Reality TV series highlights living with autism, features Waterford resident

• Waterford resident Isaac Waite, 27, is featured in "Lights, Camera, Friendship on the Spectrum," a reality TV show about young adults with autism.
• The show, produced by Joey Travolta, documents the group's experiences navigating life and forming friendships.
• Episodes featuring Waite will be screened at Mercyhurst University, with online streaming available later.

A group of young adults who live life with autism, including a Waterford resident, are getting the chance to share their story in a Joey Travolta TV series called "Lights, Camera, Friendship on the Spectrum."

"Lights, Camera, Friendship on the Spectrum" is a reality TV show that follows a group of young adults on the spectrum as they navigate the outside world and form new friendships.

Waterford resident Isaac Waite, 27, and his mother Pamela Waite, 63, were notified by an individual at the Autism Society of Northwest Pennsylvania about the project and how it would be a good fit for Isaac.

"My mother found out about the project and asked if I would be interested in trying out for it," Isaac Waite said. "I thought I would give it a try."

They submitted an audition tape for the show and later Isaac was chosen for the show.

"We received notice that he was picked for the project," Pamela Waite said. "Once that happened there was a series of a few Zoom calls set up with (producer) Joey Travolta and his assistant and the staff that worked with the young adults. Based on those calls he was picked for the Valdosta, Georgia location."

Filming began in December of 2024 and Isaac Waite made the trip on his own down to Valdosta, Georgia, which was one of the multiple locations for the project.

Pamela Waite said that the project has brought out the best in Isaac and gave him an incredible experience.

"He was totally engaged. I was really surprised that he did as well as he did," Pamela Waite said. "He enjoyed the interactions, he enjoyed being in a different city. Valdosta from what I gathered is very similar in size to Erie so he didn’t feel intimidated. He enjoyed having people similar to himself to engage with that accepted his uniqueness. The community as a whole was very open and enjoyed having these young people there."

Isaac Waite at first wasn't sure what to expect from the project, but his concerns were eased once he arrived on set.

"By the time I arrived and introduced myself to everyone it felt like it was going to work," Isaac Waite said. "They were nice and friendly. They were interested in some of the things I was interested in like Star Wars, Batman, Marvel and Sonic."

Spreading understanding through the film

Both Pamela and Isaac Waite said that they hope this show can help spread understanding and provide a positive perspective on autism.

"I’m excited," Isaac Waite said. "I might be recognized as someone who has been fighting a battle that I’ve been fighting for years."

His mother said that she has watched him grow up and face challenges from being bullied to not being accepted by society. She hopes this film can shed a positive light on her son.

"I watched him be excluded or downright bullied most of his life and he’s 27 and still suffers the effects of the things he’s experienced all through his school years and young adulthood," Pamela Waite said. "Over time it limits his willingness to put himself out there and even makes him want to be more secluded and more in his own little world.

"That’s difficult because we only have one life and I’ve always tried to teach him to live life to the fullest. That’s hard to do when your difference is pointed out or you get teased or you are made fun of all the time. We have always tried to encourage him that it doesn’t matter what anyone else thinks; it matters what you think of yourself."

Showcasing the project at Mercyhurst University

On Sunday, the episodes of the show that Isaac Waite is featured twice in will be shown at Mercyhurst University at 501 E. 38th St. at 2 p.m. and 5 p.m.

Tickets are on sale online at the Autism Society of Northwestern Pennsylvania website.

If you can'no't make it to the Mercyhurst event, the full project will be streamed on April 16 on friendshiponthespectrum.com. The 10 episode series will be available for streaming on April 18 on the website and on Red Coral Universe.

Contact Nicholas Sorensen at Nsorensen@gannett.com.