This really did seem more like an infomercial for Autism Speaks than really helpful, or even INFORMATIVE!! ! As a filmmaker, I do understand the ease at which ASD's can be sensationalized, and why this is the face some people are trying to put on it, but there has got to be more balance, as the MAJORITY of those diagnosed with autism are not classical autism. Larry at one point even said "so 'Rain Man' would be a good portrayal of autism", and yes he was corrected by someone on the panel that that was an autistic savant, a rarity even among those on the spectrum, still I don't think the average person is aware of how hidden Asperger's for example can actually be - that you have to know what you're looking for. The result of putting such a one sided example out there my guess would be less diagnosises, not more - simply because my "kid doesn't bang their head against the door".
22 Mar 2007, 1:04 pm
