Utah Film Center together with support from the Utah Autism Foundation, the Disability Law Center, O.C. Tanner, the George S. and Dolores Doré Eccles Foundation, and countless community partners have joined forces to produce three days of events aimed at increasing community awareness about disability and the critical role that media can play in promoting understanding and acceptance.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

October 19, 2011

TEMPLE GRANDIN IN UTAH TO HONOR THE LEGACY OF THE REAL RAIN MAN

GRANDIN NAMED FIRST RECIPIENT OF PEEK DISABILITY IN MEDIA AWARD

Salt Lake City Utah – With more than 400,000 Utahns living with disabilities and the third highest rate of Autism in the nation, Temple Grandin’s visit to the state in celebration of the life and impact of the real Rain Man, Salt Lake City native Kim Peek, promises to be a deeply impactful and personal experience. 

Jessica Kerr, a Utah mother of an 11 year-old with Autism says that “Temple’s story has helped us so much in dealing with the times that people tell us all of the things that our son will never be able to do.  Her story has helped our other children to see that people with disabilities can do amazing things in life and have the ability to change the world.”

The Utah Film Center together with support from the Utah Autism Foundation, the Disability Law Center, O.C. Tanner, the George S. and Dolores Doré Eccles Foundation, and countless community partners have joined forces to produce three  days of events aimed at increasing community awareness about disability and the critical role that media can play in promoting understanding and acceptance.  

The events kick-off with a free showing of the Golden Globe and Emmy Award-Winning HBO Film Temple Grandin at the Salt Lake City Public Library on November 1st.  Dr. Grandin will be on hand for a Q&A immediately following the film.   She will spend Wednesday the 2nd at Utah State University meeting with students, faculty and community members and agriculture professionals.  On the 3rd, Dr. Grandin will visit with parents and faculty at schools serving children with Autism and participate in a book signing at Art Access Gallery.  

Events will culminate Thursday evening at the Rose Wagner Performing Arts Center with Barry Morrow, the Academy Award®-winning screenwriter of Rain Man, presenting the Peek Award to Dr. Grandin and permanently loaning his Oscar® statuette for the people of Salt Lake City to enjoy through the Utah film Center, in celebration of the legacy of Kim Peek, who served as the inspiration for the film Rain Man. Dr. Grandin will give an exciting keynote address about her ability to “think in pictures” and making the case that people on the Autism spectrum have an important role to play in society.

The purpose of the Peek Award is to annually honor an actor, filmmaker or subject of a film who best embodies the energy and passion of Rain Man and Kim Peek and is helping to promote positive images about people with disabilities in our society.  Joining Dr. Grandin in this exciting celebration will be Salt Lake City Mayor Ralph Becker and father of the real Rain Man, Francis Peek.  The evening will be emceed by journalist Carole Mikita. For a complete schedule of events and additional information about the participants and the award, please contact Levi Elder or Eric Mitchell.

For more information, please contact:

Levi Elder, Utah Film Center at 801-746-7000

Eric Mitchell, Fifth Ocean Consulting at 801-366-4548

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