Rain Man Essay

Moreover, many misconceptions exist regarding people with ASD and before I move on, I would like to address some prominent myths about autism. Due to the popular movie Rain Man, many people in America and elsewhere believe that every individual with ASD is an Autistic Savant, as in they are exceptionally gifted in a specialized field, such as artistic ability, musical acuity, and more (Sicile-Kira, 2). This is a falsehood, as only ten percent of people with ASD have astounding gifts and are considered Autistic Savants (Frith, 29). Another pertinent myth to discuss is the idea that those who are nonverbal are unintelligent. Sadly, before I began learning about autism and related conditions, to some extent I believed this to be true. Since one-third of those with ASD are nonverbal, it’s especially significant to emphasize the falsity of this idea (“What is Autism?”).
Due to this quality of ASD, it is oftentimes hard to determine the cognitive level of individuals on the spectrum. Additionally, many people with autism have difficulty with verbal output, as in they may hear and comprehend what was said, but he or she is unable to respond verbally. With the right communication aids, such as voice-generating computer programs and picture cues, those without verbal capabilities can showcase their intelligence. This is related to verbal apraxia of speech which is discussed later. Just like the range of intelligence of neurotypicals, the autism spectrum in terms of intelligence varies greatly (Waterhouse, 329). Some individuals who have shown autistic tendencies such as Einstein are considered highly intelligent, while others with ASD are considered mentally disabled (Waterhouse