Rosie O’Donnell’s Doc ‘Unleashing Hope: The Power of Service Dogs for Children With Autism’ Sets April Debut on Hulu (EXCLUSIVE)

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starting from next Tuesday, April 22nd, you can stream Rosie O’Donnell’s documentary special titled “Unleashing Hope: The Impact of Service Dogs for Children with Autism” on Hulu. The month of April happens to be recognized as Autism Awareness Month.

The title “Bringing Forth Hope” focuses on the Guide Dogs of America’s (GDA) program for service dogs, specifically tailored for children with autism, and offers a heartfelt exploration, demonstrating how one service dog named Kuma dramatically changed the lives of O’Donnell and her autistic child, Clay.

The documentary titled “GDA Journey” is jointly directed by esteemed filmmakers Zeberiah Newman and Michiel Thomas, and produced by Terence J. Noonan from O’Donnell and NY27 Productions, along with Hilary Estey Mcloughlin. Apart from the story of Rosie and Clay, this documentary will also focus on another family with an autistic child named Kaleb, as they navigate their way through the GDA (Greater Denver Area) program together.

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“GDA Journey” is a documentary that’s co-directed by award-winning filmmakers Zeberiah Newman and Michiel Thomas and produced by Terence J. Noonan of O’Donnell and NY27 Productions, in collaboration with Hilary Estey Mcloughlin. Alongside the stories of Rosie and Clay, it follows another family on their path with the GDA program, this time focusing on a child named Kaleb who is also diagnosed with autism.

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In “GDA Journey”, co-directed by acclaimed filmmakers Zeberiah Newman and Michiel Thomas, and produced by Terence J. Noonan of O’Donnell and NY27 Productions together with Hilary Estey Mcloughlin, we’ll be following not only the journey of Rosie and Clay but also another family dealing with autism, Kaleb and his family, as they take part in the GDA program.

On Thursday, O’Donnell expressed great pride in the documentary she’s working on, as it highlights the incredible work done by Guide Dogs of America. She emphasized the importance of support dogs for children with autism. Witnessing the positive impact that a dog like Kuma has had on Clay and many others has been touching and inspiring.

Hope Unveiled” is a creation of NY27 Productions, airing on various platforms including Hulu, linear and digital streaming channels under ABC Owned Stations, as well as ABC News Live.

Upon hearing Rosie share her experience with Guide Dogs of America, particularly Kuma’s life-altering effect on Clay, Noonan and Estey McLoughlin understood the importance of spreading these inspiring tales. They said, ‘Unleashing Hope’ aims to reveal the remarkable transformations in children with autism and their families, offering hope and support to others within the autism community.

In this project, we prioritize diversity in all aspects, including having two production assistants who are on the autism spectrum. We’re fortunate to have Cyndi Lauper kindly contribute her popular song “Shine” for our production. Moreover, Guide Dogs of America/Tender Loving Canines and Toys“R”Us have graciously agreed to be our valued partners in this film.

O’Donnell became aware of the role of service dogs for children with autism after interacting with staff from Guide Dogs of America during a visit to Lyle Menendez in prison (O’Donnell is a strong supporter of Lyle and his brother Erik Menendez’s release). To cope with the growing need for these assistance dogs, the organization started a program where inmates train them using reward-based methods. This innovative project not only readies dogs to make profound impacts, but it also strives to bring about personal transformations in the inmates themselves.

Zack Gittlen, Vice President of Strategy & Operations at Guide Dogs of America, expressed his pride in our work and gratitude towards Rosie for allowing the world to witness the transformative effects service dogs have on children with autism. He also commended the dedication and passion that went into creating the film ‘Unleashing Hope,’ which is evident in its brilliance.

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2025-04-10 21:47