---
title: 'The Truth About My Son'
source: 'https://youtube.com/watch?v=ybPgmjTRvMo'
video_id: 'ybPgmjTRvMo'
date: 2026-07-28
duration_sec: 621
---

# The Truth About My Son

> Source: [The Truth About My Son](https://youtube.com/watch?v=ybPgmjTRvMo)

## Summary

Mark shares personal insights about his son who is on the autistic spectrum, highlighting his remarkable ability to calculate days of the week and the sensory challenges he faces. The video also challenges societal perceptions of success and promotes a charity live stream for autism support.

### Key Points

- **Introducing the topic** [00:13] — Mark begins talking about his son, acknowledging his fear of exposing him online due to autism.
- **Son's protective nature** [00:55] — His son is on the autistic spectrum, and Mark is protective because of the internet's harshness.
- **Calendar calculation ability** [01:07] — His son can calculate the day of the week for any date, demonstrated with June 2, 2004 (Wednesday) and May 26, 2006 (Friday).
- **Misconception about savant abilities** [02:05] — Not all autistic individuals have extraordinary skills; parents and teachers don't know how he does it.
- **Carly Fleischmann's story** [02:33] — Carly, severely autistic, communicated through typing after being placed in front of a computer.
- **Sensory overload explanation** [03:15] — Autistic brains are wired differently, taking in all sensory input simultaneously (e.g., sounds, smells, touch).
- **Son's hobby: drawing and sending letters** [04:50] — He draws houses and mails them, making people happy with his thoughtful gestures.
- **Importance of birthday parties** [05:33] — Birthdays are a big deal; he plans them meticulously to ensure everything is perfect.
- **Redefining success** [06:04] — Success should be measured by net positive impact on others, not money or degrees.
- **Story of Jason** [06:46] — An autistic student sank six three-pointers in a game, inspiring classmates for life.
- **People with special needs are giants** [07:45] — They ground us and remind us of what's truly important; they are giants among us.
- **Charity live stream announcement** [08:12] — Mark announces 'Color the Spectrum' charity live stream benefiting autism support, especially for adults.
- **Celebrity participants** [08:43] — Includes Stephen Colbert, Adam Sandler, Chris Rock, John Stewart, John Oliver, and others.
- **Call to action** [09:51] — Encourages donations to support adults on the autism spectrum, as resources are scarce.

### Conclusion

The video emphasizes that people with special needs bring unique joy and perspective, challenging conventional metrics of success. Mark's heartfelt message encourages viewers to support autism charities and appreciate the humanity in everyone.

## Transcript

- Get outta here! (laughing) - Okay.
and today I'm gonna tell you a little bit about him. of making videos, I've never really put him on camera. Now you might say, hold up,
But in my defense, I feel like I've made it pretty clear about them. (upbeat rock music)
The reason I'm so protective of him is because He is on the autistic spectrum, and this is the internet. So even as I make this video, I'm incredibly terrified.
strongly about. they want to know what he's really good at. complex math in his head?
from any year, okay, he will tell you the day June 2nd, 2004. is that on?
- It's gonna take me a second even to get there. June 2nd, 2004. Here's June, June 2nd, 2004.
I'm gonna generate another random date. May 26th, 2006 Friday.
What did I even say? May 5th? 2006. - Oh, May 26th. (laughs)
His parents and teachers have no idea how he has - I need some help too. It's actually a common misconception, but the truth is
don't have remarkable abilities like this. if you see him in public, this ability isn't immediately in a crowded place, he might look disengaged
Carly Fleischmann has autism and was able to about Carly is that because of her erratic behavior and just severely autistic
Until one day when they put her in front And then they realized there was so much - [Carly] I am autistic, but that is not who I am.
- [Mark] This amazing breakthrough made it so Carly was - [Carly] Our brains are wired differently. I take over a thousand pictures
That's why we have a hard time looking at people. So if you and I were having a conversation here and just focus on your voice.
ringing the bell behind me, and the kid crying And the cars going by, in the distance, not to mention all of the different smells,
on my shirt is kind of rubbing on my back. It's sensory overload and everything comes in all at once This is why headphones can be really helpful
in a familiar environment without a bunch of distractions You wouldn't know this from seeing him in public to the point that sometimes he can't even breathe.
(laughing) because it's familiar and predictable, which makes sense
and it doesn't need to filter. because my same jokes totally kill every time. and I still get this response.
(laughs) and it has to do with how he spends his free time When he first meets someone, he will ask important questions
and if your house has stairs, then the first chance he gets in about two pounds of your favorite crayon color As you can see, he takes this job pretty seriously
out of envelopes and stamps. happy people become when they get one of his letters. but people know they mean something special coming from him.
or they're thinking about themselves and how to look cool. His superpower is making other people happy.
Birthday parties are a really big deal for him with him so he can make sure things happen just right. Try again.
at times, and certainly some cases of finding and focusing on the best parts and celebrate those parts as well.
or your favorite sports team or any other way I think we can all agree that a successful life Sort of a net positive effect due to your influence.
There's a lot of normal functioning people who are critical of money, but are just terrible people. People with special needs might not fit
by benefiting GDP or getting a PhD on the people that get to interact with them. such as with Jason here, who has autism
So the coach put him in He sank, not one, not two, but six three pointers supportive classmates will remember for the rest
People with special needs, ground the rest of us - Santa! - With our hectic schedules and task lists,
- I love you kiddo. that our initial critical snap judgments My son will never be the star of his little league team.
nor will he invent the cure to cancer. and his special needs buddies and everyone else out there like them, are giants living amongst us mere mortals.
and we're lucky to have them. If it resonated with you in some way, please share it from hearing the message.
It's super distracting if you're mouthing all my lines. - Yeah, just hold the cards. You don't mind right?
- Oh yeah, this is my house. a three hour live stream for charity 5:00 PM Pacific, 8:00 PM Eastern.
- [Mark] It's called Color the Spectrum. and we'll also be joined by some folks you might have heard - I have a friend named Jack that will be joining us too.
Stephen Colbert, Adam Sandler, Chris Rock. Not to mention John Stewart, John Oliver, MirandaSings, Sarah Silverman, Mark Hamill, Andy Samberg, iJustine,
and Zach Freaking Galifianakis. We'll also be joined by these folks as well. - I'll be there. - Well, I'll be there too.
- I'll be there. - All of the proceeds are going to a really great specialize in supporting folks on the autism spectrum
- [Jimmy] There are resources for kids but there isn't much for adults. so selfishly, my son is coming up on that milestone.
I don't have a Patreon, so this is the most meaningful way So click the blue donate button over there or down there - It's gonna be a lot of fun.
and old people media together for a great night raise an actual ton - So follow the link in the video description
Get pumped, go donate, and we'll see you there. (upbeat music)