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Deep Dive: Wretches & Jabberers (2011)

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Wretches & Jabberers
Wretches & Jabberers is a documentary that follows two autistic men, Larry Bissonnette and Tracy Thresher, as they travel to Sri Lanka, Japan, and Finland. Their goal is to meet other autistic individuals who have limited verbal communication abilities and to challenge societal attitudes towards disability and intelligence. The film captures their experiences and interactions with various people, emphasizing the importance of communication and understanding. The title of the film is derived from a comment made by a person they meet in Finland, who categorizes people into 'wretches' like Bissonnette and Thresher and 'jabberers' who can speak easily. The documentary features the use of facilitated communication, a technique that has been scientifically discredited, which adds a layer of complexity to the portrayal of communication among autistic individuals.

Why Watch

  • •Meet Larry Bissonnette and Tracy Thresher in their travels.
  • •Find out how they communicate using facilitated communication.
  • •See their interactions with autistic individuals worldwide.

Did You Know

•The film opened in the United States on April 1, 2011.
•Larry Bissonnette and Tracy Thresher travel to three countries: Sri Lanka, Japan, and Finland.
•The term 'wretches' was used by a person they visited in Finland to describe themselves.

Perfect For

Autism awarenessDocumentary enthusiastsDisability studies