A DOUBLE SHOT OF HAPPINESS

The inspirational story of how a boy diagnosed with severe autism went on to become one of Australia's best-known international artists and the creator of Laser Beak Man.

When Judy Sharp took her three-year-old son Tim to a paediatric specialist she was told that his autism was so severe he would never be able to communicate with her, talk or learn to live in a normal household. The advice at the time was that he would be better off in an institution. More than twenty years later, Tim is a world-famous artist, whose joyful paintings and drawings involving the super hero he created, Laser Beak Man, have been exhibited around the world. Laser Beak Man's appeal is so widespread it's gone on to inspire, among other things, an eight-part animated children's TV series and an off -Broadway play in New York. Tim's journey from an autistic child unable to communicate even with his mother, to an artist and acclaimed public speaker (Judy and Tim received a standing ovation for their presentation at Sydney's 2014 TEDx Conference) has involved many hurdles, moments of despair and incredible hard work. JUDY SHARP raised two boys as a single mother, Tim and his younger brother Sam. Sam is a former state swimmer who now works as a high-level swimming coach. Tim's art is exhibited all around the world. He spends much of his time helping organisations and schools that work with autistic children. They live in Brisbane.