[Script Info]
Title: 
[Events]
Format: Layer, Start, End, Style, Name, MarginL, MarginR, MarginV, Effect, Text
Dialogue: 0,0:00:11.38,0:00:13.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,ANNOUNCER: These children cannot speak.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:13.99,0:00:16.98,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,No one knows what's going\Non inside their heads.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:16.98,0:00:19.09,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,They're autistic.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:20.95,0:00:25.59,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Tonight on FRONTLINE, the explosive story\Nof a revolutionary method of communication.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:25.59,0:00:29.41,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Dr. Biklen: Here was a means of expression\Nfor people who lacked expression
Dialogue: 0,0:00:29.41,0:00:33.76,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and here was a way that you could find\Nout what people were feeling and
Dialogue: 0,0:00:33.76,0:00:35.60,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,what they were thinking.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:35.60,0:00:38.67,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,ANNOUNCER: FRONTLINE investigates\Nfacilitated communication
Dialogue: 0,0:00:38.69,0:00:41.53,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,--the theory, the practice\Nand the controversy.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:41.53,0:00:44.42,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,PHIL WORDEN: God, it's really true.\NThis stuff is bogus.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:44.42,0:00:46.42,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,You know, it's just so\Nclear and so unmistakable
Dialogue: 0,0:00:46.42,0:00:48.28,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,as I was sitting there watching this.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:49.67,0:00:56.31,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,ANNOUNCER: Tonight on FRONTLINE,\N"Prisoners of Silence."
Dialogue: 0,0:00:58.79,0:01:01.30,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Funding for Frontline is provided
Dialogue: 0,0:01:01.30,0:01:05.34,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting
Dialogue: 0,0:01:05.34,0:01:09.44,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and by annual financial support\Nfrom viewers like you.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:11.90,0:01:17.40,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,This is FRONTLINE
Dialogue: 0,0:01:29.27,0:01:32.75,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,CHILDREN: [singing] If you're happy\Nand you know it, clap your hands
Dialogue: 0,0:01:32.75,0:01:36.22,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,If you're happy and you know it,\Nclap your hands
Dialogue: 0,0:01:36.22,0:01:38.66,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,If you're happy and you know it--
Dialogue: 0,0:01:38.66,0:01:41.48,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,NARRATOR: Every American\Nchild knows this song.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:41.48,0:01:45.20,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,They can feel happy and they know\Nwhat it is like to feel happy.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:49.35,0:01:50.97,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But to children growing up
Dialogue: 0,0:01:50.97,0:01:53.08,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,with the strange condition of autism,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:53.08,0:01:55.41,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,like these at the Boston Higashi School,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:55.41,0:01:58.78,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the words may not mean much at all.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:58.78,0:02:02.19,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Something has gone wrong with\Ntheir developing brains.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:02.19,0:02:05.15,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The children have a faraway look.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:05.15,0:02:07.79,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Generally they shun human contact.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:13.44,0:02:15.69,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The mysterious condition of autism
Dialogue: 0,0:02:15.69,0:02:18.58,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,affects close to 400,000 Americans.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:18.58,0:02:20.97,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Most have little or no speech.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:20.97,0:02:23.58,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Eighty percent are mentally retarded.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:23.58,0:02:25.64,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,While the condition can be treated,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:25.64,0:02:26.96,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,there's no cure.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:27.80,0:02:29.43,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Until three years ago,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:29.43,0:02:32.84,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,this was the generally\Naccepted theory of autism.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:32.84,0:02:35.58,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But then a radical and\Ncontroversial new technique
Dialogue: 0,0:02:35.58,0:02:40.06,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,called "facilitated communication"\Ntook America by storm.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:40.06,0:02:43.40,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Today, thanks to facilitated communication,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:43.40,0:02:47.08,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Jeff Powell, once written\Noff as profoundly retarded,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:47.08,0:02:52.30,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,sits in class doing algebra.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:52.30,0:02:58.25,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,[applause]
Dialogue: 0,0:03:00.26,0:03:02.75,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Profoundly autistic Ben Lehr can't speak,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:02.75,0:03:05.20,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but can type his thoughts\Nto an audience of people.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:08.42,0:03:10.76,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Dr. DOUGLAS BIKLEN: [reading Ben\NLehr's words] "Feel like you need
Dialogue: 0,0:03:10.76,0:03:14.53,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,patient friends like Michael.\NThey fight for me."
Dialogue: 0,0:03:17.09,0:03:18.31,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,[applause]
Dialogue: 0,0:03:18.31,0:03:22.09,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,NARRATOR: Professor Douglas Biklen\Nof Syracuse University thinks
Dialogue: 0,0:03:22.09,0:03:24.86,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,it is the most important\Nbreakthrough in autism ever
Dialogue: 0,0:03:24.86,0:03:27.40,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and is promoting it enthusiastically.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:29.41,0:03:31.81,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The theory of facilitated\Ncommunication claims
Dialogue: 0,0:03:31.81,0:03:34.19,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that many, perhaps most autistic people,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:34.19,0:03:36.85,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,are not retarded, but\Nhave intelligent minds
Dialogue: 0,0:03:36.85,0:03:38.94,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,imprisoned in bad bodies.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:41.50,0:03:44.69,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,FACILITATOR: Are, either, for-- good.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:44.69,0:03:47.71,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Go ahead. Delete. Did you\Nwant to delete that?
Dialogue: 0,0:03:49.47,0:03:51.36,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,NARRATOR: Biklen argues\Nthat autistic individuals
Dialogue: 0,0:03:51.36,0:03:53.75,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,like Ellen have many things to say
Dialogue: 0,0:03:53.75,0:03:55.56,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but are unable to say them
Dialogue: 0,0:03:55.56,0:03:58.15,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,because her body will not\Ndo what her mind wants.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:58.15,0:03:59.83,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But with a little help,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:59.83,0:04:02.24,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,or facilitation -- holding her hand,
Dialogue: 0,0:04:02.24,0:04:03.47,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,wrist or elbow --
Dialogue: 0,0:04:03.47,0:04:06.78,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,her body's often jerky\Nmovements can be smoothed out,
Dialogue: 0,0:04:06.78,0:04:09.56,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,allowing her to type letters on a keyboard.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:09.56,0:04:16.62,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,FACILITATOR: --TALK-- I, N, G--
Dialogue: 0,0:04:16.62,0:04:19.46,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,NARRATOR: When Douglas\NBiklen discovered the method
Dialogue: 0,0:04:19.46,0:04:21.12,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,during a visit to Melbourne, Australia,
Dialogue: 0,0:04:21.12,0:04:25.14,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,he realized that everything known\Nabout autism might be wrong.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:26.22,0:04:27.55,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Dr. BIKLEN: I knew that I had seen
Dialogue: 0,0:04:27.55,0:04:29.72,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,something terribly important.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:29.72,0:04:31.40,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Here was a means of expression
Dialogue: 0,0:04:31.40,0:04:33.23,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,for people who lacked expression
Dialogue: 0,0:04:33.23,0:04:35.46,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and here was a way that you could find out
Dialogue: 0,0:04:35.46,0:04:38.100,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,what people were feeling and\Nwhat they were thinking.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:38.100,0:04:41.37,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And, you know, these were people
Dialogue: 0,0:04:41.37,0:04:45.01,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,who had a disability the\Nvery definition of which
Dialogue: 0,0:04:45.01,0:04:47.28,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,suggested that the people\Nmight not have feelings
Dialogue: 0,0:04:47.28,0:04:51.09,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and certainly no ability to empathize
Dialogue: 0,0:04:51.09,0:04:52.21,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,with other people's feelings.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:52.21,0:04:54.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,This was a disability the\Nvery definition of which
Dialogue: 0,0:04:54.99,0:04:58.01,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,was that people lacked imaginative ability.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:58.01,0:05:00.52,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Well, I mean, you know, how do you do
Dialogue: 0,0:05:00.52,0:05:04.37,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,higher order mathematics\Nwithout an imagination?
Dialogue: 0,0:05:04.37,0:05:07.30,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,How do you write poetry\Nwithout an imagination?
Dialogue: 0,0:05:07.30,0:05:11.55,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So it was quite clear that this was
Dialogue: 0,0:05:11.55,0:05:14.97,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,a means of expression\Nthat was revolutionary.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:17.44,0:05:20.87,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,NARRATOR: The O.D. Heck Center\Nfor the Developmentally Disabled
Dialogue: 0,0:05:20.87,0:05:24.14,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,in Schenectady, New York,\Nruns a large autism program.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:27.73,0:05:29.50,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Before facilitated communication,
Dialogue: 0,0:05:29.50,0:05:31.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the staff never imagined that any
Dialogue: 0,0:05:31.99,0:05:36.67,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,of their nonverbal clients might\Nbe of normal intelligence.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:37.76,0:05:40.19,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But then speech pathologist Marian Pitsas
Dialogue: 0,0:05:40.19,0:05:44.06,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,heard about the new technique being\Npromoted at Syracuse University.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:48.99,0:05:51.12,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Together with her colleague Jimmy Maruska,
Dialogue: 0,0:05:51.12,0:05:53.27,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,she went to find out how it worked.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:56.22,0:05:58.51,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,MARIAN PITSAS: Three of us\Nwent for the training first
Dialogue: 0,0:05:58.51,0:06:01.17,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and we rapidly trained\Neveryone in our program,
Dialogue: 0,0:06:01.17,0:06:04.40,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,all three shifts, and had\Nmany, many clients typing
Dialogue: 0,0:06:04.40,0:06:07.47,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,at varying levels and with\Nvarying degrees of success
Dialogue: 0,0:06:07.47,0:06:10.16,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but it spread very, very quickly.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:13.19,0:06:14.47,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I thought it was wonderful.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:14.47,0:06:16.96,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,At last we were going to-- we were going to
Dialogue: 0,0:06:16.96,0:06:18.34,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,help these people communicate.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:18.34,0:06:20.97,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,We would find out what\Nthey really understood.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:24.32,0:06:27.48,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,JIMMY MARUSKA: Before, they\Nwere just another person
Dialogue: 0,0:06:27.48,0:06:29.11,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that I was helping with and teaching them
Dialogue: 0,0:06:29.11,0:06:31.56,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,some basic skills to help\Nthem survive out there,
Dialogue: 0,0:06:31.56,0:06:34.64,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but then here along comes a person\Nthat can share their thoughts,
Dialogue: 0,0:06:34.64,0:06:36.42,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that can talk to me.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:36.42,0:06:37.47,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I can talk to them.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:37.47,0:06:39.96,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,We can have a conversation that's relevant.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:39.96,0:06:43.56,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It was great. It was really super.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:43.56,0:06:45.40,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I mean, you couldn't ask for anything more.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:45.40,0:06:46.75,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,All of a sudden, these people that
Dialogue: 0,0:06:46.75,0:06:48.25,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,we always treated as low-functioning
Dialogue: 0,0:06:48.25,0:06:49.100,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,were right up there with us.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:52.30,0:06:53.36,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,NARRATOR: Ray Paglieri,
Dialogue: 0,0:06:53.36,0:06:55.06,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the director of the autism program,
Dialogue: 0,0:06:55.06,0:06:57.02,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,realized the enormous implications
Dialogue: 0,0:06:57.02,0:06:59.84,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,of the typed messages his\Nclients were now producing.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:59.84,0:07:01.53,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,RAY PAGLIERI: I was thinking
Dialogue: 0,0:07:01.53,0:07:04.28,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that certainly a large number,
Dialogue: 0,0:07:04.28,0:07:06.15,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,if not all of the folks\Nthat we were working with
Dialogue: 0,0:07:06.15,0:07:08.68,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,may, in fact, have normal intelligence.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:08.68,0:07:11.09,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I mean, we had people typing sentences,
Dialogue: 0,0:07:11.09,0:07:12.18,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,paragraphs, alike.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:12.18,0:07:14.40,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,We were thinking here we were going to
Dialogue: 0,0:07:14.40,0:07:16.53,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,redefine the whole notion of\Nwhat autism is all about.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:16.53,0:07:20.44,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,We trained the rest of our staff, okay?
Dialogue: 0,0:07:20.44,0:07:22.06,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,We literally were encouraging people
Dialogue: 0,0:07:22.06,0:07:23.38,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to work with everybody in the program.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:23.38,0:07:24.70,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,We were training as many\Npeople as we could,
Dialogue: 0,0:07:24.70,0:07:26.20,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,training people out in the community.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:26.20,0:07:27.23,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I mean, we were excited.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:27.23,0:07:29.60,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,We looked at it as literally\Na breakthrough technique.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:31.11,0:07:32.34,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,NARRATOR: So did the media.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:32.34,0:07:36.81,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,ANNOUNCER: [January 25, 1992] PrimeTime.\NNow, from New York, Diane Sawyer.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:36.81,0:07:39.03,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,DIANE SAWYER: And now a story about hope.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:39.03,0:07:42.33,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,For decades, autism has\Nbeen a dark mystery,
Dialogue: 0,0:07:42.33,0:07:45.74,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,a disorder that seems to turn\Nchildren in on themselves,
Dialogue: 0,0:07:45.74,0:07:46.84,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,against the world.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:46.84,0:07:49.24,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Tonight, however, you are\Ngoing to see something
Dialogue: 0,0:07:49.24,0:07:52.40,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that has changed that. Call it a miracle.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:52.40,0:07:54.40,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Call it an awakening.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:57.88,0:07:59.27,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,NARRATOR: Word of the new miracle
Dialogue: 0,0:07:59.29,0:08:01.94,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,of facilitated communication\Nspread rapidly.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:04.06,0:08:08.71,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Parents told teachers and\Nteachers told parents.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:12.17,0:08:14.47,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,TEACHER: The system that carries matter
Dialogue: 0,0:08:14.47,0:08:16.79,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,from one place to another?
Dialogue: 0,0:08:17.33,0:08:19.42,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,NARRATOR: Many schools embraced it.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:19.42,0:08:21.28,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,At Edward Smith Elementary\NSchool in Syracuse,
Dialogue: 0,0:08:21.28,0:08:23.56,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,children previously thought to be retarded
Dialogue: 0,0:08:23.56,0:08:26.06,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,now sat in classes with their peers,
Dialogue: 0,0:08:26.06,0:08:28.49,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,receiving age-appropriate instruction,
Dialogue: 0,0:08:28.49,0:08:32.86,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,studying math, studying biology.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:35.92,0:08:38.77,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,TEACHER: Plasma is correct PJ, nice job.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:39.47,0:08:41.34,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Dr. BIKLEN: Maybe you can say\Nwhat you want to point to.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:41.78,0:08:44.28,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,NARRATOR: A large group of individuals had,
Dialogue: 0,0:08:44.28,0:08:47.59,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,in Biklen's view, been greatly\Nunderestimated simply
Dialogue: 0,0:08:47.59,0:08:50.09,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,because they could not speak\Nor control their bodies.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:51.13,0:08:52.74,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Dr. BIKLEN: Why don't you show\Nus and then you try to say it.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:52.74,0:08:53.64,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,That's good.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:54.83,0:08:57.03,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Dr BIKLEN: I had always\Nbelieved that it was important
Dialogue: 0,0:08:57.03,0:08:59.82,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to treat people as competent,
Dialogue: 0,0:08:59.82,0:09:02.52,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,even though they didn't\Ngive off the signs of it.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:02.52,0:09:06.65,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,To me,that was just the--\Nthe humane thing to do.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:06.65,0:09:08.91,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,That was the sensitive thing to do.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:10.35,0:09:13.83,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The wonderful thing about\Nfacilitated communication
Dialogue: 0,0:09:13.83,0:09:16.84,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,is that once a person\Nbegins to communicate,
Dialogue: 0,0:09:16.84,0:09:19.92,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,you can ask the person,\N"What's going on here?"
Dialogue: 0,0:09:20.88,0:09:22.58,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Dr BIKLEN: Excellent! You got it right.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:24.75,0:09:26.08,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,NARRATOR: The words that emerged
Dialogue: 0,0:09:26.08,0:09:28.88,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,from the electronic\Ncommunicators and letter boards
Dialogue: 0,0:09:28.88,0:09:30.69,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,spoke of loneliness,
Dialogue: 0,0:09:30.69,0:09:33.91,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,of being trapped in a prison of silence,
Dialogue: 0,0:09:33.91,0:09:37.25,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,of slavery and of freedom.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:40.81,0:09:44.18,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,For Biklen, a simple\Ntechnique had redefined
Dialogue: 0,0:09:44.19,0:09:46.82,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,an entire group of\Ndisabled people.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:46.82,0:09:49.14,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Jeff Powell, for example, is no longer seen
Dialogue: 0,0:09:49.14,0:09:51.90,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,by his teachers and peers\Nas mentally retarded.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:51.90,0:09:56.12,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,He has become a celebrity at\NBaker High School in Syracuse.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:57.78,0:10:00.52,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,They stress he's an\Nacademically gifted student
Dialogue: 0,0:10:00.52,0:10:03.02,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,who writes poetry for the school yearbook.
Dialogue: 0,0:10:14.14,0:10:15.52,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But some people had their doubts
Dialogue: 0,0:10:15.52,0:10:17.16,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,about facilitated communication.
Dialogue: 0,0:10:17.16,0:10:19.94,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Dr. Howard Shane has devoted his life
Dialogue: 0,0:10:19.94,0:10:23.18,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to helping disabled nonverbal\Npeople to communicate.
Dialogue: 0,0:10:23.18,0:10:25.56,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,At Boston Children's Hospital,
Dialogue: 0,0:10:25.56,0:10:28.64,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,he runs a center which finds\Ntechnological solutions
Dialogue: 0,0:10:28.64,0:10:31.75,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,enabling disabled people\Nlike Tony Bonfiglio
Dialogue: 0,0:10:31.75,0:10:35.24,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,who has cerebral palsy, to\Ncommunicate independently.
Dialogue: 0,0:10:48.24,0:10:50.66,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Dr. SHANE: We have this\Nsaying in our center
Dialogue: 0,0:10:50.66,0:10:53.26,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that no person is too physically disabled
Dialogue: 0,0:10:53.26,0:10:54.58,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to be unable to communicate.
Dialogue: 0,0:10:54.58,0:10:57.64,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The slightest movement, winking of an eye,
Dialogue: 0,0:10:57.64,0:11:01.50,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,moving of an eyebrow, sipping\Nand puffing on a switch--
Dialogue: 0,0:11:01.50,0:11:04.83,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,on--on a straw would control a switch--
Dialogue: 0,0:11:04.83,0:11:09.14,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,finding that subtle\Nmovement is all you need
Dialogue: 0,0:11:09.14,0:11:11.15,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to be able to control the technology.
Dialogue: 0,0:11:11.15,0:11:15.12,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,VOICE SYNTHESIZER: Yes, I\Nhave made many good friends.
Dialogue: 0,0:11:15.12,0:11:18.53,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,NARRATOR: Thanks to computers,\Nthousands of nonverbal people
Dialogue: 0,0:11:18.53,0:11:20.59,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,can express themselves independently.
Dialogue: 0,0:11:20.59,0:11:23.65,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,With such equipment\Navailable, Shane questioned,
Dialogue: 0,0:11:23.65,0:11:27.46,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,why should autistic people need\Nanother person to hold their hands?
Dialogue: 0,0:11:27.46,0:11:30.39,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Biklen says autism is special.
Dialogue: 0,0:11:31.15,0:11:33.97,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Dr. BIKLEN: Last week, I had conversations
Dialogue: 0,0:11:33.97,0:11:34.71,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,with several people.
Dialogue: 0,0:11:34.71,0:11:39.78,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,One person said, "It slows me down.
Dialogue: 0,0:11:39.78,0:11:41.86,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It helps me by slowing me down.
Dialogue: 0,0:11:41.86,0:11:44.86,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,When I'm not slowed down, I get garbage.
Dialogue: 0,0:11:44.86,0:11:49.78,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I get unwanted words. I get a\Nlot of letters strung together
Dialogue: 0,0:11:49.78,0:11:52.47,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that don't make a word.\NWhen I'm slowed down,
Dialogue: 0,0:11:52.47,0:11:54.08,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I can type what I want."
Dialogue: 0,0:11:58.63,0:12:00.89,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,NARRATOR: But critics\Nlike Shane were amazed
Dialogue: 0,0:12:00.89,0:12:02.21,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,at the sophisticated output.
Dialogue: 0,0:12:02.21,0:12:05.22,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Autistic children of 5 and 6 produced
Dialogue: 0,0:12:05.22,0:12:06.90,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,perfectly spelled sentences.
Dialogue: 0,0:12:09.90,0:12:12.01,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Where had they learned to read and write?
Dialogue: 0,0:12:17.78,0:12:20.16,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,A difficult question had to be faced.
Dialogue: 0,0:12:20.16,0:12:22.100,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Was the typing coming from\Nthe autistic individual
Dialogue: 0,0:12:22.100,0:12:25.68,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,or from the facilitator?
Dialogue: 0,0:12:26.85,0:12:29.02,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Dr. SHANE: The outcomes\Nthat were being reported
Dialogue: 0,0:12:29.02,0:12:30.37,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,were just so far out of line
Dialogue: 0,0:12:30.37,0:12:32.11,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,with what anyone had ever found.
Dialogue: 0,0:12:33.81,0:12:36.83,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,They're communicating in\Ngrammatically complete sentences.
Dialogue: 0,0:12:36.83,0:12:39.89,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,They're marking the tense correctly.
Dialogue: 0,0:12:39.89,0:12:41.61,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Their spelling is accurate.
Dialogue: 0,0:12:41.61,0:12:45.74,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,They have insights that go\Nfar beyond their years.
Dialogue: 0,0:12:45.74,0:12:48.39,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Dr. BIKLEN: [reading]\N"Understanding is so hard.
Dialogue: 0,0:12:48.39,0:12:51.28,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I long to see it real.
Dialogue: 0,0:12:51.28,0:12:56.27,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I just hope, really hope,\Nit's not a lost ideal.
Dialogue: 0,0:12:56.27,0:13:00.50,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,As I said, many of the accounts\Ncoming from people with--
Dialogue: 0,0:13:00.50,0:13:04.56,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,who are using facilitated communication\Nas their means of expression
Dialogue: 0,0:13:04.56,0:13:06.85,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,have to do with loneliness.
Dialogue: 0,0:13:06.85,0:13:09.20,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Dr. BILKEN: I think it's\Nrather obvious that the way
Dialogue: 0,0:13:09.20,0:13:11.13,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,in which these children learned to read
Dialogue: 0,0:13:11.13,0:13:13.58,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,was the way that most\Nof us learned to read--
Dialogue: 0,0:13:13.58,0:13:17.43,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that is, by being immersed in\Na language-rich environment.
Dialogue: 0,0:13:17.43,0:13:20.49,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,You go into good pre-school classrooms
Dialogue: 0,0:13:20.49,0:13:23.71,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and you'll see words\Neverywhere, labeling objects,
Dialogue: 0,0:13:23.71,0:13:25.02,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,labeling pictures.
Dialogue: 0,0:13:25.02,0:13:28.00,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,You look at Sesame Street.
Dialogue: 0,0:13:28.00,0:13:29.46,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,We're introducing words.
Dialogue: 0,0:13:29.46,0:13:31.55,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,We're giving people whole words.
Dialogue: 0,0:13:31.55,0:13:33.74,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,We're also introducing\Nthem to the alphabet.
Dialogue: 0,0:13:33.74,0:13:35.59,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,On the other hand, having said that,
Dialogue: 0,0:13:35.59,0:13:39.27,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,it does seem to me that there's\Nsomething unusual going on here
Dialogue: 0,0:13:39.27,0:13:42.27,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,when you see a number\Nof children with autism
Dialogue: 0,0:13:42.27,0:13:45.39,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,who seem to have precocious ability.
Dialogue: 0,0:13:45.39,0:13:46.87,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,That is, they know a lot of words
Dialogue: 0,0:13:46.87,0:13:51.97,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and very often, you know, quite long words.
Dialogue: 0,0:13:51.97,0:13:54.79,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,You know, how is this? Is there something
Dialogue: 0,0:13:54.79,0:13:58.55,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,about the disability that allows\Nthem to focus in on language
Dialogue: 0,0:13:58.55,0:14:02.34,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and to be able to put together words?
Dialogue: 0,0:14:03.52,0:14:05.43,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,NARRATOR: A very small\Nnumber of autistic people,
Dialogue: 0,0:14:05.43,0:14:08.68,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,"savants," have spectacular\Nabilities in narrow areas.
Dialogue: 0,0:14:08.68,0:14:12.56,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,EXPERIMENTER: The 17th of December, 1974.
Dialogue: 0,0:14:12.56,0:14:17.14,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,SAVANT: That was a-- a Tuesday.
Dialogue: 0,0:14:17.14,0:14:21.52,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,EXPERIMENTER: The 10th of June, 1917.
Dialogue: 0,0:14:21.52,0:14:28.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,SAVANT: It-- it was a-- a Sunday.
Dialogue: 0,0:14:28.99,0:14:34.80,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,EXPERIMENTER: The 1st of March, 2044.
Dialogue: 0,0:14:34.80,0:14:39.21,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,SAVANT: It-- it will be a Tuesday.