Hear Me Roar

HEAR ME ROAR is based on the true story. A mother fights for her children’s right to a suitable education after 26 schools rejected the kids because of their autism.

ANNA KENNEDY, well known in the autism world, almost single-handedly founded HILLINGDON MANOR SCHOOL, one of the first institutions dedicated to the education of children and young adults on the autistic spectrum. She also immeasurably raised worldwide awareness
of autism. For her efforts, Anna received the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in 2012. Her bestseller, Not Stupid, chronicles her struggles against bureaucracy, ignorance and negativity.

WEST LONDON 1997
ANNA and SEAN KENNEDY are the loving parents of two boys, PATRICK and ANGELO.
When Patrick’s school kicks him out because of poor autistic-related social skills, Anna sets out
on a mission to get both her boys an education.
Driven by desperation when no school will accept her kids, Anna finds a derelict school
building. She determines that she will open her own facility for autistic children in the property.
MRS. TURNER, Chairwoman of the local Town Council (which owns the property),
seems supportive. Actually, she is manipulating Anna as a stalking horse for a local developer,
PETER KARRAS.
Anna's quest almost destroys her marriage. Her stalwart mentor dies. Even the support
group Anna herself founded abandons her for being unrealistic.
At the final hearing for ownership of the school, Anna's research, her hard work, her logical appeals, fall on deaf ears.
Sean rushes in at the last minute with a copy of the school-owner’s previous Will, dictating
that the building “be used in perpetuity as an educational institution.”
Unfortunately, Mrs. Turner has a copy of the amended Will, with a Codicil stating that
this condition is nullified if there is a “material adverse change” to the property. Which the
building’s deterioration obviously is.
With all seemingly lost, Anna abandons logic. She pours out her heart on behalf of not
only her two autistic sons but on behalf of all parents of children on the autistic spectrum.
When the council votes, her heart-wrenching speech persuades the Council to grant her
the property.
Marshalling the support of volunteers, public and private institutions, Anna established
Hillingdon Manor School into becoming one of the largest institutions of its kind in Europe.