Filmmaker Mom and Designer Son with Autism Show How Fashion Changed Life for Them in Documentary (Exclusive)

• Jenifer Westphal, an Emmy-award-winning producer, teams up with her son Kyle to share the story of his life before and after his autism diagnosis.
• Kyle, now 31, reveals the moment he fell in love with fashion and what that outlet did for his life.
• The mother-son duo tells PEOPLE why sharing this documentary means the world to them, particularly amid World Autism Month.

An Emmy-winning producer is marking World Autism Month with a deeply personal story.

Jenifer Westphal, Emmy-winning producer and founder, CEO and executive producer at Wavelength Productions, is sharing her family's story in a limited-time free release of the Emmy-nominated documentary Let Me Be Me on YouTube.

The documentary follows Jenifer's son, Kyle Westphal, a young boy diagnosed with autism who found his voice through his fascination with fabric.

Speaking with PEOPLE about the documentary, Jenifer and Kyle share more insight into how their family navigated Kyle's diagnosis and set him up to succeed in the field he loves.

"From a young age, I knew I was part of a loving, supportive family. It was this normal family unit, even if my experience within it was a little different. I might’ve done things differently than my siblings did, but I always felt loved and accepted for who I was," Kyle tells PEOPLE.

"Some of my earliest memories are just of us all being together, especially in the kitchen. There was always a lot of activity in our house, and I remember cooking with my family, playing with toys in the living room, and watching Disney movies — just your typical childhood moments. That sense of togetherness really stuck with me," he continued.

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Jenifer remembers thinking of Kyle as her "counter-clockwise kid," telling PEOPLE, "He just moved through the world differently. I had my daughter, Annie, first, and she hit every milestone early. So when Kyle didn’t, people brushed it off — 'boys are slower,' 'Annie talks for him.' But I noticed early on that he was wired differently."

The mom recalls her son's love for "anything he could repurpose — Barbie dolls, headbands, anything."

"Annie thought he was wrecking her stuff, but really, he was creating. That was Kyle from the start: curious, creative, and uniquely himself," she explains.

"Looking back, I always expressed things a little differently, even before I had the words for it. I didn’t know what autism was at the time — I just knew that I had my own way of seeing the world," Kyle says.

"I remember noticing that my natural behaviors didn’t always 'click' with how my family was responding to me, and that created a bit of confusion. But once we had a name for it, it was like, 'Oh, okay, this makes sense.' "

While getting an autism diagnosis provided everyone with context, navigating it was "frustrating" for Jenifer in the early days.

"It helped me understand myself better — and I think it helped my family understand me better too. And even though I was still pretty young, it was cool to know there was a reason behind how I interacted with the world," Kyle says.

"I was angry because I knew I was a good mom, but people kept blaming me," she admits.

"I think there was definitely a lot of emotion around it — I was young, but I could sense it. At that time, autism wasn’t talked about in the way it is now, so there was a lot of uncertainty," Kyle acknowledges.

"But one thing I’ll always be grateful for is that my family never made me feel like something was wrong with me. They didn’t try to change who I was — they just wanted to understand me better. And once we found the Son-Rise Program, it gave us this new language and structure to work with. It didn’t feel hopeless anymore — it felt like we had a roadmap, even if it wasn’t a typical one."

The Son-Rise program is a child-centered approach that focuses on developing a positive and respectful relationship between parent and child that enables them to explore learning by fostering social, communication and learning skills in the home environment.

"As I got older, I was able to engage more deeply with my family — like really engage, have conversations, and understand compromise. My relationship with my siblings grew from them seeing me as someone with a difference to seeing me as a peer. We have a really great connection now, and I’m grateful for that."

Based on what they were learning in this process, the family "[built] a room for Kyle — a 'yes' space where everything was designed around him."

"Before that, everything felt like a 'no.' It wasn’t easy. There were days I questioned if I could keep going. But when we started seeing progress, it brought peace into our home — especially for Kyle," Jenifer says.

"Everything shifted. Before starting the program, I was kind of just in my own world. The playroom we used with the Son-Rise Program might’ve looked like just 'play' to outsiders, but it was actually super intentional — it was where I learned to hold a conversation, ask questions and understand social cues," Kyle says.

"And there was a moment — somewhere around elementary or middle school — where it really clicked," Kyle recalls "I realized the people in that room weren’t trying to pull me out of my world; they were trying to meet me there and help me build a bridge to share it. That’s when I really understood what the work was for. I went from being a kid in my own universe to realizing, 'Wait — this is my workshop for the real world.' That shift gave me skin in the game."

Developing alongside Kyle during this time was his love of fashion, which came as a result of being mesmerized by the Fairy Godmother moment in Disney's Cinderella.

"That was it for me. I wasn’t very verbal as a kid, but that moment felt like magic. It showed me how you could make someone feel special without even saying a word. That hit home for me because it was such a beautiful, nonverbal form of expression," Kyle says.

"Now, I talk a lot, but back then, fashion was my way of communicating. These days, I still think about that Fairy Godmother moment. That act of service, of helping someone feel their best — that’s what fashion is to me. I just want to make people feel amazing through what they wear."

Watching his passion blossom was "such a gift" for Jenifer. "For years, Kyle didn’t show much interest in anything — so when fashion entered the picture, it felt like something clicked. He was about 15 when he really started diving in. He’d always loved fabrics and blankets, but suddenly he was reading fashion magazines, talking about going to school at Drexel and wanting to design." 

She continues, "We got him a sewing teacher and an art teacher and started connecting him with people in the industry. Watching him light up creatively — and seeing how naturally talented he was — felt like watching him step into his purpose."

The family's perception of Kyle's life with autism isn't the only thing that changed over the years. The entire conversation around autism has evolved since the 1990s.

"Yeah, I’ve definitely seen a shift. People are more open now — they’re listening, they’re curious and they’re recognizing people on the spectrum as whole, three-dimensional human beings. We’ve still got a long way to go, but the conversation has started," Kyle says.

"For me, it was a process — building this 'muscle,' so to speak, of how to live in the world. It took time, failure, patience and lots of practice," he continues.

"What I hope for the future is that we keep making space for all the voices and experiences. I love seeing people like Chloe Hayden on Heartbreak High doing their thing. My experience might be different from hers, but they’re both valid. More perspectives, more representation — that’s the goal."

As a parent and as a filmmaker, Jenifer is struck by how Kyle's story embodies "the power of real acceptance."

"I don’t mean the kind that’s easy or performative. I mean the kind where you meet people exactly where they are, even when it’s hard, even when it challenges every assumption you’ve ever had," she says.

"For a long time, I felt blamed for Kyle’s behavior. But once we stopped trying to change him and started supporting who he already was, everything changed," Jenifer shares. "We created a space where he could thrive — and in doing that, I learned how to truly show up for people, not just as a mom, but in life. Acceptance isn’t always easy, but it’s transformational."

She adds, "If the film helps even one person feel less alone or helps them understand someone they love a little better, then it’s done its job. I also hope it challenges assumptions about autism and reminds people that growth can look different for everyone — and that’s okay."

"It’s our family’s story — one perspective, one journey — but I hope people watching find something that resonates with them. Maybe it brings hope. Maybe it just makes them feel a little more seen," Kyle says.

"And if someone doesn’t get anything out of it, that’s okay too. There’s no 'right' reaction — whatever rings true for you is what matters most."

Celebrating World Autism Month and spring, Kyle is looking forward to the "exciting shift" in the months ahead. In fashion, that means, "more honesty, more boldness, more joy."

"People are dressing how they want to feel, and I love that. Buttery yellow is trending right now (shoutout to Timothée Chalamet), and I’m here for it. I think we’re in a 'feel-good fashion' era, and I’m very much on board," he shares.

"As for me — I’m working on a big project that I’m really excited about. I’m not quite ready to go public with it just yet, but it’s very exciting. And I’m lucky I get to pour myself into it full-time," he shares, encouraging fans to stay tuned for the latest by following him on Instagram@kylewestphal_official.

Jenifer is excited to see her son continue to flourish. "I’m really looking forward to Kyle’s next chapter. He’s working on something big that I can’t talk about just yet — but watching him build his future is one of the great joys of my life.

"I’m also excited about what’s ahead at Wavelength. We have some incredible films coming out, and I feel so energized by the stories we’re telling. But above all, I’m proud of where my kids are in their lives. Each of them is growing, evolving, and carving out their own path — and I feel lucky to be here for all of it."

Let Me Be Me is available, free for a limited time on Wavelength's YouTube,