Fwd: [ascendgroup] Asperger's-WHYY-Thursday, Jan. 10-Today's Man

[Guest guest]

Start the year off right. Easy ways to stay in shape in the new year.

Start the year off right. Easy ways to stay in shape in the new year.

http://www.pbs.org/independentlens/todaysman/Independent Lens

Today's Man

Thursday, January 10, 10:00pm

CHANNEL 12 (WHYY)

TODAY'S MAN tells the story of Nicky Gottlieb, a former child

genius who, at age 21, is diagnosed with Asperger Syndrome. People with

Asperger's, which is a form of autism, tend to be highly

intelligent—often geniuses in certain subjects—but are unable to pick

up on social cues. The subtleties of body language, facial expression,

tones or gestures are lost to Nicky, and his own behavior can be

considered by others to be bizarre and inappropriate.

One in 160 children today are born with some form of autism.

Although Asperger Syndrome is considered to be on the high-functioning

end of the autistic spectrum, it was only recognized in the U.S. in

1994. While there are an increasing number of resources for Asperger's

children, there are surprisingly few organizations and programs for

adults with the syndrome, resulting in a "lost generation" of people

like Nicky who must find their own ways to navigate life with this

perplexing disorder.

TODAY'S MAN follows Nicky as he struggles to leave the safety of his

family's home and the comfort of his favorite TV shows in order to find

a job and an apartment. Made by Nicky's sister Lizzie Gottlieb, the

film is a sister's search to understand her brother's mysterious inner

life and a larger effort to comprehend Asberger Syndrome and the people

who struggle with it.

Updates

Filmmaker Lizzie Gottlieb provided updates in November 2007 on what Nicky has been up to since filming ended:

Nicky is still living at home with our parents.

He is teaching Italian to two ladies and tutoring high school kids in math.

The most significant thing that has happened is that he has made a friend.

He didn't go back to the Asperger group that he goes to at the end of

the film, but he did start going to a different group where he met a

lovely young woman who also has Asperger Syndrome. They talk on the

phone daily and go out to dinner and to museums. They enjoy each other

and feel that they are helping each other. This is the first friend

Nicky has ever had who is a peer.

The most exciting thing that has happened to Nicky is that he has

spoken on the phone —twice—to Mrs. , wife of his hero. He is

planning a trip to Pittsburgh to possibly meet her and to view old Mr.

episodes that are not available elsewhere.

Nicky and I have been traveling to festivals and events to screen

the movie. He and I answer questions afterwards. He is poised and

articulate, funny, insightful and happy, but seems to take it all in

stride. People congratulate him and even sometimes ask for his

autograph.

We are hoping to find a way for him to live on his own. We would

like to create a home for young adults with Asperger Syndrome, where

they could live independently, but with some supervision. And maybe

Locklear could stop by.