Update—December 21, 2009
Kim Peek—Home for Christmas

I received a sad phone call from Fran Peek about dinner time on Saturday, December 19, 2009. He called to tell me Kim Peek had died suddenly of a heart attack earlier that afternoon. Kim had not been ill and he and his Dad were looking forward to the Holiday season. They had been opening Christmas cards earlier in the day and Kim liked them all. Kim had his 58th birthday in November.

There has never been, and there will never be, another person like Kim Peek. His talents were unique, exceptional and spectacular. And the story of the love and bond between he and his Dad was inspirational. Their willingness to share both the skills and the story with so many audiences world-wide so unselfishly was their gift to us. Kim says “Rain Man changed my life.” Well, Kim, you in turn, along with your Dad, touched and changed our lives as well.

Last night I looked up and saw a new star in the heavens. It shown brightly but it had a uniquely different shape than all the rest. It was truly one of a kind. Kim was one of a kind.

Kim went home for Christmas.

Kim always said he and his Dad shared the same shadow. While you would expect that shadow to be dimmed a bit now, I don't think it is. It remains as as a refreshing, indelible memory of a most unique and special person. It was a privilege to have known him.

Fran and Kim were never into e mail and the internet. Kim was his own internet and was a living Google. But if you have a message you would like to send to Fran by e mail you can send it to daroldt@charter.net and I will personally see to it that Fran gets those in my correspondence with him.

Darold Treffert


Update—December 7, 2009
On-line exhibit of Greg Blackstock's art

Beginning December 3, 2009 there is an on-line art exhibit of Greg Blackstock's remarkable 'collections'. It can be accessed at www.garde-rail.com. His newer works are equally as colorful, and comprehensive, as his earlier drawings. The Garde-rail gallery itself has moved from Seattle, Washington to Austin, Texas.


Update—November 2, 2009
Islands of Genius: The Book

The recent CBS Early Morning Show coverage on Stephen Wiltshire's spectacular panoramic drawing of New York City mentioned Dr. Treffert's upcoming book on savant syndrome titled Islands of Genius: The Bountiful Mind of the Autistic, Acquired and Sudden Savant. That book is currently in production by Jessica Kingsley Publishers in London and will be released in April 2010. It is a follow-up to Extraordinary People: Understanding Savant Syndrome from iUniverse.com, with its most recent revision in 2006.

This new book builds on the earlier book, but explores in much more depth the acquired ("accidental") savant, the neurotypical ("normal") savant and the "sudden" savant, all of which, along with genetic ("ancestral") memory, hint at dormant potential within us all. Very positive and optimistic follow-up is provided on the savants first described in Extraordinary People, along with a number of fascinating new individuals with these special skills. The CBS program left the impression for some that this new book was already out, but rather it will be available in spring 2010.


Update—October 29, 2009
Stephen Wiltshire /Early Morning Show: Dr. Treffert comments

After an entire week of drawing New York City after a brief helicopter ride on a 20 foot canvas, Stephen Wiltshire will complete his marvelous work on Friday, October 30, right on time. As a part of that week-long programming Dr. Treffert appeared to provide some perspective on savant abilities in persons with autism, and the usefulness of "training the talent" in over all development and progress of these special people. You can view those comments at http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=5448345n&tag=cbsnewsVideoArea.0.


Update—October 26, 2009
Stephen Wiltshire—Live From New York!

Beginning on Monday, October 26, 2009 The Early Show on CBS is broadcasting on-going segments daily of Stephen Wiltshire drawing an aerial view of Manhattan in New York after a brief helicopter fly-over of the city. There is information about Stephen, video clips from the daily broadcasts and a live continuous video-cam of Stephen at work on a massive 20 foot canvas for this gigantic project. All of this can be accessed at www.earlyshow.cbsnews.com. Stephen hints that this may be his last such project because he wants to get on to something more creative. He says he "saved the best for last."


Update—October 7, 2009
"Autistic-like" vs. "Autistic Disorder" vs. "Autism"

There were some new figures released this week on the incidence of autistic spectrum disorders raising the numbers of autistic children from 1 in 150 to 1 in 100.

But wait a minute: caution advised. One of the two studies arriving at that figure was based on a telephone survey, and the other from reviews of educational and other records; not face to face clinical evaluations. Until direct clinical evaluations are done using standardized and rigid history and symptom criteria, one must be very careful before making the diagnosis of Autistic Disorder or even Autistic Spectrum Disorder or just "Autism."

In my 50 years of observing autistic disorder in conjunction with my work on savant syndrome, I have been careful to point out the difference between autistic 'symptoms' and autistic 'disorder.' There are many conditions such as hyperlexia, or Sensory Processing Disorder, or even blindness, in which children, for a time, show autistic-like symptoms, but they are not autistic. A number of savants, who are not autistic, do show some autistic 'symptoms.'

No doubt the failure to make this critical distinction between autistic disorder and autistic symptoms fuels the increase in the number of "autistic" children said to be 'epidemic' in proportion. More important than the numbers, however, is the fact that there is a vast difference in outcome between 'autistic-like' symptoms and 'autistic disorder' And that distinction can provide a great deal of relief to parents over-whelmed by the 'autism' diagnosis when the 'autistic-like' sub-group, with an excellent prognosis, is finally sorted out.

In my opinion, there is an actual increase in autism, but it is not at an epidemic level. Actually, in fact, there is an increase in ALL congenital abnormalities, and that would include autistic disorder. Part of this increase overall is due to a very significant increase in premature births worldwide. In my view both these phenomenon are probably environmentally (toxic) induced. I have a paper posted on this web site regarding that dynamic.

Also, to put the 1 in 100 figure in perspective, along with the CDC figures, I would refer you to an online article in Atlantic Magazine titled "Behind the Autism Statistic" by Jody Becker. It addresses the autism-like vs. autism issue. It focuses on one families struggle with this issue and all that it entails. It also points out the difficulty in separating the medical diagnoses from educational diagnoses and 'from 'get-help' labels to qualify for services.

That article also references a movie by the parents in the Atlantic Magazine story about their son, and his autistic-like symptoms. You can see the trailer to that movie at www.autisticlike.com.

Until we confine the diagnosis of 'autism' to autistic disorder narrowly defined by strict criteria based on face to face clinical observation and testing there must be caution about any conclusions or numerical projections. The beginning of wisdom is to call things by their right name, and we need to do a much better job of that as we seek the true incidence and prevalence. and then the cause, of autistic disorder. And part of that disciplined approach is to separate out 'autistic-like' symptoms from 'autistic disorder.'

Update—September 2, 2009 Seth Chwast and "Visions of Galapagos" On September 24, 2009, there will be a reception celebrating paintings and sculptures by Seth Chwast. More background on Seth and his remarkable abilities is posted elsewhere on this site.

Update—August 29, 2009
Matt is off to college

Hard to believe, since I met him when he was only twelve years old, that Matt Savage is off to college. He will be starting his Freshman year at Berklee College of Music in Boston this month. His reputation as a jazz musician continues to escalate world-wide. You can see and hear him solo or with the Matt Savage Trio on youtube at http://www.youtube.com/user/mattsavagejazz. Matt again this summer attended the Stanford (University) Jazz Residency in California and is looking forward to his college years. He will be the second musical savant to attend Berklee. Tony DeBlois graduated from Berklee magna cum-laude several years ago.


Update—August 27, 2009
Some attention to adults with autism

As awareness of autism in children has risen nationwide, so has the fact that many of these 'children' are now becoming adults. Whereas services for the under 18 age group have been quite plentiful in recent years, not so for services for adults. This gap in services has been gradually gaining attention and this week it was announced that Massachusetts General Hospital received a 29 million dollar grant to its childhood autism program and will use a portion of those funds to establish a "major adult component to its pediatric autism program." That program acknowledges that autism can be a lifelong condition and that the network of available services needs to recognize that reality. More information about that program can be accessed at the Boston Globe Web site.


Update—August 6, 2009
Three films "about life, not disability" in Asperger's Syndrome

It is 21 years since Rain Man made 'autistic savant' household terms. Now three films put Asperger's Syndrome front and center. At the Sundance Film Festival this year two films regarding persons with Asperger's were featured.

Adam, a film about a young man with Asperger's and his neurotypical girlfriend won the Sloan Award. Mary and Max is an animated film based on a true story of a penpal relationship over many years between two persons with Asperger's. An HBO biopic about Temple Grandin will be released next year. Adam is an already popular film where it has been shown and is described in the New York Times (August 3, 2009 Health Section) this way: "Adam is about life, not his disability."

It is good to see Asperger's portrayed sensitively as a part of the mainstream of human existence, because it certainly truly is. I look forward to seeing all three films.


Update—July 14, 2009
Children with autism as adults: A successful approach

There is so much written about children with autism. There is so little written about those children now grown up. Of the 1.5 million persons with autism spectrum disorder in the United States, 300,000 (20%) are age 22 or older. 79% of adults with autism still live at home. 76% of teenagers with autism have never (yet) looked for a job. There is an excellent, optimistic article on this topic in the Arizona Republic on-line dated July 12, 2009. It points out the problem but then describes the approaches and successes of the decade old Opus West Vocational & Life Skills Academy run by the Southwest Autism Research & Resource Center in Phoenix, Arizona. There are classes for adults with autism in cooking, cleaning and money management. There are also classes on how to find work. The article tells of a number of successful placement programs for adults with autism in several local industries including restaurants, theaters and stores.

The opportunity of matching willing employers with persons with autism extends of course to individuals with savant syndrome as well. Through this Web site, I am learning about more and more successful matches of savant special skills to many positions, including some very high-level positions where the unique skills are of particular value. There are several agencies now in various countries who specialize specifically in matching persons with Asperger's Disorder with willing employers.

All of this is a good thing, and a natural outcome of children with autism, asperger's and savant syndrome becoming adults. The article is an especially comprehensive description of one autism resource center's successful approach to this natural and expected increase the number of adults, once children, with autism spectrum disorders.


Update—July 11, 2009
In Search of the Inner Savant: Accidental Genius

The May, 2009 issue of Frontiers in Neuroscience (Volume 3 No 1) contains a special section on "Augmenting Cognition." There is an article in that section by Dr. Treffert titled "In Search of the Inner Savant," focusing on recent cases of the acquired savant as "accidental genius." More and more such cases are appearing in which savant abilities suddenly surface in neurotypical persons when no such prior special skills existed. This provides additional evidence to support the phenomenon of an inner savant, and gives impetus to the search for accessing such dormant skills without CNS incident. Many of those cases have come to attention via this Web site, and additional information about that search will continue to be posted here.


Update—June 10, 2009
Extraordinary People published in Vietnamese Edition

Extraordinary People: Understanding Savant Syndrome was published by the Women Publishing House in Hanoi, Vietnam in May, 2009. That book is now available in English, Japanese, Swedish, Italian, Simple Chinese, Complex Chinese and Korean editions.


Update—June 9, 2009
Go, Kodi, Go

Kodi Lee, and his band—The Chillbodi's—performed marvelously and energetically at the Fifth Annual Friendship Circle Recognition Dinner at the Pfister Hotel in Milwaukee, Wisconsin on June 7, 2009. The Friendship Circle's team of volunteers lends a helping hand to adults and families with children with special needs by involving them in a full range of social and Judaic experiences. This banquet honored those volunteers.

Kodi and his band were received enthusiastically and were given a well deserved standing ovation at the end of their performance. Kodi plays keyboard and sings, accompanied by his friends—five very talented high school students from his community in Utah. A favorite piece of the audience was Kodi's rendition of "If I were a rich man" from Fiddler on the Roof. Kodi had heard that lengthy song for the first time on a CD on the plane ride to Milwaukee. He memorized it in its entirety and sang it masterfully the next day at the concert.

Kodi also did some recording while in Milwaukee and was thrilled to receive a phone call from Stevie Wonder who wants to get together with Kodi soon for some time to play and sing together. Perhaps it will be possible to post some video from the banquet performance on this Web site. In the meantime, you can learn more about Kodi on his Web site at www.kodilee.com.


Update—June 8, 2009
Matt Savage: On to the Berklee College of Music

Matt Savage, another marvelous musician, continues his busy concert schedule in a number of different settings. Matt's mother, Diane, advises me that Matt has been accepted at the Berklee College of Music in Boston and will begin his studies in September. Berklee is the same school Tony DeBlois attended with very impressive results. Matt will also attend the Stanford Jazz Residency in California this summer. And Matt recently won Second Place in the International Songwriting Competition for his song "A 6/4 Song (That's also in 6/4)." He is also working on another new album at the present time.


Update—May 30, 2009
Wil Kerner has a new Web site

Wil Kerner, the Cutout Kid, has an all new fun Web site at www.wilspapercutouts.com dedicated "to all children who have not yet found their special niche." Wil speaks with colors and shapes formed with a scissors he holds in a very unique way. His cutouts are full of expression, color and joy. The new Web site provides more information about him and a gallery of his works, along with some other features. Wil smiles a lot and viewing his works brings forth smiles in return. Check it out.


Update—May 29, 2009
More recognition for Ping Lian's artwork

Ping Lian will have his permanent gallery in Malaysia beginning in July, 2009. It is a project of The Art Commune and is supported by the JPMorgan Chase Foundation in collaboration with the Association of British Women in Malaysia. Also, in May 2009, the University Medical Center at Princeton, New Jersey, hosted an international juried exhibition and sale of original art and fine crafts featuring artists with disabilities. Three pieces of Ping Lian's original art works were chosen for this exhibition, which will run from May 2 to June 17. Ping Lian received First Prize in this juried exhibition for his ink work Christ Church Malacca IV. Some of his pieces also were included in the Strokes of Genius: Extraordinary Savant Art Exhibit, which was at the United Nations Plaza beginning May 21, 2009. Ping Lian's Web site is www.pinglian.com.


Update—May 18, 2009
Amanda LaMunyon—A Middle Level School National Honoree

Each year, ten young Americans are selected for national recognition in the Prudential Spirit of Community and Scholarship Awards program based on their outstanding achievements in community service and school success. Five students are High School Honorees and five students are Middle Level School Honorees chosen in a national competition. For 2009 Amanda LaMunyon, age 14, from Enid Oklahoma was chosen as one of the five such outstanding students and volunteers representing Middle Level Schools. Amanda's profile is posted elsewhere on this site.

The bio on Amanda accompanying the award reads as follows:

Presently Amanda is in eighth grade at Oklahoma Bible Academy. She performs at charitable events, sells cards and prints of her paintings to raise money for sick children, and draws upon her experience with autism to educate others about the disorder. After Amanda was diagnosed at age 8 with Asperger's Syndrome, a form of autism, her parents encouraged various activities to find something that will help her focus. "Thankfully I found that I could paint, and I learned to focus of something I loved," Amanda said. She discovered she had the ability to help others when she gave one of her paintings to a former teacher who had cancer and later learned that it had greatly lifted her spirits when she was dying. "I couldn't believe something I and done meant so much," she said. "This changed the entire direction of my life."

One of five outstanding Middle Level School students in America! What an honor.

And Amanda continues to be a very busy girl. She will be competing this month in the America's National Teenager event. If selected for that honor, Amanda intends to bring more visibility to concerns about autism overall, but more specifically to overcoming its challenges on an individual basis. She feels that as a spokesperson for such a cause "I can make a difference." She would. Stay tuned.


Update—May 17, 2009
Flo and Kay: The Rain Man Twins

Flo and Kay are the only identical twin female savants known to-date. Recently The Learning Channel and Discovery Channel have been playing an hour long documentary about the twins in the U.S. and the program has been re-aired in the U.K. Judging from the many e-mails received after each broadcast, the story of these two remarkable sisters touches many.

All of their lives the twins have had remarkable memories. They can tell you the day of the week, and the weather on any particular day in the past. They also know the name, date and recording artist from any song written in the 1960's, 70's or 80's. They have been particularly obsessed with the T.V. program The $100,000 Pyramid, and its host, Dick Clark. They remember the questions and answers from those many programs, and have kept documentation of every every outfit Dick Clark wore on that program from its first to final episode.

Dave Wagner, a news anchor who aired the first program about the twins, became a good friend of theirs and it was he who arranged for Flo and Kay to meet personally with Dick Clark on two occasions. Mr. Clark has also befriended the twins, and they keep in touch with him on a regular basis. In addition to their astounding factual memory for television shows and music, their autobiographical memory for daily events in their lives is equally astonishing.

Flo and Kay visited Fond du Lac and met with Dr. Treffert for the filming of The Rain Man Twins. They are a delightful, joyful duo with truly extraordinary memory and calendar calculating skills. Their closeness shows up with one finishing the others sentences at some times, or both answering questions together as if in a single voice at other times. Their lives have not been easy ones, but they remain optimistic and certainly are endearing.

A clip of the documentary can be accessed at http://splicetv.com/work/clients/flo_and_kay_twin_savants.html.


Update—April 20, 2009
Derek Paravicini - 2009 Tour with the Emerald Ensemble
TV's 'musical genius' Derek Paravicini, the world famous musical savant, performs in his first tour with the Emerald Ensemble Chamber Orchestra playing classical, blues and jazz standards as well as sensational improvisations based on audience requests. Although severely learning-impaired and blind, Derek has a unique musical mind that moves and astonishes all those who hear him play.

Wednesday June 3 at 7:45 p.m.
St George's Bristol
www.stgeorgesbristol.co.uk | 0845 40 24 001

Monday June 8 at 7:30 p.m.
LONDON DEBUT CONCERT
Southbank Centre's Queen Elizabeth Hall
www.southbankcentre.co.uk | 0871 663 2500

Sunday June 14 at 3 p.m.
Christchurch, Nailsworth, Gloucestershire Box office
0117 924 3159


Update—April 19, 2009
A Savant Art Exhibit at the United Nations

There will be a special art exhibit called "Strokes of Genius:Extraordinary Savant Art Exhibition" at the United Nations Plaza in New York beginning May 21, 2009, with a reception to meet some of the artists. Artwork of Stephen Wiltshire, Ping Lian Yeak, Temple Grandin, Donna Williams, Jonathan Lerman and many more will be featured. The exhibit has been arranged by Dr. Rosa C. Martinez of New York City. More information about the event, including a slide show of the exhibition, can be obtained from Dr. Martinez at RCMPHD1@verizon.net. She can provide information about invitations and exact times and location.

Update—April 18, 2009 A New Review Article on Savant Syndrome A review article by Dr. Treffert titled "The Savant Syndrome:An Extraordinary Condition. A Synopsis: Past, Present, Future" has been published on-line by The Royal Society in London at doi:10.1098/rstb.2008.0326. That article has been published as well in the Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society at Phil.Trans.R.Soc. B (2009) 364:1351-1357. The paper was part of the "Autism and Talent" discussion meeting in London in Fall 2008.

Update—April 10, 2009
Perfect Pitch and Teaching the Musical Savant

I get many "I've got a son or daughter who..." e-mails from parents wanting some information about savant syndrome and special skills. Most often those describe precocious musical ability as the special skill. Many of these children have perfect pitch. Susan Rancer, registered music therapist, has written a booklet with information about perfect pitch and the special type of musical instruction appropriate to the auditory learning persons with perfect pitch require. I regularly refer interested parents to this booklet which is available from Ms. Rancer at susanrmt@comcast.net The booklet costs $10 plus $1 for shipping. Proceeds go to Familial Dysautonomia Hope. Directions for ordering the booklet can be found at www.susanrancer.com. Also, there is additional information about perfect pitch in the article sections of this Web site.


Update—April 7, 2009
A Bridge to Genius

Rex Lewis-Clack is a musical savant who has been featured on 60 Minutes on three occasions. An article by Kim Lamb Gregory titled "A Bridge to Genius" appeared in the April 5, 2009 newspaper Ventura County Star. It can be accessed on line at http://venturacountystar.com/news/2009/apr/05/a-bridge-to-genius/. As part of that on-line posting there is a video clip of Rex as well. The article is very well done in an informative and sensitive manner.


Update—March 23, 2009
Taylor Crowe's Lecture: Autism From the Inside

Taylor Crowe and his father invited me to attend a presentation Taylor was giving in Wisconsin to over 500 speech and language therapists on March 17, 2009. I am so glad I attended. Taylor's story is inspirational, to be sure. Normal development to age 3; massive late onset autism regression with loss of language and other typical autism behaviors; intensive multi-modality treatment and unbridled love and support from parents; graduation from the California Institute of the Arts with recognized, extraordinary art and graphic art skills two years ago; his father being able to introduce to this professional group his son, now a public speaker. But beyond inspiration, Taylor's message is insightful and informative with many very practical 'what to do' and 'what not to do' hints, tips and pearls from 'inside' autism. He received a well deserved, standing ovation which included me.

If you are seeking a real 'expert' on autism for a presentation, consider Taylor, his Dad and his younger brother. There is an impressive video that Taylor uses for the first part of the program, documenting his early before and after regression years which his father happened to catch on video like any good Dad getting home videos. The story informs in very understandable terms and with insightful 'for instances' about autism, about education, speech and language therapy, trials, tribulations and triumphs of parents, and progress overall culminating in his graduation from a school with an extremely high threshold for entry.

You can learn more about Taylor and his presentations at www.taylorcrowe.com. I highly recommend him for your group. I learned a great deal, and you will also.


Update—March 22, 2009
Moe Norman Comes to the Big Screen

Barry Morrow wrote the script for Rain Man after he met Kim Peek. He wrote two screenplays for Television—Bill—played by Mickey Rooney after he met Bill Sackter.

Now he has written a script for a movie about Moe Norman, a remarkable golfer who was an 'unconventional ball-striking wizard who died in September of 2004 after being inducted into the Canadian Golf Hall of Fame." (See story in The Globe and Mail.) Tiger Woods indicated at one point: "Only two players have ever truly owned their swings, Moe Norman and Ben Hogan." A golf school has been set up in Oklahoma to teach Moe's simplest and most effective swing at www.swinglikemoe.com.

At the time of his death, USA Today carried an article on September 28, 2009, telling more about this very unique and memorable man. He had 17 holes in one, 9 double eagles, 3 sanctioned scores of 59, won more than 50 tournaments and set more than 30 course records. According to the USA Today story Moe was a whiz at math, had a photographic memory and "could remember the distance and layout of virtually every golf course he played." Also Moe was "just the most stupefying accurate golfer on the planet. Norman played competitive golf more than 50 years and witnesses say he played 11 of those years—that's about 230,000 golf shots—without hitting the ball out of bounds." At an exhibition in Florida, Moe began by hitting simple little pitching wedges about 90 yards "with the balls landing on top of each other in a space the size of a bedspread, colliding like little neurons when they hit."

Mr. Morrow has not decided as yet who will play the part of Moe Norman, but surely he will be instructed at the Golf Academy to master that incredible swing and accuracy. The film will capture as well the complex, unconventional and misunderstood, character that Moe was. The USA Today article writer goes on to state: "I never heard Norman speak about autism, but I know that he understood its cruelties in his car, which was filled with old newspaper clippings and the motivational tapes that helped rescue his life. He once had a well-worn article about autism sitting on the front seat. In the article the outdated term 'idiot savant' was discussed at length. Norman had crossed out the word idiot."

Based on Morrow's sensitive and engrossing work with Rain Man and Bill, it should be a another memorable movie.


Update—March 16, 2009
Matt Savage continues to excel

As a real credit to his musical genius, Matt Savage has been invited to write the theme song for the AID 4 AUTISM concert and CD. The song will be recorded in March in Orlando, Florida and performed live by Matt and other artists at the first Annual AID 4 AUTISM Concert in Atlanta, Georgia in May, 2009. Matt's song, "Give Me Hope" has the daunting task of combining of combining musical styles of all the other performers at that concert including Rock, Country, Jazz, Blues, Classical, Latin, R & B, Folk, Dance and Pop. Matt was chosen because of "his incredible ability to think unconventionally about the music." According to his mother, Diane, Matt is "crossing the jazz line big time for this one." The recorded version of the theme song will appear on the official AID 4 AUTISM CD which will contain donated recordings from each of the performers at the event. Proceeds from those sales will go to a scholarship fund for children with autism to provide music lessons and create future generations of musicians. Also, one of Matt's compositions is among the finalists for the 2008 International Song Writing Contest. This is the third year in a row one of his songs has been nominated and hopefully this year he will win the competition.


Update—January 22, 2009
A video overview of savant syndrome

While this Web site has had a written overview of savant syndrome for some time, just added is a video overview containing some background information by Dr. Treffert followed by video clips introducing the viewer to Stephen Wiltshire, Kim Peek, Orlando Serrell, Alonzo Clemens and Matt Savage. The video is particularly useful because savant syndrome is better seen than described. The addition of some informational narrative and graphics make the video an excellent teaching tool.


Update—January 20, 2009
Kim Peek honored as the Real Life Rain Man

A number of celebrities gathered in the auditorium of the Salt Lake City Library, Kim's favorite destination, to honor Kim and his father Fran on the 20th Anniversary of the Oscar-winning movie Rain Man. Celebrities included Barry Morrow, who wrote the script for the movie after having met Kim in the summer of 1974. He was joined on stage by musician and producer Steve Carnegie and was joined by cell phone by Mickey Rooney who had played "Bill" in the television movie by that name some years earlier portraying another person—Bill Sackter—who also overcame disabilities to inspire millions.

A newspaper article from the Salt Lake Tribune describes the event in more detail at http://www.sltrib.com/ci_11481255


Update—January 19, 2009
In Search of a Sponsor: A Leslie Lemke Documentary

While there have been numerous clips of Leslie on national and international television, his story is so special and inspirational to so many persons I continue to get requests for a full length documentary on him. There is an earlier 28 minute made for television film titled "An Island of Genius," which was underwritten by the Weyerhaeuser Foundation in 1987, but it was never broadcast, and, given Leslie's remarkable continued progress, is dated. The film "The Woman Who Willed a Miracle" starring Cloris Leachman as May Lemke was a screen adaptation of Leslie's early life but the story ended in his adolescence. Leslie is now in his 50s and so much has happened in those intervening years.

Lane Wyrick has produced a marvelous full length film—"A Friend Indeed"—about the life of Bill Sackter, who came to public attention when Mickey Rooney portrayed "Bill" in two award winning television programs. You can learn more about that "A Friend Indeed" at www.BillSackter.com. It will soon be available on DVD. After viewing that film, and being so moved by it, I asked Mr. Wyrick if he might consider a similar film on Leslie Lemke. He is interested in doing that and we are now in search of a sponsor for that film. If you have suggestions as to who, or which organization, might be interested in sponsoring such a worthwhile project, please be in touch at daroldt@charter.net or daroldt@charter.net.

Once a century or so, comes along a person as remarkable as Leslie Lemke, and his story, propelled along by the love and faith of his foster mother, May Lemke, deserves to be seriously documented so it can continue to serve as an inspiration for so many persons just like those it has already touched in such a profound and meaningful way to date. Even after May's death "the band plays on" as a tribute to her and her loving success with Leslie. That story deserves to be preserved in its entirety.


Update—January 18, 2009
SketchUp—Architectural Software Persons with Autism Love to Use
Software designed for architects and design specialists has found a very welcome reception and use by both children and adults on the autism spectrum. Since many persons on the spectrum (including savants) do 'think in pictures'—visually and spatially—SketchUp lends itself admirably to such communication and drawing skills. So much so that Project Spectrum was developed by the SketchUp team at Google (which developed the software originally for architectural and design use) in order to partner with the Boulder, Colorado chapter of the Autism Society of America, the Boulder Valley School District and the Life Long Learning Lab at the University of Colorado. The hope and intent is to "provide children with software and guidance that may help them to express an idea or even develop a life skill." You can learn more about the SketchUp software, and Project Spectrum, including a video demonstrating its use with several children and adolescents with autism at http://www.google.com/educator/spectrum.html. A Newsweek article also describes the software in more detail.

Update—January 14, 2009 Daniel Tammet's New Book: Embracing the Wide Sky Daniel Tammet, profiled elsewhere on this site, has just released a second book Embracing the Wide Sky: A Tour Across the Horizons of the Mind. Daniel's first book, Born on a Blue Day: Inside the Extraordinary Mind of an Autistic Savant was a New York Times best-seller and has been translated into 18 languages. Dr. Treffert wrote the Foreword to that book when it was first published by Hodder and Stoughton in London in 2006.

While most books are written by others about savants and other persons with special abilities, these two books written by someone with savant syndrome provides particularly unique insights into that extraordinary condition. In this second book Daniel explores and summarizes present day understanding of the science of brain function, and how that applies to his remarkable number, language, memory and synesthesia abilities. In his introduction Daniel says it this way:

"This book is about the mind—its nature and abilities. It combines some of the latest neuroscientific research with my personal reflections and detailed descriptions of my abilities and experiences. My primary intention in writing it is to show that differently functioning minds such as mine (or Gate's or Kasparov's) are not so strange, in fact, and that anyone can learn from them. Along the way I hope to clear up many misconceptions about the nature of savant abilities and what it means to be intelligent or gifted."

Daniel also looks at intelligence testing as carried out these days and questions whether IQ is an accurate indicator of intelligent behavior. He then suggests some alternative ways of viewing intelligence. And, by sharing his personal account of savant abilities within himself, he is convinced that "anyone can learn from them how to better understand and use his own mind". He also provides his ideas about the source of creativity from a neuroscientific point of view, and as pointed out elsewhere on this site, agrees that savants, contrary to some assumptions by others, can be creative. Daniel certainly is creative and demonstrates that in this tremendously insightful book.

You can learn more about the book at http://www.optimnem.co.uk/book.php.


Update—January 5, 2009
Students Dance Away Disabilities

An article in the Cherokee Scout newspaper, from Cherokee County, North Carolina describes a very interesting "Dancing with Disabilities" program provided by the Murphy School of Dance in that community. Students include those with Down's Syndrome and Autism. Lessons are conducted in a group, rather than an individual setting, with varying degrees of talent and handicap. Several of the students have savant-like abilities including remarkable memory for historical dates. Especially useful has been the interaction of non-disabled dance students with these special students, benefiting both groups. The article describes this unique program in greater detail.


Update—January 4, 2009
George Widener's New Art Exhibits and Honors

George Widener continues to draw attention and critically acclaimed success for his art work and presently he has several new exhibits underway. His graphic work was recently featured in the Orleans Gallery of London. It will also be on exhibit in a group show entitled "'Tension, Invention, Intoxication and Liberty: Victor Hugo to Martin Ramirez" featuring self-taught artists at the prestigious Jan Krugler Gallery in New York January 8 thru February 6, 2009. George is also a titanic 'buff', and the American Folk Art Museum in presently exhibiting their permanent collection drawings of his on that subject. Also, the Henry Boxer Gallery of London will present a book on George's accomplishments as a gifted artist at the Outsiders Art Fair in New York City January 9-11, 2009.