<div><br />
</div><iframe media_type="0" media_id="MhZ_4xd00ho" class="youtube-replace" title="YouTube video player" style="margin-bottom:20px;width:560px;height:315px;" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/MhZ_4xd00ho/?rel=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="1"></iframe>
<div><br />
</div>
<div><a href="https://www.whalesinthesky.com" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><a href="https://www.whalesinthesky.com" target="_blank" class="" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">https://www.whalesinthesky.com</a></a>
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div><em>*Concept art created by </em><a href="https://www.artstation.com/robbie-aldis" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><em>Robbie Aldis</em></a>
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div><strong>As a thank-you for your support, everyone who donates will have the option to have their name included in the credits of the film!</strong>
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div><strong>I want this film to be made with the community it speaks to—so you are truly part of this story. </strong>Please note your preference during your donation.
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div><strong>The Story:</strong>
</div>
<div>A girl embarks on a surreal odyssey through the ocean and sky, tracing her lifelong journey from isolation to self-acceptance,
</div>
<div>molded by the clarity found within a delayed autism diagnosis and the courage to rise into her true self.
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div><br />
</div><img alt="" media_type="3" src="https://d2g8igdw686xgo.cloudfront.net/90004163_1743533650652543_r." width="100%" />
<div><br />
</div>
<div><strong>The Purpose of Whales in the Sky:</strong>
</div>
<div>Whales in the Sky is more than an animated short film—it is a tool for advocacy, education, and representation.
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div><br />
</div><img alt="" media_type="3" src="https://d2g8igdw686xgo.cloudfront.net/90004163_174353362725982_r." width="100%" />
<div><br />
</div>
<div>By weaving a deeply personal yet universally resonant story of self-discovery, the film sheds light on the emotional journey of late-diagnosed autistic individuals. It serves as a bridge between personal experience and societal awareness, fostering empathy, understanding, and meaningful conversations about neurodiversity.
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div>Through screenings, discussions, and outreach, Whales in the Sky will empower those who see themselves in its story while educating a broader audience on the importance of diagnosis, self-acceptance, and support for autistic individuals navigating the world.
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div><br />
</div><img alt="" media_type="3" src="https://d2g8igdw686xgo.cloudfront.net/90004163_1743533597313277_r." width="100%" />
<div><br />
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div><strong>Why This Film is Vital:</strong>
</div>
<div>Autistic individuals—especially those diagnosed later in life—face significant mental health challenges due to years of navigating a world that wasn’t built for them. Studies show that up to 70% of autistic individuals experience anxiety or depression, and those who remain undiagnosed often struggle even more, internalizing their differences without understanding why.
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div>One of the most alarming realities is the increased risk of suicide among autistic individuals. Research has found that autistic adults are three times more likely to experience suicidal thoughts compared to the general population.
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div><br />
</div><img alt="" media_type="3" src="https://d2g8igdw686xgo.cloudfront.net/90004163_1743533578197093_r." width="100%" />
<div><br />
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div>Even more concerning, autistic individuals without an intellectual disability are nine times more likely to die by suicide than their neurotypical peers. Many of these individuals go undiagnosed well into adulthood, meaning they spend decades feeling isolated, overwhelmed, and misunderstood without access to the support they need.
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div>Whales in the Sky exists to shed light on these realities through the power of storytelling. By visually representing the internal struggles, emotional depths, and beautiful possibilities self-acceptance for a late-diagnosed autistic individual, the film serves as a tool for both education and healing.
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div><br />
</div><img alt="" media_type="3" src="https://d2g8igdw686xgo.cloudfront.net/90004163_1743533558698761_r." width="100%" />
<div><br />
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div>It helps those still searching for answers see themselves reflected in a meaningful way while encouraging society to foster greater understanding, empathy, and support.
</div>
<div><br />
</div><img alt="" media_type="3" src="https://d2g8igdw686xgo.cloudfront.net/90004163_174353354480692_r." width="100%" />
<div><br />
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div>Every diagnosis, every conversation, and every piece of representation matters—because no one should have to go through this journey alone.
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div>THE BUDGET:
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div>Thank you for supporting Whales in the Sky! We believe in full transparency with our budget, ensuring every dollar is used efficiently to bring this project to life. Below, you’ll find a breakdown of our major expenses, including animation, music, voice acting, and post-production.
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div>Our goal is not just to create a powerful piece of art, but also a highly educational film and resources that resonates with our audience, and your contribution will help us make that possible.
</div>
<div><br />
</div><img alt="" media_type="3" src="https://d2g8igdw686xgo.cloudfront.net/90004163_174353597689439_r.png" width="100%" />
<div><br />
</div>

Marquita Seifried

Brittney Muth

Anonymous

WHALES IN THE SKY: Empowering Late-Diagnosed Autistic Voices

Support urgent earthquake relief and past recovery in Venezuela.

Apoya la ayuda urgente tras el terremoto y los esfuerzos de recuperación en Venezuela.

platform

Platform is iOS

Android

Adyen Google Pay Development Audience

$opt_dummy_attribute

English only

Deprecate Stripe Legacy

dyn_template_ids

Adyen V6 Bene Transfer & MyMoney Campaign Organizers - test01

Bene transfer V6 and AdyenV6MyMoney Campaign Organizers - production

OneTrust next-app audience

fundCountryCode

NextDoor Share Option Users

Fundraisers with Reactions feature capability

fundCurrencyCode

US + Non-charity COs Only

locale

fund country is US and user language is English

personId

comms-internal-person-ids

Enhanced Story Experience Users

Suggested Goal Experience Users

user language is English and fund country: US, AU, DK, FI, IE, NO, SE, CA, GB; 

Poster share - new funds eligible (newest 9/18)

Streaming widgets beta user

paymentProcessor

3DS payment method

user language is English and fundCountry: US, AU, DK, FI, IE, NO, SE, CA, GB; 

currencyCode

Money Box Donation List Prompt Experiment Audience

GoFundMe Employees

ipAddress

Mark Rieth IP Address

Version 9.2.0 and above

Fund is in English speaking country

desktop

Android v12.11.0 and above

Platform is Android

paymentMethodType

checkoutType

Payment method type group to be vaulted on success

admin pr kit prod

EUR Donation Upsell

Share Text generation Skip Fundraiser

(prod) new funds eligible for amp12 (UGC gallery)

fintrac_cad_idv_form_v2 audience

paymentProcessorAccountId

fallback mode accounts

proCampaignId

p2p legacy startfundraising page

AMP24 New Funds Only PROD (DO NOT MODIFY)

Eligible for Profile Share Badge

countryCode

charityId

UKCharities

Federated Search Internal Testing

route.pathname community

US Donation Upsell audience 

Auto Thanks Feature Audience

International Only

fundId

braze fundraiser group 

Payment Identity Transfers ATO Risk Check (Targeted) - Production

Fundraiser Saved Payment Method Rate Limit Bypass (Production)

leaderboard-partner-id-audience-givepanel

Version 9.2.1 and above

AUD Donation Upsell audience

fundraiserCountryCode is US/EN

Active Fundraiser - Smart Default Cadence

DAF Internal

Vault on success card payment method

Platform is iOS v11.0.0 and above

Desktop users

Person ids

United States (US) users

allow yuno fundraisers for test

Mexico country code

Posters INTL

Support Comments Allowlist

NPO Profile Opted-In

iOS at or above 12.4.0

non-US recurring donors

Canada Campaign Owner Group

Fundraiser Without Meta Link

Scheduler payment tester gorup

charityCommunityId

Charities allow to be claimed unclaimed (PRD)

Canada (CA) users

UC Tipping v20250115 International

pymk_production_xplr_fe_team

Android at or above 12.2.0

Profile photo entry point audience

smart goals (fundraiser/manage) on test01

Activity Tracking v1 Beta Testing

start gfm intl allowed locales

Platform is iOS v11.2.0 and above

NPO upsell education category

unclaimed charities

prod_ach_audience

AI Chatbot Audience

amp13 only new funds (prod) (anyword auto)

UC Flow Enabled (Prod)

Payment Identity Beneficiary Verification - Production

shared notification bell audience

Custom users

ach frontend audience

Android v11.0.0 and above

Users Receiving Payments Paused Notifications

smart goals test01

Manage Coach - US English Organizers Only + new funds only

Team EGG - IP Address list

NPO recommendations prod

Fundraiser Without Instagram Deep Link

Native 11.4.0 and above

UC Tipping v20250107

checkout headers audience

ai_title_page

anyword

openai

control

manual_entry

userEmail

template_id

userId

fundUrl

isCharityCo

email

appVersion

shouldBucketIntoExperiment

isEligibleForProfileBadge

partnerId

donationCadence

isActiveFundraiser

isPartner

isMobile

npoProfileOptIn

fundIsLinkedWithMeta

hasSessionDonation

categoryGroup

isCampaignOwner

fundHasInstagramDeepLink

Native 11.3.0 and above

Native 11.4.0 and higher

New funds eligible - Video Sharing (PROD)

GB Donation Upsell audience 

Auto Thanks V3 Rollout Audience

Thank you V3 testing whitelist

isRecurringFriendly

Is Recurring Friendly

Excluded funds - Video Sharing

NPO upsell animals category

NPO upsell disaster relief category

Logged In Users

CH Donation Upsell audience

Android v10.6.0 and above

NPO upsell essential needs category

NPO upsell medical category

userCurrencyCode

Localized Currency

NPO upsell cancer category

v11.5.0 and above

testAudience

pathname

Survicate

appVersion is at or above 12.8.0

Non-charity fund

isChallengeFundraiser

challenge-fundraisers

Payment Identity Launch Verification - Production

New funds eligible - Posters v2

CAD Donation Upsell Audience

Braze Email Tester

NPO Profile Opted-Out

iOS App Version

hasKnownDonors

PYMK has donors

iOS v12.3.0 and above

WHALES IN THE SKY: Empowering Late-Diagnosed Autistic Voices

Still $172,770 to go. Help us build momentum.