Asahi Shimbun Morning Edition, September 11, 1999
A child who does not smile when looking at their mother. A child who avoids eye contact. A child who does not follow objects with their eyes. The concept of autism as a developmental disorder was introduced only about half a century ago. The film Rain Man (1988) significantly advanced public understanding of autism.
In the film, Tom Cruise plays a young man who runs a parallel car import business. Upon reading his father’s will, he discovers that he has an older brother who has been institutionalized for many years due to autism. Dustin Hoffman portrays this older brother, the "Rain Man," who refuses to go outside when it rains.
The film describes autism as follows:
"In the past, it was often confused with dementia. Autism involves impairments in sensory input processing, communication, and learning abilities. Those with autism struggle to express and understand emotions. Because they fear the outside world, they take refuge in repetitive, ritualistic behaviors. They dislike any disruption to the patterns of their daily lives, including sleep, meals, and walking routines."
Their father’s three-million-dollar inheritance is entrusted to the older brother’s physician. The younger brother, struggling in his business, takes his brother out of the institution in hopes of claiming the inheritance. Driving their father’s 1949 Buick, they set off from Cincinnati to Los Angeles, where the younger brother lives. Over the course of their journey, the younger brother gradually uncovers hidden aspects of their family’s history, thanks to his brother’s extraordinary memory. As his understanding of autism deepens, he begins to call his brother his "main man"—his best friend.
Dr. William Dement, a psychiatrist dedicated to sleep research, once proposed an intriguing hypothesis: the origin of the family lies in the act of sleeping close together for protection against wild beasts.
These days, however, more couples are choosing to sleep in separate bedrooms because of a spouse’s snoring. Sons and daughters often retreat to their own rooms early in the evening. Sleep is no longer what binds families together. Family relationships, too, are facing a crisis.
While some individuals with autism possess extraordinary abilities, in reality, many have severe intellectual disabilities as well. Even for those with talent, pain is still pain.
Because autism is a condition that fundamentally impairs communication, treatment must be accompanied by developmental education.
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