In A Different Key

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Friend 1

I've always known Don. I don't remember not knowing Don. -

Friend 2

We knew that Don was a little different, -

Friend 3

But what it was, we didn't know. -

Friend 4

He is the first person to be ever diagnosed with autism. -

Friend 6

At the time, autism wasn't even a word. -

Caren

I had heard that the first person diagnosed with autism might still be alive and living in this small town in Mississippi. Good to see you. Hey, Shelby Welby. Hey, Don.

How are you? Hey, Nat the cat. Well hi, Don! Good morning!

Hey, Jan with the plan. (dramatic music) (crying) (hand slapping) Stop resisting. Get the cuffs. They can't go, please!

I only knew that I was different and the different was bad. You're weird. You're a freak. You're a retard.

You're a loser. You're ugly. These were the things that I heard on a daily basis. Go, go.

Go, go, go. In my research study, every black family that I've met with has asked a similar question. How do we keep our children safe? How do we fix this situation so that our children won't die?

(somber piano music) All roasty toasty? Yeah (moaning) Like that. Autism is, is a little diff, your brain works a lot differently than most people. Hello.

Hey Caren. Hi. Hello. (jazz music) -

Interviewer

Do you get any kind of support from anybody? Not really, it's just me. Nobody's gonna do what I do. -

Interviewer

So you just can't die? Right, just gotta be immortal. Don's got some odd behaviors and some eccentricities but he's our guy. I was just so drawn, to him and this community.

I want to figure out, how did they get it right? Because they really did get it right. (jazz music continues)