By Kashvi Jain
In a film, The Reason I jump by Jerry Rothwell, it helps us get an insight to the first hand experiences and emotions of Joss, a neurodiverse kid. This movie incorporates different elements such as how society perceives an austic kid, how a family suffers to support their kid and understand what goes on in his mind, and how amazing and beautiful Joss is.
People with autism are smart and intelligent and express themselves in different ways. Some use letter charts to answer questions and some even use body actions to show feelings of stress, sadness, or happiness. Joss in the movie analyzes so many different details and has such an imaginative mind. He says he sees people laughing and staring at him but he knows he has his family. He wants us to know austic children are smart enough to solve puzzles, math problems, and do whatever they wish. People like Albert Einstein the world renowned physicist who discovered and invented theories on space, time, and gravity and Temple Grandin who wrote more than 60 scientific research papers and books had a disability disorder. Having a perception that people who are neurodiverse are less intelligent than us, is utterly wrong and judgemental.
The author of the book version of this movie, Naoki Higashida, is also autistic. “Higashida was diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) when he was five years old and has limited verbal communication skills.[4] With help from his mother, he is purported to have written the book using a method he calls "facilitated finger writing", also known as facilitated communication (FC).” Clearly having autism doesn’t make people like Naoki any less smarter.
Joss explains that “they have denied our civil rights.” Joss feels that theres no freedom and theres no place to belong in this judgmental world. He wants a place to belong and place to call his home. He doesn't feel like he belongs because society fails to recognize how unique and cool he is. He hopes that one day he can live where he is treated like anyone else and supported.
The movie continues to explain that anywhere in the world a child with autism faces stigma, negativity, and hate. When someone even says hi or talks to them they feel complete and accepted. Neurodiverse kids like Joss have to keep battling and getting through life. Facing seclusion and discimination and unfairness and discomfort. Joss parents even express their concerns as to when they're not here, how Joss will survive. Who will take care of him? They can’t imagine the idea of Joss being alone. And that concern is with every parent who has a neurodiverse kid.
Sources
Keiko Yoshida, xx-xx-xxxx, "The Reason I Jump," No Publication, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Reason_I_Jump