2020 Q&A With Filmmaker Bjarney Ludviksdottir

November 19th, 2020

8:30 pm (Mountain Time)

Ascendigo Autism Services founder Sallie Bernard hosts a live Q&A with filmmaker Bjarney Ludviksdottir

Bjarney Ludviksdottir director and producer from Iceland premiered her first full-featured documentary in 2019 “Seeing the Unseen” (www.imdb.com/title/tt10325030) an Icelandic documentary that looks into the lives of 17 Icelandic women who all have one thing in common; a diagnosis on the autistic spectrum. RÚV showcased her documentary on April 14, 2020, and was one of the most viewed and replayed documentaries in April. Currently, Bjarney is preparing to premiere her next documentary “How the Titanic became my lifeboat” which is based on a true story about an Icelandic boy called Brynjar Karl and how his fascination with the Titanic became his lifeline to independence. Now Bjarney is getting ready for her third full feature documentary that she will present officially in September 2020.

Sallie Bernard

Sallie Bernard began Ascendigo, formerly Extreme Sports Camp, in 2004. Her goal was to provide the same outdoor adventure opportunities for children on the autism spectrum that typically developing children enjoy.

Sallie was a Board member of Autism Speaks from 2007 to 2017 and served on its Family Services Committee, Science Committee of the Board, and the Community Advisory Board for science. She was formerly the Board President of Cure Autism Now and a co-founder of the CAN New Jersey Chapter. She helped start SafeMinds, which focuses on treatments, policy changes and the environmental causes of autism and is currently its board president. She led the team which created the Yellow House, a private residence for adults on the autism spectrum where Sallie’s adult son with autism lives. Sallie has an interest in mental health issues and serves on the boards of the Aspen Hope Center and the James Kirk Bernard Foundation.