Activity

Develop a better understanding of the misperceptions of individuals with intellectual disabilities and how they can be portrayed in the media.

This fictitious story chronicles the life of Forrest Gump. Although Forrest encounters challenges due to an intellectual disability, he accomplishes many things, including becoming an all-American athlete, a Vietnam War hero, and the owner of a successful company, in addition to accidentally influencing a number of important 20th-century historical events.

View the following movie and be prepared to discuss the questions below in class.

Title: Forrest Gump (1994)

Studio: Paramount

1. List some of the words used to describe Forrest throughout the movie.
2. Discuss how Forrest dealt with the attention he received, both negative and positive.
3. Even though this story is fictitious, do you believe Forrest was treated fairly? Why or why not?
4. Is the portrayal of Forrest’s interactions and relationships with others realistic? Explain.
5. Who were his biggest advocates in the film? Briefly describe how each advocated for him.