Estimates suggest there may be as many as 3 million Autism-afflicted children living in Indonesia – many of whom remain undiagnosed. This number corresponds roughly to the USA, where 1 in 36 children are believed to exist on the Autistic scale. In 2019, the Indonesian Ministry of Education (Kemendikbud) officially recorded 144,102 school students in special education settings related to Autism.
Autism, also known as “autism spectrum disorder” (ASD), is characterized by challenges with social skills, repetitive behaviors, speech, and nonverbal communication.
Autism patients are very diverse. Each person with Autism has a distinct set of personal strengths and challenges. How people with Autism learn, think, and solve problems can range from highly skilled to severely challenged. Some people with ASD may require significant support in their daily lives, while others may need less support and, in some cases, may live entirely independently. On one end of ASD, there is the “savant syndrome” – an infrequent subset condition where some autistic individuals possess exceptional abilities and talent.
Research and growing professional experience show that Autism symptoms can manifest as early as age 2 or 3, with some diagnosed as early as 18 months. Continuing research has also proven that early intervention and treatment lead to positive outcomes as sufferers age. Through treatment, some high-functioning Autistic individuals live everyday lives surrounded by neighbors and colleagues who may be unaware of the condition that they have managed to control and overcome.
Dr. Deibby Mamahit
Dr. Deibby Mamahit is an Indonesian graduate doctor who works as a functional practitioner with a special focus on ADS children and how parents interact with their kids, through food and nutrition, through reestablishing gut health, and through growing back the neurons and the connection in the brain. She works from Brainworks, a clinical practice she established in 2018. Brainworks provides an integrative approach for Autism Spectrum Disorder, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), and Learning Disorders.
Dr Deibby is a mother of 4 children. 2 of whom were diagnosed with Autism. When she learned about her children’s diagnosis, she left her job at the National University Hospital in Singapore. She then rededicated her life to learning and developing new standards of best practices for helping autistic children.
As part of this effort, Dr. Deibby Mamahit formed a professional filmmaking team to tell Joshua’s Story and her work to create a new approach to working with autistic children. The resulting film – “Joshua Tree,” is a powerful and inspiring documentary that tells the story of six months in the life of a 14-year-old boy with severe Autism who defies expectations and makes incredible progress.
The film explores how parents and caregivers of children with severe Autism often feel a sense of hopelessness as their loved ones reach adolescence or adulthood. This film, directed by George Arif, shows how the right environment, nutrition, exercises, and mindset can bring about incredible changes in the lives of individuals with Autism.
Through her expanding understanding of Autism, Dr. Deibby found innovative ways to help her children. Her first child, Immanuel, now shows no autism symptoms. He is independent and attends a boarding school in the UK. Her second child. Joshua – now a teenager featured in the film, is developing coping skills so he, too, can discover his full potential.
Joshua Tree is among the official selections for the London Film Festival 2023 and has also been nominated for Best Documentary Film at the Berlin HausFilm Festival 2023.
One-Day Showing of The Joshua Tree in Bai – 12 November 2023
A special showing of the 23-minute-long “Joshua Tree” Documentary will be held at The Padma Resort Legian on Sunday, 12 November 2023, beginning at 4:30 p.m. Following the film, a brief talk-show format session will feature Dr. Deiby Mamahit, MD, and Jon Unal.
Unal is a well-known Bali-based mindset coach, corporate trainer, and psychotherapist.
The film is in English with Bahada Indonesia subtitles.
Jon Unal founded Conscious Beginnings – a group that shares knowledge and insights on well-being, emotional intelligence, performance, and engagement through evidence-based mindfulness training.
Cost of Participation
This special event is a “must-see” for
- Families and individuals living with someone who has Autism (ASD) or Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder (ASHD).
- Mental Health Caregivers
- Educators and mental health professionals,
- The general public with an interest in the subject of Autism
- Those seeking to network and connect with others with a shared interest in ASD or ADHD.
Confirmation of attendance ensures a seat at this event and is priced at Rp. 25,000 net and can be obtained via the online link.
For anyone wishing to attend but, for whatever reason, finds the Rp. 25,000 seat confirmation fee a burden can Email to arrange attendance without cost.
A cash bar cum commissary will be available in the foyer area.
Joshua Tree – A Documentary on Autism
Followed by a Dialogue with Dr, Deibby Mamahit of Brainturst and Jon Unal of Conscious Beginnings
Sunday, 12 November 2023 – Starting at 4:30 p.m.
Delonic Room – Padma Resort Legian
