29. Wretches & Jabberers

This moving documentary follows the journey of Larry and Tracey, two adults with severe autism, as they spread the message that just because they have a disability does not mean they have no intelligence.  After struggling to communicate their thoughts, ideas, and wants, they found a new gateway of communicating through typing.  This documentary follows them to Sri Lanka, Japan, and Finland as they meet with other young adults that are suffering just as they have.  They offer them words of advice and encouragement as they explore the purpose of their lives. 

I could have kept watching this past the ending.  I was so intrigued with their lives that I wanted to be sitting in the audience as they attended conferences, or across the table as they tried sushi for the first time.  I have no idea how frustrating it would be if you were not able to express yourself on a day to day basis, but they somehow managed it for decades before they learned how to type.  Now they are able to have thought provoking conversations while out to eat by passing around lap tops, tablets, and cell phones.  Not only did these lines of communication give hope and purpose to people with autism, but also their support systems.  In the movie Tracey mentions when he first learned to type, one of the first things he wrote were the words, "I love you, mom".  I realized about half way through that even with their disabilities, they have more courage and intelligence then a lot of people I have meet and it's heartbreaking to see how people who don't understand autism treat them. 

Rating:  *****

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2FlIyJJRc0E