Asperger's in a Movie

In getting to learn about my son Sean and Aspergers, a good point of reference has been a show on NBC called Parenthood.  One character, a 10 year old named Max, is dealing with many of the same issues we see in Sean.  The amazing fact is the kid who plays Max does not have it, meaning he had to learn how to get into that character.  The research and help he must have been given to prepare!  That fortifies the fact that the characteristics Max portrays with Aspergers, and what I see with Sean, mean it isn't some diagnosis made up as an excuse for kids.  I've seen people say that when Autism awareness was coming to the light, even members of my own family.

A few weeks back, I came across a movie late one night when I couldn't sleep.  I read the summary which mentioned Aspergers and decided to watch a little of it.  Unfortunately I was so tired I only watched the first 25 minutes and fell deep asleep.  I also forgot the name of the movie!  

From what I remembered, the movie was about the lead character, who was in his late 20s, diagnosed with Aspergers, and had recently lost his parents.  The man was living alone in an apartment, and had lost the support of his folks in his daily life.  Without that support, he was learning to do for himself.  Other characters in the film were an older black guy that was a friend of the man's late father, and a young lady who had just moved into the apartment building.  The young man with Aspergers worked at a technology company, and had a passion for astronomy.  I also remember the first meeting between the lead and young lady, where she begins to inquire and ask questions about him.  As someone with Aspergers will do(and I've experienced with Sean), he changes subject and opens up with the thing he's most passionate about.  This strange meeting seemed odd to the lady, but because she was reaching out, she continued to find ways to communicate with the man. 

Within the movie's plot of the guy and girl, you start to see the progression of someone with Aspergers without help.  A freezer that is filled with is favorite frozen dinner quickly begins to dwindle in numbers, because no one is re-stocking the groceries.  He also resorts to doing his laundry in the basement of his building wearing a suit because he has run out of clean clothes.

It's things I could see happening to Sean if (God forbid) he lost his support.  It really worried me.  And without a way to find out more about what I saw, I wondered if I would ever see the rest of this film?

God answers prayers, because as I've been concerned about Sean's recent behaviors, we've recently seen some good.  I woke up this morning to take my oldest to his hockey game, and as I usually do I turned on the TV.  Out of curiosity I flipped the TV guide over to the HBO channels, and I came across a movie name of "Adam."  It sounded familiar.  As I scrambled to get more info, it turned out to be the movie I had fallen asleep watching a few weeks back!

At the point of the movie where I found it, there was only 30 minutes left.  I committed to watch how it ended, and although I don't want to spoil anything, I must say I feel much better  Adam is a man who is involved with many changes.  Aspergers can make change similar to playing with a flamethrower in a gunpowder factory.  If we can help Sean deal with change, and if it's true how a grown adult like Adam was able to learn to accept and somewhat embrace change, I have a tremendous amount of hope for my boy.

The movie has won a few awards since it's release in 2009.  My DirecTV doesn't show it re-airing anytime soon, but I'll keep an eye out for it, and make sure Adam is on the DVR for Jen to see.

I cannot wait to see the parts I've missed!

-BJ