I am now in the middle of watching this movie, I recorded it on my DVR by default because I have "Autism" as a keyword to set to automatically record. I have to say, so far, this movie, although filmed in the mid-late 70's, could still be filmed here in 2009! I am a mom to 3 kids, 2 with Autism. I am so far liking this movie and hopes it ends on a good note. This is the FIRST MOVIE, or even TV/Movie broadcast that ACTUALLY SHOWS what Autism REALLY IS. Also, the therapies shown when the parents first started to investigate treatment options for their son, well, lets just say, they are still all being used today. And that makes me FURIOUS! All of this time has gone by and yet nothing has changed except the number of kids in the US with Autism is well over 1 in 100! To me, its even MORE obvious that the parents are not being listened to when they state things that are helping their kids..whether it be a 'new' therapy which incorporates more play, or a special diet...the medical community has spent more energy FIGHTING these 'new' and 'unproven' techniques than they have trying to figure anything out!
The beginning of the movie is probably the same story line as almost all of us families with kids with Autism have experienced. "Colic" crying baby, ear infections/various other viruses/illnesses, etc...my two boys were just like that, however, they were developing 'normally' until they did a dramatic regression, talking and eye contact, laughing and interacting, to what you seen Raun as in the movie. And yet, us parents don't have 'any scientific' proof of what happened to, or what is helping our kids.
Shame on the medical community for not improving the quality of care, or therapies to help our kids. I would have NEVER of guessed they have been using these terrible techniques for well over 30 years, THANKS to the makers of this movie, it needs to be shown MORE and MORE AND MORE!
