My name is Gena Sims. When I was 18 years old, God gave me this vision. I was in my room, thinking about how isolated families in the autism community can feel. I thought of my sister’s fears that the kids on the playground wouldn’t understand her. I saw my family’s struggles to celebrate unexpected victories while managing unfulfilled expectations. And I smiled thinking about the refreshing honesty of my fellow 18-year-old at Friendship Circle, who bonded with me by creating hero stories, and helped me see life with new eyes.
“The Voice Inside” Actors Zachary Hoaglund, Gena Sims, and Kaylah Taylor at Savor Cinema Red Carpet Premiere
Then I thought of the secret stories my friends bravely revealed in psychology class at New World School of the Arts. And the fact that we all feel exceptionally different from time to time. In ways that make us proud and ways that make us want to hide. But our collective heartbeat proves that we are all the same. Why is that so easy to forget?
At that moment, as an almost-college-freshman in a dark bedroom, I realized that my purpose was to bring the stories of resilience from the autism community to the mainstream entertainment industry. And bring people together in the process. And I am deeply grateful for all of the people I’ve met along the way who helped me make that vision a reality.
In college, Autism Theater Project created our first production, “In the Life of a Child.” Thanks to the heart of Carnegie Mellon School of Drama students and my professor, whose experience with her brother on the spectrum inspired her to inspire me, we brought the story of my sister to the stage. When I saw the audience understand my sister’s “voice inside” (expressed by a voice-over), I woke up from my own sense of self-isolation. Feeling the audience’s empathy while I danced onstage awakened me to a truth that I knew in my soul but was ignorant to in my mind:
People are moved by your story that you fear no one may understand.
Autism Theater Project brought “In the Life of a Child” to Actors Playhouse and Miami Children’s Theater in 2018 and even performed a scene at a theater conference in Florence, Italy. There, I learned that ATP’s message of empathy and resilience transcends language barriers.
Fast forward to 2020, at 23 years old, in the middle of the pandemic, I was removed from the highs of applause I was accustomed to as a performer. While facing my insecurities, feeling lost without a stage, I discovered who I was meant to be while homeschooling my little sister. Inspiring my sister to find confidence in herself, in turn, inspired my own. Still, I allowed the pandemic to blind me from the opportunities still at my fingertips. A terrifying tragedy in May woke me up from my self-absorption.
A drama student I taught back in that eye-opening summer when I was 18, who helped me realize my love for helping others express themselves, was drowned by a caregiver who had lost hope. At 2 a.m., unable to sleep, I realized the boy from the news story was my student, seeing Alejandro’s picture on my phone. Shaken, I read a quote in an article from the murderer saying that her son was “in a better place now.” As much as I believe in heaven, I picked up on the hidden meaning of her statement. Severe mental health issues aside, is there really so little expressed hope in our society for certain children that their success in life as adults seems unattainable?
I was somewhat disturbed by how quickly the news story faded, making room for divisive political campaigns. But I shook off my angst and realized I had to do something. Something that showed families of children under all kinds of circumstances there is hope. But I wasn’t sure what. Nothing I could do could bring back a life, but I figured I’d need to do something worthwhile through Autism Theater Project.
ATP Event Producer Yasser Heyaime, Gena Sims, and new ATP Member Eli Jimenes at Indie Short Fest LA, where “The Voice Inside” won the Best TV Pilot Award
Months went by, and the fire to commit to doing something intensified. My drive was compounded by my experience teaching my sister, as she taught me patience, faith, and love. I had the transformative experience of watching her achieve things she feared she couldn’t, like reading a book out loud on her own on New Year’s Eve. She awakened me to the reality that no matter her circumstances, she’ll achieve anyway. And that led to ATP’s latest project: “The Voice Inside.”
“The Voice Inside” is an interactive TV show about resilient teens & young adults who come to realize this: “If you change your voice inside, you can change your life. And if you change your life, you could change the world.” When the characters awaken to this truth, their world shifts: opportunities arise, and the viewers explore the different paths they could take.
I told my dad about my desire to create the series, and he suggested that I find real stories. That catapulted a journey towards meeting adults on the spectrum who have absolutely changed my life. They include Matteo Esposito, Michael Lincoln-McCreight, Michelle Zeman, Patrick Davis, Kaylah Taylor, Zachary Hoaglund, Danny Keenan, Alex Astrella, and many more. I heard their stories about eye-opening transformations: going from non-verbal child to professional starring actor, struggling special education student to successful playwright, and foster care abuse victim to law-passing politician, to name a few. They expanded my view of what’s possible. I believe in myself more. I complain less. And my faith in my sister’s future has gone up dramatically.
Then, I magically attracted some incredibly hardworking people whose ongoing dedication to Autism Theater Project led to our first major event on August 25th, 2024. Seeing our carefully designed ATP logo on the big screen at Savor Cinema, I realized this was all coming to fruition. I saw the people who I normally meet via Zoom in person wholeheartedly giving everything to make the event happen. I saw a sea of people in the audience being as inspired by those I work with as I’ve been every day. And I don’t really know the right words to describe it.
If you take anything away from this article, take away this: you can achieve anything you set your mind to. No matter how many people doubt you, yourself included, you achieve anyway. You have, and you will. And everyone has a voice. Everyone has an inner genius and something to teach you. Take the time to listen, and you just might change your life.
ATP is currently finishing up more episodes of “The Voice Inside” for the consideration of major global streaming services, with the help of Hollywood production company TW3 Entertainment. We also plan to screen these episodes at our next event at the University of Miami in December. Please check our website for more information. Tickets should be available soon, if they aren’t by the time this article is published!
We are so excited to bring our events, including screenings, motivational speakers, and musical performances, to audiences nationwide over the next year. And we can’t wait for “The Voice Inside” TV series to be broadcast around the world.
In the words of “The Voice Inside” theme song, which I’m writing right now, let’s be the “generation that generates hope” and inspire the next generation to do the same.
Thank you for reading this. Please share this article with someone you believe in.
* Big thank you to ATP’s top supporters for making all we do possible: Miami-Dade Cultural Affairs, National Society of Arts and Letters, Alexander Montessori School, Carrollton School for Girls, and YoungArts. Our August 25th event was also made possible by the Florida Department of State, AngelSense, UM-NSU Center for Autism & Related Disabilities, and NBI Weston.
Our supporters help us create professional jobs for actors, writers, speakers, and musicians of all abilities. If you would like to support our mission, please contact us here. We would love to hear from you.
Gena Sims is the Founder and Executive Director of the Autism Theater Project. For more information, visit www.autismtheaterproject.org.
