Activity

Analyze portrayals of individuals with intellectual disabilities in the media.

I Am Sam

Sam, a man with an intellectual disability, has a daughter named Lucy. The girl’s mother, a homeless woman, deserts the two of them soon after Lucy’s birth. With help from a neighbor and friends, Sam is able to care for his daughter. However, as Lucy becomes older, Sam’s limitations become apparent to her. Once Child Protective Services is alerted to the situation, they want to place Lucy in foster care. Sam is forced to hire a lawyer in an attempt to retain custody of his child.

The Other Sister

An overprotective mother shelters Carla, a young woman with an intellectual disability. Carla wants to become more independent, so she moves into her own apartment and enrolls in a local vocational college. At school she meets Danny, who also has an intellectual disability. As they fall in love, Carla’s mother becomes nervous and objects to the relationship, but Carla proves that she and Danny can handle life on their own.

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

1. Both films portray individuals with intellectual disabilities.
   1. Critique the accuracy of the portrayals in both films.
   2. Discuss the similarities and differences among the characters with intellectual disabilities in both movies.
   3. Discuss whether you think these portrayals are accurate. Give examples to support your thoughts.
2. Both films depict familial and social relationships of individuals with intellectual disabilities. Are these portrayals accurate? Explain.
3. Both films allude to facilities where the main characters spend time. Briefly discuss Sam’s and Carla’s feelings about these facilities.