Feel free to print off this list of questions to discuss among your group.
You can also share your ideas about the following questions by commenting at the end of this page. You are also welcome to add your own questions.
Questions about our film
- What impressed me most in this film?
- Do I identify with the key characters Matthew, Dave, Geena or Professor McCord?
- This film speaks to me. How can I learn more about respectful ways of including adults with ASD in my community?
- I’d like to get to know someone with Autism as a friend. I’d feel more comfortable doing this in a small group. Is this possible?
- Someone we know may have undiagnosed ASD. Should we suggest trying to get help?
- Why did you make a dramatic film with actors rather than a documentary of real people living with ASD?
- What does the title “Holding in the Storm” mean to me? What is the difference between “Holding IN the storm” and “HOLDING in the storm”?
- Why is Matthew depicted as so quiet and mild-mannered? Isn’t he supposed to be severely autistic?
- How typical is Matthew of others with Autism?
- Matthew’s thought voice expresses very surprising thoughts that don’t seem matched by his facial expressions. Why doesn’t his face betray those thoughts and feelings? Why can’t he look Dave in the eyes?
- Why can’t Matthew speak with his voice?
- What is going on that makes Matthew feel he is in a storm?
- How is Matthew able to hold in his stormy feelings?
- How common is it for people with Autism to feel joy and peace in calm quiet environments?
- What is Matthew’s dog supposed to do for him?
- Why isn’t Matthew working at a job? People with disabilities should be doing some useful work for the rest of the community.
- Matthew can’t speak but he can compose poetry? How did he learn to read?
- How does Supported Typing help Matthew to express himself?
- If Matthew is so severely affected by Autism that he can’t speak, should he be out on his own?
- If Matthew can’t speak, isn’t he in danger of being misunderstood by the police? What happens if he can’t give his name?
- Wouldn’t it be better for Matthew to be in a group of other people with Autism or disabilities?
- What is Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)?
- Why are more people being identified with ASD now?
- We know about children with Autism, but I never heard much about autistic adults before. How is ASD experienced in adulthood?
- How many people live with ASD?
- We mainly hear about boys with Autism: what about girls and women? Don’t they have ASD?
- What is AAC?
- How can I find out more about Autism Spectrum Disorder?
- There is someone who may be autistic in my neighbourhood. But I’m wary of greeting him when we pass on the street, for fear he will be upset and perhaps blow up. How can I do better?
- This film speaks to me. How can I learn more about respectful ways of including adults with ASD in my community?
- I’d like to get to know someone with Autism and be more accepting. I’d feel more comfortable doing this in a small group than one on one. Is this possible?
- Someone we know may have undiagnosed ASD. Should we suggest trying to get help?
I am the man who composed the theme poem for this movie, “What it’s like to be me”. I like and admire the movie very much, though I usually tend to prefer documentary films and non-fiction.
ReplyDeleteI hope that our Bridges-Over-Barriers group will discuss the film some more but here are some thoughts. I love the beauty of the sights and sounds in the film and the contrasts between the peaceful park setting and the busy and noisy lecture theatre.
I know that the film was intended to help neurotypical people understand what it’s like to live with Autism as an adult. But other viewers might like to know that the film also helped with another line of the poem, “I wonder what it’s like to be you?”
Some people have wondered if we autistics would feel insulted and hurt by the attitudes of the “neurotypicals” to us. In fact, I really learned about other people from the film. I saw the “Dave” guy as very enthusiastic and think he would be a great friend. He was very excited about his girl. He was expected to be nervous. Perhaps at first he was insensitive to Matthew but when the girl said she knew Matty he was different. I think many of my friends are like him.
The students were good just like students at the university. They are still young and not sure how to make good decisions on what to say. They will learn hopefully. I would not say those words--that someone is a schizo. I think we need to remember that we are all different as well. I think that I will try to laugh like the students to practice for my university years. I think I will be safer learning from here. I will always be a student. I never stop learning.
I think it was a great day and glad I could talk to people. I think that made it real for them. I see they were curious as to what I was typing with Beth’s support. It was the highlight for me to see people understand the meaning of the film and be sincere not just nice. Sometimes people just say nice things and don’t understand. I see this in their eyes. They don’t seem to really feel comfortable talking to me, but that film day they seemed to know what to say.