Educational Media Reviews Online

Autism in America provides a real-life look into the struggles of families living with one, and sometimes multiple children, who have been diagnosed with autism. The film is divided into 16 sections, covering a variety of subjects including: a general introduction to autism including diet, marriage, common misconceptions, positives, challenges, acceptance, and hopes and dreams. Sometimes the order of the sections does not make sense, but the viewer still comes away with a better understanding of what autism is and how it impacts the individual as well as those around him or her. The film further discusses the impact of the film Rain Man on the public’s perception of autism, and how people often misperceive the personality of Raymond Babbitt in Rain Man as being the only form of autism when there are many variations of the disorder. A similar film on autism that may be of interest is Just Like You-Autism (2014) created by Just Like You Films. Both films should be watched to gain a deeper understanding about a developmental disorder that affects 1 in 50 children. Autism in America is a must see for persons wanting to be more educated and aware of the true nature of and impact of autism. This film should be in academic libraries supporting programs in social work, education, and counseling. It would also be suitable for public libraries.