More films

In this section is a list of films recommended by colleagues and readers (with activities, if supplied). Have you seen a film recently that raises issues around people with impairments? Please email your recommendations to Education resources.

A is for Autism

This award-winning animation offers an insight into the condition of autism, with words, drawings and music and animation all contributed by people with autism. It addresses very different aspects and forms of autism. The narration is by some of the small proportion of people with autism who are able to recount their thoughts and feelings, describing the problems and pleasures in their lives. One of the narrators is Temple Grandin, who coached Dustin Hoffman for his role in Rain Man.

Using drawings, some people with autism recount how they feel and their early experiences of being different.

• 'My hearing and eyesight was like an un-tuned television.'
• 'Cannot take the rhythmic pattern of conversation and often interrupt.'
• 'I was always obsessed with time.'
• 'Ask the same question over and over again because I liked the sound of the answer.'
• 'Sometimes I just like spinning a coin as I can concentrate and I don't have to hear the deafening noise of you speaking'.

These are just some of the comments that people with autism make in this film.

Make sure you prepare the ground by covering the material in the Introducing disability in class guidelines before looking at issues in any specific film.

A is for Autism is available on DVD and VHS from bfi Video

Activities on A is for Autism

1. Watch the film. Try to describe autism from what was said in the film.
2. Describe how the filmmakers have used the pictures to create an impression of autism as a condition.
3. One contributor tells how at school no one wanted to play with him because he was different, as he used to flap his arm. Do you think it is fair not to include some children because they are different? What are the things you might do to include them in your games?