-winning films, autism advocacy, and the work of autistic creators.

One account was restored after review, which gives us reason to believe mistakes may have been made. We're simply asking for a fair human review of the remaining accounts.

If our family's work has ever meant something to you, please:
❤️ Like this post
🔄 Share/Repost
📢 Tag and
✍️ Comment: "Please provide a human review."

Autistic creators deserve access to their audiences.

04/20/2026

With The Tal Anderson – I just got recognized as one of their top fans! 🎉

04/08/2026

Please be sure to watch and like! The Rally is a short film in competition for the EasterSeals Disability Challege, so every view counts! The Tal Anderson

https://youtu.be/jVUqWVlkD7g?si=ytAcxQk-dKvXbJjK

Easterseals Bella ZoeOMLRmovie

On a very special occasion, a young woman waits for a certain guest to arrive, but will they show?

03/16/2026

Autism families, allies, and advocates — we need your help for 10 seconds.

🗳️ Please VOTE for Once More, Like Rain Man
👉 https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfMbJ75g_W6xaZ8YhmDpv6zCq_2iTf7jwriqGrjJ6b87rMjIA/viewform

⚠️ Important:
• Skip the Feature Film section
• Scroll down to Short Film
• Vote for Once More, Like Rain Man

People say all the time:
“Hollywood needs more stories by autistic creators with authentic autistic characters.”

We agree.

But those stories only keep getting made if people actually show up and support them.

🎬 Once More, Like Rain Man — the first autistic-led short film to become Oscar®-qualified — is up for the People’s Choice Award, and this vote helps show that audiences want authentic autistic stories.

🙏 Please VOTE and SHARE.

And tag someone who cares about autism representation so they can vote too

The film with the highest total combined score for its category will receive an HRIFF People’s Choice Award for the categories below.

02/05/2026

MARCUS SCIARRA is missing. Marcus is autistic, so we’re especially concerned and asking everyone to please keep an eye out and share this widely.
Last seen: Extended Stay Hotel, 401 E. Santa Clara St, Arcadia
Time: 10 PM on Wednesday, Feb 4, 2026
Description: 6’2” Latino male. Last seen wearing red “Champion” pants, a gray “Just Do It” t-shirt, and blue Nike shoes.
If you see Marcus, please contact: 317-532-7887.

09/15/2025

🌟 Proud parent moment! 🌟
Our daughter Bella Zoe Areffi was just featured on NBC’s California Live, where she shares her journey as an actress, singer-songwriter, and advocate for autism and neurodivergent artists in Hollywood. 🎬💜
She’s using her voice and her art to open doors for others—and we couldn’t be more inspired.
📺 Watch the full segment here:
http://bit.ly/4n59isM

06/05/2025

🌟 Come meet Bella Zoe, the autistic star and writer of Once More, Like Rain Man, live and in person! 🌟
Catch her at IndieX Film Festival, Block 4, this Saturday at 4 PM at Regal LA Live in Downtown Los Angeles.

🎬 After the screening, Bella will be taking photos, signing autographs, and hanging out with the audience! Plus — we’ll have free posters and exclusive merch available.

🎟 Tickets: https://filmfreeway.com/IndieX/tickets
📍 Directions: https://maps.apple.com/place?address=1000+W+Olympic+Blvd%2C+Los+Angeles%2C+CA++90015
👥 Big shoutout to our community friends:
Autism Los Angeles
Autism Society of America
EPIC Players

09/30/2024

Melissa Martinez-Areffi and Kennedy Areffi are off to the Heldsberg International film festival to attend the award ceremony.