Fashion changes lives. For Kyle Westphal, it gave him one. In “Let Me Be Me,” the Emmy-nominated documentary now streaming free on YouTube, fashion becomes more than fabric. It becomes freedom. The film, made by his Emmy-winning mom, Jenifer Westphal, tells their shared story: How autism shaped Kyle’s world, and how fashion helped him shape it back.

Kyle wasn’t always able to say what he felt. Diagnosed with autism as a child, he often processed the world differently. For his mom Jenifer, this was both heartbreaking and confusing. She knew her son was brilliant, but the tools to help him thrive were hard to find. When Kyle discovered fashion, everything shifted.

Fashion as Language

Kyle saw something in a fabric that others didn’t. He didn’t just touch it. He studied it, moved with it, listened to it. As a boy, he would pull apart his sister’s clothes, not to destroy them, but to reimagine them. To him, it was never about breaking. It was about building. He just didn’t have the words for that yet.

Fashion gave him those words. It became his way to communicate, to express what he couldn’t say out loud. Jenifer watched this passion grow and realized this wasn’t just a hobby. It was Kyle’s way of connecting to the world. It helped him develop confidence, creativity, and eventually, community.

The Mom Who Never Quit

Back then, there were not many guides or support groups. The information was limited, and the stigma was real. She was often told she was doing things wrong. But she trusted her gut and her son.

E News / Jenifer didn’t set out to be an autism advocate. But when Kyle was diagnosed, she had no choice.

She found the Son-Rise program, which focuses on building trust and communication through play. It changed everything. Instead of trying to “fix” Kyle, they started working with him, following his lead. That shift gave Kyle the space to explore who he was without pressure or judgment.

The Duo Built a Future Through Fashion

As Kyle grew older, fashion went from passion to purpose. He studied design, developed his own style, and began building a career. Today, at 31, he is not just a designer. He is a storyteller. His work reflects the way he sees the world: layered, thoughtful, and full of detail.

The documentary “Let Me Be Me” captures this transformation. It is raw, real, and sometimes emotional. But it is also full of hope. It shows how a family came together, figured things out, and helped a young boy find his path, one stitch at a time.

Sharing Their Story With the World

Releasing the film during World Autism Month wasn’t random. Jenifer and Kyle wanted to do more than just tell their story. They wanted to help others see what is possible. Autism doesn’t have to mean limits, it can mean difference. And difference can lead to brilliance.

Maca / Talking to PEOPLE magazine, they explain why this documentary matters so much. For Kyle, it is about showing what happens when people support instead of shame. For Jenifer, it is about giving other parents hope.

And for both, it is a love letter to the journey they have walked together.

Fashion Isn’t Just Clothes!

In “Let Me Be Me,” fashion becomes something bigger. It is a bridge. It connects Kyle to his family, his work, and himself. Plus, it is the reason he found his voice and a way to be seen. Not just as autistic, but as an artist.

Jenifer says Kyle always did things his own way, even before he had the words. That didn’t change with the diagnosis. It just helped make sense of it all. And once they had that understanding, they could move forward. Together.