Elaine Hall was a top Hollywood children’s acting coach whose life changed dramatically after her toddler son Neal, adopted from a Russian orphanage, was diagnosed with autism. When traditional therapies did not work for him, she decided to try something radical: she chose to join his world instead of trying to get him to join hers.  If he spun around in circles; she would spin with him, playing “Ring around the Rosie.” When he would flap his hands, as some children with autism do, she would flap with him and they would become birds flying and flapping around the room.

Elaine sought out leading professionals in the field, such as Dr. Barry Prizant, Dr. Ricki Robinson and the late Dr. Stanley Greenspan who encouraged her to keep working with Neal in the way she had intuitively been doing. She then developed a methodology to teach other creative people, (actors, dancers, musicians, creative special educators)  how to understand autism so that they too could join Neal’s world. Through these methods, Neal slowly emerged out of his isolation.

Elaine then developed these methods into The Seven Keys to Unlock Autism and trained staff and volunteers how to work with other children with disabilities.  Armed with a grant from The Jewish Community Foundation, in 2004, she combined her past theatrical coaching experience with her Seven Keys to Unlock Autism trainings and created The Miracle Project.

Immediately, the results from The Miracle Project were dramatic and empowering. Children with autism (speaking and non-speaking)  and other disabilities participated in classes and performed live original musicals alongside their typically developing siblings and peers to a cheering and teary audience. Most importantly families who were once isolated and alone became part of a dynamic, creative community.  Deep friendships were made between those impacted with autism and those not.

In 2006 , Bunim/Murray Productions profiled The Miracle Project in AUTISM: The Musical which premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival in 2007, aired on HBO in 2008 and won two Emmy Awards. In 2009, Autism: The Musical screened at the United Nations. The success of both The Miracle Project and the film has inspired communities throughout the world and has helped thousands of individuals with autism be seen for their ABILITY.

The Miracle Project staff offers trainings, professional development workshops and summer camps nationally and internationally most recently in New Jersey, New England, San Francisco, Hong Kong, China and at universities including Brown University and Cal Arts.