"I’m in first place!" exclaimed Braeden, directing his vehicle around a bend in the digital road.

As Braeden carefully maneuvers down a challenging track, he pushes through obstacles to stay on a steady course. How closely this simple game mirrors the young life of this Daniel Island boy, who was diagnosed with autism just over four years ago. It has not been an easy road, but where there have been challenges, there have also been triumphs. Most notably, his recent debut performance in the movie Dear John as a boy with autism. The film, based on the novel by Nicholas Sparks, was shot in the Charleston area last fall and is set to be released in late 2009 or early 2010.

"He did really well," said Braeden’s mother, Adrienne, from their Center Park home. "I know that he just completely blew everybody’s expectations away! He was like a little star. It was amazing. It was beautiful to see all of these people clapping for him and all of these people in awe…These grown men had tears in their eyes, because they were just amazed that a child with autism at this age could do what he was doing."

About 12 children with autism auditioned for the role of “Alan” in the movie as well as 50 to 60 “typically developing” kids. In the end, after three call backs, Braeden’s charms and abilities won them over. Braeden is shown here at age 6 on Christmas Eve.

"To work with Braeden in Dear John was completely wonderful," said Lasse Hallstrom, the film’s Oscar-nominated director, whose credits also include The Cider House Rules and Chocolat. "He brought charm and intelligence and spontaneity to the part he played. He was fearless and he lacked that inhibition that many other kids have in front of the camera."

"I thought it was nice!" exclaimed Braeden, about his Hollywood experience.

A year ago, Braeden, now a first grader at Daniel Island School, was an unknown in the acting world. But all that changed when Phil Blevins, executive director of Carolina Autism, got a call from the Dear John producers last summer. They were seeking his input for the film to better understand the behavior of a child with autism. When Hallstrom proposed that an autistic child audition for a role in the film, Blevins enthusiastically introduced the filmmakers to a number of boys, including Braeden, who started receiving services at Carolina Autism at age two. About 12 children with autism auditioned for the role of "Alan" in the movie, said Adrienne, as well as 50 to 60 "typically developing" kids. In the end, after three call backs, Braeden’s charms and abilities won them over.

Braeden poses with his mother, Adrienne, on the front steps of their home. Adrienne has become an advocate for children with autism, traveling to Columbia to push for continued state funding for the disorder.

"I kept thinking ‘is this for real? Does he have it?’" recalled Adrienne. "I think I just needed a lot of reassurance. I remember saying on the second day of filming, ‘so if this doesn’t work out, you’re going to use the other kid?’"

To prepare for the role, Braeden took horseback riding lessons in addition to spending time working on his lines.

"He kept ad-libbing and they loved it," said Blevins, who often played checkers with Braeden on set. "They really let him improvise."

"It was great," added Adrienne. "It went wonderfully. Originally, he was supposed to say two lines, but they actually created more scenes and a lot more lines for him…It was neat to see how Braeden could completely change somebody’s opinion (about autism). And I think that’s what this movie can do for everybody."

Today’s accolades for Braeden are certainly welcome, but life wasn’t always quite so joyous for the Reed family. There were many days filled with uncertainty in Braeden’s early years, as Adrienne and her husband, Kevin, grappled with unanswered questions about some of their son’s troubling symptoms. A young nephew pointed out to Adrienne that Braeden didn’t smile back at three months of age. He also didn’t make the traditional infant cooing sounds.

"We just thought Braeden was a very serious baby," said Adrienne.

Janice Davis, an ABA therapist with Carolina Autism, plays ping-pong with Braeden as part of his therapy. His parents bought him the table (the number one item on his “wish list”) with some of the proceeds from Braeden’s movie role.

When Braeden was nine months old, they noticed that loud or high-pitched noises would make him very upset and tearful. He also began to demonstrate repetitive behaviors, like rocking back and forth while playing with musical toys. By 18 months, he still wasn’t walking or talking on his own. Braeden also gravitated to anything round, such as the top to a playdough container and the lid to a coffee can.

"He would take that and spin it around," said Adrienne.

When she expressed concern to Braeden’s physicians, they chalked it all up to the fact that boys sometimes develop later than girls. One doctor suggested she get his hearing checked.

"I was at the audiologist’s office for the appointment and she said, ‘this beautiful child can hear just fine, but he has autism’," recalled Adrienne. "Just like that. Blunt. I kind of froze, got him in the car, buckled him up, and started driving him home. And I had to pull over. It really hit me, and I just couldn’t see from crying."

But things soon started to clear up for Adrienne and Kevin as the pieces of their son’s disorder started to come together. With an official diagnosis for Braeden, they were able to apply for funding grants to help offset some of the expenses for his Applied Behavioral Analysis (ABA), a therapy method that uses positive reinforcement to teach social, motor and verbal skills.

"The world is so confusing to a child with autism," said Adrienne. "Their sensory integration is totally overloaded and…I can just imagine it would be like putting a blindfold on me and putting me in Wal-Mart and not telling me where I was. The sounds and the smells…(autistic children) just get lost in themselves. But they can get better. And Braeden is proof they can get better. They just need a chance."

Adrienne has joined the fight to bring awareness to autism, by participating in local causes and traveling to Columbia to lobby for continued funding for the disorder. After June 30, 2009, the state will no longer offer financial assistance to families for ABA therapy, she said. The Reed’s will be among those affected.

“Thank you for bringing your gifts to this film,” wrote Dear John actor Henry Thomas (E.T. and Legends of the Fall) to Braeden in a special journal documenting Braeden’s movie experience.

"I think about all the kids whose families might never know who their children are because those children will never have the therapy to be able to learn to communicate," added Adrienne. "They’ll be trapped inside themselves. No child should ever have to go through that…We shouldn’t have to struggle and decide whether we’re going to feed our kids…and that’s what it comes down to."

Adrienne is hopeful that President Barack Obama, who has put autism on his administration’s agenda, will restore critical funding to ensure that research, treatment and screenings continue.

"That’s what’s gotten me involved so far," she said. "I know how hard it was for me to get funding, and I know how hard it’s going to be for other families. And if we can’t do something about it, we’re going to have a huge crisis."

Adrienne is also confident that Braeden’s role in Dear John will bring much needed attention to autism.

"My hopes after all of this would be that he could be the spokeskid for ABA therapy or early intervention," she said. "He is walking proof that kids can get better, that autism doesn’t have to be the worst negative thing you can think of for your child…All the things that we’ve done have just brought Braeden to this wonderful place where his autism is not necessarily a disability anymore. It’s almost like an extra ability."

For Braeden, life continues to move forward on its happy course. He’s got an exciting movie premier to look forward to, the love and support of his family and friends, and, of course, plenty of time to enjoy Wii games with his brother.

"Look at me," he said, as his car pushed towards the finish line. "I’m winning!"

Yes, Braeden Reed, you are.

•  Autism is defined as a complex developmental dis ability that typically appears during the first three years of life. It affects a person’s ability to communicate and interact with others.

•  There is currently no known single cause of autism. 

•  According to a study by the Centers for Disease Control, children are being diagnosed with autism at the rate of 1 in 150.