Learning You Movie: Autism, Faith & Family Resilience | John Wells & Tyler Sansom

As an autistic advocate and OT mom, few films hit as close to home as Learning You, a new autism‑centered movie opening in theaters nationwide on January 16, 2026. This special episode of Adulting With Autism features actor John Wells and director Tyler Sansom, sharing the heart behind a story that follows a father’s journey to truly see his autistic son—and himself—through the lens of faith, family, and hard‑earned understanding.

Inspired by real experiences of parents raising children with special needs, Learning You highlights family strength, resilience, and the hope that grows when someone finally feels seen. The film is brought to life by a cast and crew that intentionally includes parents and individuals from the autism community, adding rare authenticity to the screen. You’ll hear about performances from John Wells (also a real‑life dad to an autistic son), WWE legend Al Snow (grandfather to autistic grandchildren), Caleb Milby, Stacy Haiduk (Days of Our Lives), Daniel Roebuck (Matlock), Cameron Arnett (The Forge), and Read Choi, among others.

Directed and produced by Tyler Sansom, with a screenplay by J. Wayne Davidson, Justen Overlander (The Chosen), Sansom, and Brad J. Silverman (Grace Unplugged), this film is more than entertainment—it’s a mission project. One hundred percent of proceeds go to ACT (Awareness, Connection, Touch), a nonprofit supporting parents of children with autism and other special needs, making every ticket a form of practical support as well as representation.

In this episode, we talk about:

• How Learning You was born from real stories of special needs families

• John’s experience as both an actor and a father to an autistic son

• Tyler’s vision of film as a ministry of encouragement for caregivers and parents

• Why authentic casting and crew representation matter in autism storytelling

• How proceeds support ACT’s work with families in the autism and special needs community

If you care about autism acceptance, faith‑informed storytelling, and inclusive media, this episode will give you a behind‑the‑scenes look at a film created with our community at the center.

If this episode resonates, follow/subscribe to Adulting With Autism on Podbean, Apple, or Spotify and leave a 5‑star review so more families, caregivers, and autistic adults can find it.

Support the mission & the podcast: Get 20% off journals, tees, and “Resilient Advocate” merch with code PODCAST26 at the Adulting With Autism Fourthwall shop (Linktree). Your support helps keep these conversations free and amplifies stories like Learning You.