Analysis Of The Movie ' I Am Sam '

In the video “Inclusion, belonging, and the disability revolution” (TEDTalks, 2014), speaker Jennie Fenton opens with describing situations where people with disabilities are segregated and excluded from their communities, sent to live together away from society, or even treated as lesser humans. She then proceeds to introduce her family, including her six-year-old daughter that was diagnosed with cerebral palsy. Jennie admits to previously having negative or frightened thoughts about having a child with a disability, but with her “seven realizations,” she learned that her daughter was merely on a different path than others, but that no one should ever feel broken or not a whole person (TEDTalks, 2014). After she explains that there are roughly one billion people with a disability throughout the world, Jennie states that she believes in possibility over disability. If a person’s

There are many stereotypes regarding those with intellectual disabilities. This may be because these individuals range in cognitive ability, receptive and expressive language, and physical need. While it may be assumed that those with disabilities are not able to process the world around them, they are not immune to mental health disorders and the, sometimes tragic, events that take place throughout a lifetime. Someone without an intellectual disability may find solace in a friend, partner, or family member. If the event is impactful enough, they may even turn to a mental health professional that is trained to help those going through a tough time. Unfortunately, individuals with disabilities do not always have that same network of support.

Lost in a Desert World relays the story of the life of Roland Johnson, a man born with an intellectual disability and placed in an institution who eventually went on to be the president of Speaking for Ourselves, a group that encourages those with disabilities to stand up for themselves and their rights. This memoir offers a rare first-person, nonfiction account of the life and experiences of someone with an intellectual disability. Though filled with the harsh realities of the treatment of those with intellectual disabilities, the book is also one of passion, strength, and hope.

Over the course of this semester, I have come to the realization that above all, students with disabilities need to be treated with the respect and dignity that one would give any other child. This is why it is important to talk to and about people that have disabilities with “people first” language (Evans, Civil Rights Final Day, 9.17.16). This stems from the idea that a perceived disability is just one of a person’s many attributes. Students with disabilities are people that have individual abilities, interests, and needs. By using “people first” language, one emphasizes the importance of the individual over their diagnosed disability. According to The Arc, an organization that advocates for people with disabilities, “the language in a society used to refer to persons with disabilities shapes its beliefs and ideas about them” (The Arc, 2016). Using “people first” language not only ensures the person in question knows that they are valued, but it also helps set a precedent for the perception of people with disabilities in one’s environment. It also gives the student the opportunity to define his/herself, instead of being identified solely with their disability (The Arc, 2016).

If you have not seen Dazed and Confused than you are really missing out. It is a great movie that relates from everything to High School to Sex, Drugs, and Rock n Roll. With an outstanding cast (from the past) it is a movie that everyone can relate to. Dazed and Confused reflects the lifestyle of kids that are entering high school for the first time, to seniors owning the school and being the "man" on compass. It portrays that freshman must watch their backs at all times and if you think you're as cool as the seniors, then you better watch out. There is a ritual that the seniors do to the freshman that have given so many people in reality a though of. With School being out for summer, in Dazed and Confused, it offers a great soundtrack from

My first subject is Forrest Gump, in analyzing Forrest we understand how he correlates toward the psychoanalytic theory (p. 35-38). Since Forrest has an IQ of 75, which is reflected as intellectually disabled or formerly called mental retarded. Forrest is incapable of preserving the necessary abilities that require language, comprehension, mathematics, and social communication. Forrest has overcome the actuality that he’s distinguished and classified as intellectually disabled, with the encouragement of his mother, Forrest has developed a sense of self (p. 335-336 & 339-340).

I Am Sam is a touching movie that demonstrates, despite any impairment – anyone is capable of love. Sam Dawson, a forty-year-old man, has the mental capacity of a 7-year-old. The movie begins with Sam having a child with a homeless woman, whom abandons him shortly after they leave the hospital. His daughter, Lucy, becomes the love of his life. He raises her alone, with the assistance of a great support system. As she ages, his limitations began to be stunt her educational growth. She begins to hold herself back because she doesn’t want to surpass her father’s educational level. The authorities end up taking Lucy away due to the assumption that Sam isn’t capable of giving her the life she deserves. He then hires a lawyer to manage his case pro bono. The movie is spent with Sam fighting for his rights to his daughter. In the end, love wins and Lucy is back where she belongs, with Sam. He proves to everyone that if you have the capacity to love, you have the ability to fight for it.

The name of the film selected for this case study is I am Sam. (2002) The protagonist of the film is Sam Dawson, who is played by the actor Sean Penn. Sam Dawson is a developmentally or intellectually challenged adult male, who has a young daughter, primary school aged, named Lucy. Sam and Lucy live together without her mother, who is a homeless person. There is not extensive information provided in the film regarding Sam's upbringing, but based on his present situation, he is a well adjusted person in a middle class atmosphere. It seems he has enough assets to provide for himself and his daughter in a fairly independent basis. His daughter, Lucy, is happy and taken care of, but the tension begins when Lucy exceeds Sam's mental capacity. Her peers ridicule her and her father because of his intellectual deficiencies, calling him a "retard." The character's family consists of Lucy primarily, and some of Sam's other disabled friends who all help each other. One of Sam's greatest and most prominent "likes" is that he is a huge fan of the band The Beatles. One of his strengths is his love for his daughter. Another strength, although it is perceived as a weakness by others who might prey on him, is that he goes through life with a sense of awe and naivete. Of course, this is a result of his disability, but even still, he could have

I chose the movie I am Sam to challenge my own opinion on how people with disabilities should be treated under certain circumstances. I am Sam is a movie about a mentally challenged man, named Sam, striving to raise his daughter, Lucy, alone. Diagnosed with Autism, Sam’s intellectual capacity cannot exceed the age of 7. As we watch Lucy grow up under Sam’s roof, we are able to see the love they have for each other. When Lucy reaches the age of 8, social workers see this as an issue, so they place Lucy in a temporary home while Sam goes to court to try to win Lucy back. Sam’s lawyer, Rita, took this “pro bono” case to impress her coworkers. At first, Rita doesn’t believe Sam is capable of raising Lucy along with the social workers who

In today’s society, many try to steer away from talking about mental disabilities as best as they can. However, in some cases, they need to be talked about to develop a better and more accurate understanding for not only the disability and the effects it has on the brain, but also for those who are victims of these matters. The novel, Brain On Fire by Susannah Cahalan, addresses what those are afraid to talk about; the truth of mental disabilities. Cahalan’s story starts where any great story starts, in the bounds of her own home with her first real love by her side. Having a regular night watching PBS quickly turns into one of the most unimaginable nights, a nightmare if you will.

There comes a time in every child’s life when they become aware of who they are and question their place in the world, this is no different for a child with a disability. Most important is that every child has a safe environment to be able to express themselves without receiving judgement from adults.

When some people think of someone with a learning disability they often think of someone who is not able to contribute to society. It is often assumed people with learning disabilities are people who have low intelligence, work the school systems, and are socially awkward. As someone who has a learning disability these misconceptions have made it difficult for me to be open about it and prove these stereotypes wrong. Most of these misconceptions stem from people not understanding what alearning disabilities are, a learning disability “results from a difference in the way a person's brain is wired. Children with learning disabilities are as smart or smarter than their peers. But they have difficulty reading, writing, spelling, reasoning, recalling and/or organizing information if left to figure things out by themselves or if taught in conventional ways” (idonline.org).

“I am Sam” is a great movie to watch in diversity class. It focuses on a diversity issue that is overlooked in society today. The main issue of the movie was that the main character Sam has an Intellectual disability and he is struggling to take care of his daughter. Intellectual disability is a disability that interferes with a person’s cognitive abilities and the functions they use in everyday life. This includes everything from their social skills to the way they behave (Chadwick, Wesson, & Fullwood, 2013).

After enduring a string of abusive relationships, Jean arrives unannounced at her estranged father-in-law 's ranch in Wyoming, with her daughter Griff. Griff 's father and Jean 's late husband died years ago in a fatal car crash while Jean was behind the wheel. Her father-in-law, Einar, has never gotten over it and still blames Jean for his son 's death. Einar lives on the ranch with his business partner, Mitch, who was mauled by a bear one night when Einar was drunk. This film reflects on forgiveness and rebirth, as family members work through their problems related to various communication and relationship theories. The main characters in the film are interdependent with each other, often times seen interfering with one another in terms of conflict resolution. This paper will analyze how the main characters cooperate to keep the conflict in motion throughout the film An Unfinished Life through the use of systematic collection of information about the dynamics of conflict resolution (Conflict Assessment, n.d.).

An individual with intellectual disabilities can face many barriers in not only their academic life, but also their social life. Peter, has faced barriers to his successful inclusion in the classroom. One of the barriers the video mentions is teachers displaying unwillingness to including Peter in their classroom simply because teachers do not accept him or his disability. I believe prejudice is a barrier many people with intellectual disabilities are forced to face at a given point in their lives. I think the prejudice stems from fear and misunderstanding of people who are physically or mentally different. In chapter nine of this week’s readings, it highlights on the importance of individual relationships are between the teacher and the student with a disability. Focusing on a student’s strengths rather than there IQ or weaknesses is essential to their success. “Some teachers focus on her IQ, but that’s not a useful fact. Everything depends on the relationship Rachel and I have with educators, on their skills, and on Rachel’s attitude, behavior, and self-determination.” (Turnbull. p. 187). Another barrier Peter faces is the desperate struggle of wanting his independence, yet still needing outside assistance for things. The loneliness and the inability to properly communicate his emotions are one of the biggest mental barriers Peter has faced. Peter overcame and managed these barriers through